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Home My WebLink AboutCITY OF CHICO AIRPORT COMMISSION CORRESPONDENCELAND OF NATURAL .WEALTH AND BEAUTY AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION .7 COUNTY CENTER DRNE • OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965-3397 TELEPHONE: (530) 538-7601 FAX: (530) 538-7785 October 26, 1998 City of Chico Airport Commission P.O. Box 3420 Chico, CA 95927 Subject: Protection of Chico Aerial Applicators' Operations Honorable Chair and Commissioners: It has come to the Butte County Airport Land Use Commission's attention that the City of Chico has recently entered into a new lease agreement (five year lease, plus a five year option) with Chico Aerial Applicators (CAA). CAA's flight operations have a number of .unique characteristics which may warrant speck noise, safety, and land use consideration during development of the updated CLUP for the Chico Municipal Airport. For example, these aircraft are typically not equipped with radios, so their approach to the runway and the tower must occur at extremely low altitudes. They also use flight tracks which are not commonly utilized by other general aviation aircraft and may carry hazardous materials. Future development plans, such as the west side development at the airport and buildout of the North Chico Specific Plan, may also impact the current flight tracks utilized by CAA. 0 The ALUC is requesting input from your Commission regarding the level of protection that is desired to accommodate Chico Aerial Applicators' long term operations: For example, if it is anticipated that CAA will continue to use its current flight tracks, policies may need to be developed which would prohibit residential development and other sensitive land uses within areas subject to CAA's low altitude approaches. This type of input will help guide the ALUC and its consultant as we embark upon the CLUP update process. The ALUC considers the participation of your commission to be an essential component of the project. Sincerely, P��W Robert Hennigan, Chairman Butte County Airport Land Use Commission cc: Chico Aerial Applicators Shutt Moen Associates , y! r e •rntn butte Count LAND OF NATURAL WEALTH AND BEAUTY AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION 7 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE • OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965-3397 - . TELEPHONE: (530) 538-7601 FAX: (530) 538-7785 October 26, 1998 City of Chico Airport Commission P.O. Box 3420 Chico, CA 95927 Subject: Protection of Chico Aerial Applicators' Operations Honorable Chair and Commissioners: It has come to the Butte County Airport Land Use Commission's attention that the City of Chico has recently entered into a new lease agreement (five year lease, plus a five year option) with Chico Aerial Applicators (CAA). CAA's flight operations have a number of unique characteristics which may warrant specific noise, safety, and land use consideration during development of the updated CLUP for the Chico Municipal Airport. For example, these aircraft are typically not equipped with radios,, so their approach to the runway and the tower must occur at extremely low altitudes. They also use flight tracks which are not commonly utilized by other general aviation aircraft and may'carry hazardous materials. Future development plans, such as the west side development at the airport and buildout of the North Chico Specific Plan, may also impact the current flight tracks utilized by CAA. The ALUC is requesting input from your Commission regarding the level of protection that is desired to accommodate Chico Aerial Applicators' long term operations: For example, if it is anticipated that CAA will continue to use its current flight tracks, policies may need to be developed which would prohibit residential development and other sensitive land uses within areas subject to CAA's low altitude approaches. This type of input will help guide the ALUC and its consultant as we embark upon the CLUP update process. The ALUC considers the participation of your commission to be an essential component of the project. Sincerely, . Robert Hennigan, ChairmanPi-yo Butte County Airport Land Use Commission - cc: Chico Aerial Applicators Shutt Moen Associates ,'fir" � ^• t'� - October 26, 1998 Ife/e/ ad Cl eo azoo� L A N D O F NATU RAL WEALTH A N D BEAUTY AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION 7 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE • OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965-3397 TELEPHONE: (530) 538-7601 FAX: (530) 538-7785 City of Chico Airport Commission P.O. Box 3420 Chico, CA 95927 Subject: Submittal of Correspondence to the Butte County Board of Supervisors Urging the Immediate Re -Installation of Aircraft Overflight Notification Signs within the North Chico Specific Plan Area Honorable Chair and Commissioners: The Butte County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) is requesting that your Commission submit written correspondence to the Butte County Board Supervisors urging that agency to direct the immediate re -installation of aircraft overflight notification signs within the North Chico Specific Plan Area. These signs were identified as a mitigation measure within the referenced Specific Plan and associated Environmental Impact Report which was approved by the Board on March 28, 1995. (See attached correspondence from the ALUC to the Board dated September 16, 1998). Since May of 1998, the Butte County