CAA: GA News, "Airport Municipal Malfeasance"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

September 1, 2002 Issue

AIRPORT MUNICIPAL MALFEASANCE
By Jay C. White, President, California Pilots Association
The California Pilot


Residential housing projects, schools, shopping malls and other
incompatible uses are slowly destroying California's airport system.
City governments are not preserving their airports as part of the
transportation system. Why is this happening? Without knowing it, many
city council members are being manipulated and hoodwinked by land
developers. How many of these actions should be attributed to
incompetence and how much to plain old graft is not known. Land
developers are major contributors to both state and local election
campaigns. 

In fairness, city councils are under great pressure to approve
"affordable" housing. This fits neatly with the developers desire to
build houses at any location that would be most profitable.
Unfortunately, this often is near an airport. A recent blatant example
of a city's dereliction was demonstrated by the City of Los Banos. Under
pressure from a developer, the city council approved a 250-unit housing
project under the approach path at Los Banos Municipal Airport .
Speaking for the city council before voting to approve the project the
mayor stated candidly "it is out of our hands." This abrogation of
public duty and civic responsibility is unacceptable governmental
conduct. Why is protecting local airports of such low priority with many
city councils? 

Although public airports are part of the state transportation
infrastructure, many city and county governments stubbornly refuse to
acknowledge that fact. Instead, airports are given the same standing as
parks, fairgrounds or sports stadiums. Another reason is local
governments' disdain for any land use regulatory control by state
government. They jealously guard their misguided "local government"
prerogative as it applies to the state airport transportation system. 

Who are the beneficiaries from this practice of municipal malfeasance?
Land developers and those who receive their financial contributions.
Development of incompatible land uses near airports is very profitable.
Who are the losers? Future generations of Californians will have to make
do with a degraded and incomplete transportation system. 

Can anything be done about this sorry state of affairs? Yes. As an
example, in addition to CPA's continuing efforts, the Oceanside Airport
Association is doing something to preserve the Oceanside Airport. As a
chapter of the California Pilots Association it is a public benefit
corporation and has standing to be a participant in airport decisions
and not just an observer. It has taken an additional step of forming a
political action committee to support airport-friendly candidates for
the Oceanside City Council. The council members now listen to what the
airport supporters have to say. 

Another California group is now forming a state political action
committee to assist in obtaining legislation favorable to airport
preservation. The California Aviation Alliance is composed of the
California Pilots Association, California Aviation Business Association,
SouthWest Chapter of the American Association Airport Executives,
National Business Aircraft Association, Association of California
Airports (California airport managers) and the Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association. 

Finally, a valuable new tool is available to help conscientious planners
and elected officials who wish to protect their airports from
incompatible encroachment. A new Airport Land Use Planning Handbook
provides guidance for compatibility planning. The handbook is published
by the Aeronautics Division of the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans). It was complied under the capable leadership
of current Division Chief Austin Wiswell. A copy can be obtained by
calling Bob Moore at (916) 654-3775. The cost is $20.



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