FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 6, 2023
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared by: Director of Community Development
SUBJECT: Santa Barbara County Association of Government 2023 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
Description:
The City Council will consider the recognition of the 2023 Santa Barbara County Association of Governments ’ Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for the Santa Maria Airport.
Environmental Notice: The Project was adequately covered in a previously adopted Negative Declaration ( SCH#: 2022110073 ) document by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, acting in its capacity as the Airport Land Use Commission for Santa Barbara County , pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15162.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution recognizing the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments ’ 2023 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), acting in its role as the Airport Land Use Commission, approved the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) for the Santa Maria Airport on January 19, 2023. The new ALUCP supersedes the existing ALUCP adopted in 1993.
California Government Code §65302 requires that a City must amend the General Plan as necessary to be consistent with the ALUCP within 180 days of ALUCP adoption by SBCAG.
DISCUSSION:
The objective of any ALUCP is to m inimize risks and consequences of aircraft incidents to those on the ground and in the air, minimize the number of people exposed to frequent and high levels of aircraft noise, and in general safeguard the welfare of the public within the vicinity of the airport. To this end, the ALUCP provides land use compatibility policies and criteria for undeveloped lands in proximity to the airport which are applicable to local 2 jurisdiction’s General Plans. General Plans require amendments to address any land use inconsistency or conflict with a current adopted ALUCP.
The City’s current General Plan Land Use Element does not include any direct conflicts with compatibility planning criteria of the ALUCP. Therefore, amendments to the General Plan will consist of replacement of references to the now superseded 1993 ALUCP, and minor adjustments to General Plan graphics such as the airport safety zones and noise contour boundaries. These amendments will be incorporated into the various General Plan elements through the City’s current General Plan update effort. However, the adoption of the new General Plan will not occur in time to comply with the Government Code’s 180-day deadline.
In order to meet the Government Code deadline, the City may instead acknowledge, through resolution, that the 2023 ALUCP is applicable to the City’s General Plan land use decisions, and that any and all information based on the 1993 ALUCP in the current General Plan shall be updated for consistency with 2023 ALUCP through the City’s General Plan update, currently in process.
Alternative
The California Code establishes that if the City Council disagrees with the ALUCP, the City Council may choose to take the steps necessary to overrule all or part of the ALUCP.
To overrule, findings are required, and the action must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the City Council.
Fiscal Considerations
There are no fiscal impacts anticipated from recognizing the 2023 ALUCP.
Impact to the Community
The ALUCP will promote compatibility between the Airport and future development of the surrounding residential and nonresidential land uses and help safeguard the welfare of the public within the vicinity of the Airport.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution – Recognizing the 2023 ALUCP_2023-06-06.docx