Airport Land Use Commission has been formally requesting that the County construct and install the signs. In response to the ALUC's efforts, a total of 8 signs were constructed and installed in August of this year. Less than two weeks after their installation, one of the signs was reportedly "vandalized" or pushed over. Rather than repairing the affected sign, the Butte County Public Works Department removed all of the signs. The explanation given for the removal was to prevent damage to the remaining signs. At this time, the County has not responded to the ALUC's request for immediate re -installation of the signs. Therefore, we are asking that your Commission submit a similar request to the Board of Supervisors in order to heighten their awareness regarding the importance of dealing with this issue in a prompt and effective manner. Your action and support is necessary to ensure that identified mitigation measures are implemented before even more residential development occurs. Thank you for your consideration and assistance in protecting existing and future operations at the Chico Municipal Airport. Sincerely, Robert Hennigan, Chairma n�e_W Butte County Airport Land Use Commission .7 Ratte, counN971�- -° LAND OF NATURAL WEALTH .AND BEAUTY AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION 7 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE • OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965-3397 TELEPHONE: (530) 538-7601 FAX: (530) 538-7785 September 16, 1998. Butte County Board of Supervisors 25 County Center Drive Oroville, CA 95965 SLBjEcr: REQLESr FOR RE -INSTALLATION OF Ov-ERFLIGHT ZONNE SIGNAGE WrrHrN THE NORTH Cmco SPECIFIC PLAN AREA Honorable Chair and Board Members: As part of the March 28 1995 adoption of the North Chico Specific Plan, which passed Mth a 5 to 0 vote by your Board, a number of mitigation/implementation measures were adopted as part of the Plan and reflected in the associated Environmental Impact Report to ensure the long-term compatibility of the Chico Municipal Airport -*iith adjacent development. Chapter 7, Section 7.6 on pages 7-6 and 7-7 of the Specific Plan lists the mitigationlunplementation measures designed to `'ensure protection of Chico Municipal Airport Operations." The adopted measures include: 7.6-1 Avigation easements shall be required for all lands within the Plan area. 7.6-2 Noise attenuation features shall be incorporated into new construction. 7.6-3 Enhanced disclosure measures shall be developed and implemented to alert prospective home buyers and rental tenants as to the proximity of the Chico Nharicipal Airport. the existence of avigation easements. the existing and projected fiture overflight and noise levels. and such related issues as appropriate to fully inform such prospective homebuyer or rental tenant. Enhanced disclosure may be modeled on Butte County Code, Chapter 35 Protection of Agricultural Land 7.6-4 "Overflight Zone" Road signage shall be installed at key access points into the Plan area incl ufing Eaton Road..Garner Zane. Hicks Lame. New Arterial Road and Keefer Lane. Such signage shall be ofsuch materials.. size and design to be visible and readable from a moving vehicle. •. Board of Supervisors September 16, 1998 Page 2 u 7.6-5 The New. Arterial Road and collector streets east of Garner Lane shall be designated with aviation -related names as set forth in Butte County Code Chapter 32. In May of 1998, -the Airport Land Use Commission noted to Development Services Department staff that subdivision maps were being recorded and homes being built within the Specific Plan area, yet the signs required in measure 7.6-4 v -ere not being installed After searching for an appropriate funding source, the signs were constructed and installed in August. Within two weeks ofthe signs' installation, County staff received a number of complaints and one of the signs was allegedly knocked down. Rather than re -installing the affected sign, the ALUC was dismayed to learn that all of the signs had been removed. It is the ALUC's position that the signs are absolutely necessary to ensure protection of Chico Municipal Airport operations and are also a required mitigation measure adopted unanimously by your Board Because there is likely to be some objection or resistance to the signs from property owners, it is imperative that the signs be re -installed and maintained before even more lots are created and sold. Section 21002.1 (b) of the Public Resources Code states that: "Each public agency shall mitigate or avoid the significant effects on the environment of projects that it carries out or approves whenever it is feasible to do so. " Section 21081.6 (a) (1) of the Public Resources Code further supports an agency's responsibility to ensure the implementation of mitigation measures that it adopts: "The public agency shall adopt a reporting or monitoring program for the changes made to the project or conditions of project approval, adopted in order to mitigate or avoid significant effects on the environment. The reporting or monitoring program shall be desio ted to ensure compliance during project implementation....... " The ALUC is requesting that the Board of Supenisors direct Public Works Department staff to re -install the signs immediately and that the County establish appropriate funds to ensure that the signs are appropriateh maintained in the future. Thank you for your.consideration and assistance. Sincerely, Robert Hennigan, Chairman Butte County Airport Land Use Commission