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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12041984 - T.10 1. i° THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY , CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 4, 1984 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers , Fanden , Schroder , McPeak, Torlakson NOES:, None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: East County Airport Site Selection This being the time fixed for hearing on the East County Airport site selection , the Board received a report dated December 4, 1984 from J . Michael Walford , Public Works Director , transmitting the recommendation of the Aviation Advisory Committee that the Board designate the Byron Airpark site to be developed as the East Contra Costa County Airport . Mr . Walford stated his concurrence with the recommendation of the Aviation Advisory Committee . Mr . Barry Basse , Chairman of the Aviation Advisory Committee , informed the Board that the Committee had studied the report from Hodges and Shutt , Aviation Planning Consultants , evalu- ating Byron Airpark and three additional sites . He stated that the Committee eliminated two of the recommended sites because of environmental considerations . He noted that the Committee members inspected the two remaining sites and considered both sites with respect to the data developed by the consultants and the information presented at various public meetings held by the Committee . Mr . Basse stated that although the Hillside site has some advantages , the Committee unanimously recommends that the Byron Airpark site be developed , with the provision that instrument approach clearance is assured now and in the future . He stated that it is imperative to guard the ability to expand to a 6, 000 foot run- way and to assure that the instrument approaches remain unobstructed . He advised that the Aviation Advisory Committee had at no point viewed the East County Airport as a "reliever" airport for Buchanan Field , and stated that the Committee feels there is sufficient need to support a full service airport . Supervisor Sunne W . McPeak suggested that perhaps the term "reliever" needs to be further defined . She stated that the proposed East County Airport should not be thought of as just a place to divert traffic from Buchanan Airfield , but should be considered as a full service airport which eventually will be a very important economic facility for the County. She noted that the relationship between Buchanan Airfield and a designated "reliever" field would have a positive economic impact on the second field . She advised that the County , has a noise level commitment to the neighborhoods surrounding Buchanan Field and that if the level of activity exceeds that commit- ment , traffic would have to be diverted , preferably to an officially designated airport within the County . Mr. J . Michael Walford , Public Works Director , advised the Board that the initial costs for the land , buildings and runways would be approximately $3 to $4 million , with about 90% coming from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants . He stated that most costs would be borne by the aircraft industry and airport related people , with almost no impact to County taxpayers . Chairman Torlakson declared the public hearing open and invited those wishing to speak to come forward . ®© 198 -1- r � Dennis Lopez, Rt . 1 , Box 4A , Byron , advised that he and his family are property owners in the vicinity of the Byron Airpark and have contracted to have wind turbines placed on their property. He commented that if the County were to restrict the construction of the wind farms in favor of the airport there would be a substantial loss in tax revenue to the County. He also stated his belief that the wind velocity in the vicinity of the Byron Airpark could prove to be hazardous to aircraft . Jerry Tennant , Rt . 1 , Box 61-F , Byron , advised the Board that , as a property owner in the vicinity of the Hillside site , he was opposed to the use of that site as an airport because of the potential safety impact on homes , schools , etc . in the area . Edson and Lucy Tennant , Rt . 1 , Box 60 , Byron , property owners in the Hillside site area , opposed the Hillside site and supported the Byron Airpark site . Catherine and Owen Turley, 195 Santa Clara Court , Danville , spoke in favor of the Byron Airpark site . Sam Stewart , P .O . Box 19 , Clayton , property owner south of the Byron Airpark, stated his support for the Byron site . Sal Lopez , Armstrong Road , Byron , expressed his opposition to the Byron site . Jack Robbins , Rt . 1 , Box 41B, Brentwood , a property owner in the vicinity of the Hillside site , stated his opposition to that site and requested clarification of the reported costs to develop the Hillside site , inquiring whether con- tact had been made with property owners . Maurine Guyman , 4991 Cabrillo Pt . , Byron , speaking as a Trustee of the Byron School District , presented the District' s strong opposition to the Hillside site due to the close proximity to the school and the possible noise and safety impacts . She stated that the District has no objection to the Byron site . Don Stiles , 62 East Lake , Antioch, Manager and part owner of the Byron Airpark , advised the Board that the Airpark already has water and natural gas available , the runway could eventually be extended up to 8,000 feet , and with the safety measures currently in effect the Airpark has been certified by the State . Ronald Nunn , Rt . 