HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 02-14; Bressi Ranch Residential; Tentative Map (CT) (37)SAN DIEGO AREA AVIATION COUNCIL
2006 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 214
AGUACALENTE Carlsbad, CA 92008 JACUMBA
BORREGO VALLEY _ . . ,-,,n\ ^m a™/-, MONTGOMERY FIELDTelephone (760) 431-8200
BROWNFIELD Facsimile (760) 431-1244 OCEANSIDE
FALLBROOK OCOTILLO
Ronald J. Cozad, Co-Founder & General Counsel
FRENCH VALLEY cozodtow@sbcgfobot.nef MCCLELLAN-PALOMAR
GILLESPIE FIELD RAMONA
MAY 10,2004
Hon. Claude A. Lewis
CITY OF CARLSBAD
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Re: Bressi Ranch Residential Development in CRQ Overflight Zone
Presentation of Petition Signatures
Request for Inclusion in Permanent Public Record
Dear Mayor Lewis:
The San Diego Area Aviation Council ("SDAAC") promotes the proper use of land near airports to
achieve harmonious relations between airport users and residents through responsible zoning and building
controls. The SDAAC is composed of members from airport organizations from each San Diego area public
airport, including McClellan-Palomar, French Valley, Borrego Valley, Fallbrook, Agua Caliente, Jacumba,
Ocotillo, Montgomery Field, Oceanside, Ramona, Brown and Gillespie Fields. Each member is nominated
by airport volunteer groups and has extensive knowledge of airport land use principles and works in
coordination with the umbrella organization. The SDAAC draws from the expertise and knowledge of the
Federal Aviation Administration and California Department of Transportation, as well as from each
member organization, the California Pilots Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. The
SDAAC is a resource to Southern California government, the press, residents, pilots, non-pilots, local
Commissions and Committees. In year 2004 the SDAAC's top issues include the inappropriate adherence
by municipalities to outdated and ineffective Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), zoning contrary to
accepted guidelines and the irresponsible placement of homes in high-risk aircraft operation zones and in
noise sensitive areas near airports.
The SDAAC has grave concerns about the wisdom of approving new residential development at
Bressi Ranch - all within one mile from McClellan-Palomar Airport and directly beneath arrival and
departure pathways. McClellan-Palomar Airport is one of the busiest single runway airports in the United
States and purchasers of the homes would be subjected to significant noise from hundreds of propeller, jet
and rotorcraft approaches, departures and full power run-ups at the airport each day and night. Even worse,
the planned housing tracts are directly below areas known for high-risk aviation activities and normally
considered inappropriate for homes, meeting areas and schools. In addition, the 1994 CRQ Comprehensive
Land Use Plan (CLUP) is out of date and contains an obvious and fatal flaw. Somehow, the boundary lines
of the "Airport Influence Area" were "gerrymandered" from accepted standards to exclude the residential
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portions of Bressi Ranch from regulatory review by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
Without the Airport Authority's oversight, there is no one other than the City of Carlsbad to assure
reasonable and compatible development.
Unfortunately, the City has supported the development and is on the eve of allowing nearly 500
residences, parks and a school to be built in noisy and high risk locations. Development should have been
reviewed by the Regional Airport Authority and restricted to low density commercial, but it was not.
Proposed "disclosures" are insufficient. Purchasers are told they are in an airport "noise impact area," but
not told their homes lie directly beneath an active airway. Likewise, they are not told of the unusual
regulatory anomaly created by the tortured and outdated CLUP. All that the City has done is to protect
itself from the inevitable lawsuits by requiring the developer to defend and indemnify the City when it is
sued by the future homeowners for "airport operations." The SDAAC believes the City of Carlsbad has an
obligation to go beyond merely insulating itself from litigation and is morally bound to protect its future
residences by carefully re-thinking the residential development at Bressi Ranch. At the very minimum, the
City should prepare explicit and clear 1) notices and disclosures advising the extent and nature of the threats
posed by the placement of their homes, and, 2) secure avigation and overflight easements covering every
home.
On behalf of the SDAAC, airport users and future residents, I propose that you personally ask the
City Counsel and the Planning Department to fulfill this responsibility and to make this request part of the
City's permanent public record. If you and the City are willing to pursue these concerns, the SDAAC will
assist in any way it can.
Sincerely,f?V>S
Ronald J. Cozad
Enclosure:ncosure:
A petition was circulated at Palomar airport as a matter of importance to the aviation community.
Attached are signatures from concerned airport users requesting your involvement.
Copies:
CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL: R. FINNILA, M. HALL, A. KULCHIN, M. PACKARD.
CARLSBAD CITY ATTORNEY.
CARLSBAD CITY CLERK.
CARLSBAD PLANNING COMMISSION: M. WHITE, F. WHITTON, J. BAKER, B. DOMIKGUEZ, C. HE/NEMAN, M.
MONTGOMERY, J. SEGALL.
PALOMAR AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: R. FINNILA, T. RIOCOTTA, B. BRADFORD, ./. CHRWENSEN, C.
COLLINS, R. FUSELIER, T. HUTTER, H. LYTTLETON, G. REYES, H. WILLIAMS, B. GATES.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY: T. BOWENS, R. INZLINZA, T. JOHNSON, P. NIETO, P.
PETERSON, T. REYNOLDS, M. SESSOM, AUTHORITY CLERK.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DISTRICT 5 SUPERVISOR: B. Horn.
MCCLELLAN-PALOMAR AIRPORT: P. DRINKWATER, F. BEST.
SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE.
NORTH COUNTY TIMES.