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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCUP 172; Palomar Airport; Conditional Use Permit (CUP) (14)-_ -- INITIAL STUDY SUMMARY DATE : August 25, 1980 TO : James Hagaman, Planning Director FILE COPY FROM : Bill Hofman, Associate Planner SUBJECT: EIA NO. 638, CUP-172/ZC-208, PALOMAR AIRPORT DISCUSSION Based on the relatively recent annexation of the Palomar Airport to the City, the County of San Diego is applying for a rezoning of this area from L-C to M, and a Conditional Use Permit to operate the airport. These requests apply only to airport property north of Palomar Airport Road, and west of El Camino Real. The undeveloped County land which is also zoned L-C, located south of Palomar Airport, is not included in the subject applications. Since the project includes only the developed portion of the Airport, no significant environmental impacts to any flora or fauna, nor any unique or historical resources are antici- patedj specifically, this area has been previously developed and is devoid of such resources. Further, the Conditional Use Permit is intended to serve on an interim basis until various land use and noise abatement studies are complete. No substantial development or expansion of the airport will be permitted until these studies are complete and the existing CUP is revised. At the time of a revised CUP, additional environmental review will be required. A long standing concern with the Airport has been its genera- tion of noise. The environmental impact report prepared for the Airport Master Plan and certified by the County lists noise as an adverse environmental impact. The concern in the EIR is primarily with the growth of the airport (pg. 52). Mitigating measures are somewhat vague, alluding to further aircraft noise reduction technology and Building Code Guidelines to reduce potential impacts. In an attempt to reduce noise related complaints of the Airport's current operation, the Airport Manager has indi- cated several methods which are either proposed or presently being implemented. First, an Airport Advisory Committee has been developed, in part, to seek the reduction of impacts created by the Airport. drafted which sets up standards, such as minimum approach altitudes, in order to reduce noise related problems. This plan has been reviewed by the Federal Aviation Agency with apparently no objection. Other noise reduction methods presently in operation include aircraft size and weight limits, military traffic restrictions and approach restrictions. A "Noise Control Plan" has been Staff feels that based on the existing and proposed noise reduction methods and since a noise abatement study will be completed prior to any new substantial development expan- sion, the noise generated from the existing airport does not pose a significant environmental impact. The applicant has indicated that the airport meets existing State noise stand- ards and that there will be no Increase to existing noise levels as a result of this Conditional Use Permit. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that a declaration of negative environ- mental impact be issued with regard to the project based on following justification: The subject property has been previously developed and committed to an airport use. No expansion of air traffic or uses beyond the existing airport boundaries is proposed as part of this Zone Change and Conditional Use Permit. The subject property is devoid of any significant environmental resources. The Zone Change and Condi- tional Use Permit would have no effect on any signi- ficant environmental resources surrounding the site. Any significant site modification within the project limits would be subject to additional environmental review. No increase of noise will be generated as a result of the Conditional Use Permit.