1 , Box 200, Brentwood , property owner and pilot , stated that he was opposed to both the Hillside site and the Byron Airpark site , but proposed that the Aviation Advisory Committee look again at the area southeast of Brentwood designated on the consultants report as Site H . He commented that future growth was an important considera- tion and in his opinion Site H had the greatest potential . Dr . Adrienne Applegarth , 3790 Armstrong Road , Byron, stated that she and her husband are majority owners of the Byron Airpark property. She noted that the current plan for the new airport requires moving the present runway to the south, which would threaten their home . She stated that she did not believe that such a move was necessary and that if that portion of the airport plan was changed she and her husband would not oppose the Byron site . Nell Stiles , 62 E . Lake , Antioch, stated that as a pilot she had flown in and out of the Byron Airpark many times and had never encountered any difficulty because of wind , and stated that she supported the Byron site for the East County Airport . 00 199 -2- Yvonna McParland , Rt . 1 , Box 109, Brentwood , expressed her opposition to both the Hillside site and the Byron site and urged the Aviation Advisory Committee to look further for a new site . Maxine Vermeer , Rt . 1 , Box 51 , Brentwood , stated that she was opposed to the Hillside site because of costs and possible safety hazard to surrounding residences , and she also urged the Aviation Advisory Committee to look for another site . Robin Aliotti , 2189 Peachtree Circle , Pittsburg, expressed her support of the Byron site , and urged that a decision be made soon so that the application for Federal grant can be made on a timely basis . Gary Augustine , 2905 Garfield Place , Antioch, expressed his support for the Byron Airpark site , stating that as a pilot he has flown in and out of the Byron Airpark fre- quently and considers it completely safe . Nathan Fisher , Mayor , City of Brentwood , presented the City' s position, stating that because of noise and safety factors they were opposed to the Hillside site and sup- ported the Byron Airpark site . Alma Dutra , 41528 Chiltern Drive , Fremont , stated that she and her husband Lawrence are the owners of the property designated as the Hillside site . She noted that they would have no objections to an airport on the site , but that at this point they have not been approached with respect to financial details . Howard R . Higgins , 1310'V2 "A" Street , Antioch, expressed his support of the Byron site and urged that a decision be made as soon as possible . The following persons submitted for the record their opposi- tion to the Hillside site: Jo Tennant , Rt . 1 , Box 61-F , Byron George Ditmars , Rt . 2, Box 145 , Brentwood David Scholz , Rt . 2, Box 144H, Brentwood The following persons submitted for the record their support of the Byron Airpark site: Harry Wynn , Rt . 1 , Box 238, Antioch Michael Ganim , 1405 Melissa Circle , Antioch Richard Vaughan, 6150 Byron Hot Springs , Byron Pete Aliotti , 2189 Peachtree Circle, Pittsburg Mike Ambrocino , Rt . 1 , Box 46, Brentwood Francis Scott , 3005 Windsor Drive , Antioch Supervisor Tom Torlakson advised that because the East County Airport decision is such a critical issue that impacts not only the future of East County but the entire County as a whole , he felt that the hearing should be continued to December 18, 1984 to allow further investigation of a number of issues and to solicit input from the concerned cities . Supervisor Robert Schroder commented on the testimony pre- sented with respect to wind and safety factors at the Byron site and stated that more information should be sought on that issue . Supervisor Sunne McPeak stated that the subject of an East County Airport had been under discussion for many years and the Board is prepared to make a decision in the near future . She expressed the need to get as much information as possible in order to make a deci- sion that will serve the best interests of all County residents . 00 200 -3- Board members being in agreement , IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that ',the public hearing on the East County Airport site selection is CONTINUED to December 18, 1984 at 2: 30 P .M. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that staff is REQUESTED to extend an official invitation to East County cities to respond with their views and comments . IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that staff is REQUESTED to respond to issues raised during the public testimony with respect to wind velocity, possible negative economic impact , noise levels and impact of nearby wind farms . IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the issue of financing an East County Airport is REFERRED to the Finance Committee (Supervisors Schroder and McPeak) . cc: County Administrator Public Works Director Aviation Advisory Committee Finance Committee I hereby certify that this Is a true and corteetcopy of e• i:ctio:,tiken and entered on the minutes of the Bona of supervisors on the date shown. pits. F,ATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board o; �,,:.A:tvi�iors and County Administrator by wa� Deputy 00 201