Community leaders voice concerns to Senator Kehoe on San Diego Airport issues

Six members of the Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB), along with others, and City Councilman Kevin L. Faulconer met last October 22 with California State Senator Christine Kehoe in the Senator's District 39 San Diego office. Also present was Brittany Taylor of the Ocean Beach Planning Board. Five of those who had been invited, including one member of the media, had either canceled because of schedule conflicts, or were no shows. Even so, the small conference room was packed to capacity.

The half hour meeting covered a range of concerns, consistent with those raised previously on October 10 at an early Saturday morning session with Congresswoman Susan Davis. A 13-point letter signed by PCPB Chair Charles J. Mellor and Airport Committee Chair Suhail Kahlil dated August 28, 2009 had been transmitted to both representatives.

CAPTION: (ABOVE LEFT) California State Senator Christine Kehoe (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

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CAPTION: (ABOVE RIGHT) California State Senator Christine Kehoe (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

Issued addressed included the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority's $853 million expansion project, known as the Terminal Development Program (TDP) or "Green Build" for its economic and environmental sustainability; eventual operational saturation on the landlocked, single runway, 661 acre San Diego International Airport (SDIA), which is the busiest single runway airport of it's class in the United States; noise, environmental, and safety concerns over the fanning of additional departure traffic along the 250-degree vector, in addition to the other FAA approved departure vectors of 275, 290, and 310-degrees; the related issue of compliance with existing virtual "gates" or dots on FAA radar tracking that departing aircraft are required to pass through one and a half miles offshore before beginning their turns to a new course heading; and the matter of land use governance by a body independent from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA), which currently has such jurisdiction.

CAPTION: (ABOVE LEFT) Left to right: Senator Kehoe, Paul Grimes, Suhail Kahlil, Deanna Spehn (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

Discussions at the meeting was energetic, animated, and thoughtful. District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer, along with Senator Kehoe, represents the Point Loma community. It is an upscale, high value San Diego neighborhood adjoining the airport, with a population of approximately 90,000 inhabitants, including 9 Public Schools of over 5,000 students Kindergarten through high school, at least 4 private secondary schools and a 2,000 student body at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), plus staff & teachers.  There are also naval bases with 15-20,000 civilian and military personnel, in addition to about 1,000 newer housing units.

CAPTION: (ABOVE RIGHT) San Diego City Councilman Kevin Faulconer (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

Councilman Faulconer, who was accompanied by his Administrative Assistant Matt Awbrey, stated flatly, "The parking structure on Harbor Drive is not suitable for our community." He was referring to the currently proposed 5-story building, approved as part of the Airport Authority's Green Build, but currently being reevaluated because of the traffic impact it would have on North Harbor Drive. The PCPB has been pressing to mitigate that impact by relocating the rental car facilities to the north on Pacific Coast Highway, and changing the parking structure to a 3-story building with subterranean levels.

Airport Committee Chair Kahlil raised the issue of conflict of interest by the Airport Authority when they serve a dual role as a land use arbiter. Said Mr. Kahlil, "The Airport Authority can't be objective when making land use decisions because of political pressures."

Senator Kehoe, who was aided by her Policy Director Deanna Spehn, responded by saying, "Public accountability by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority needs to be conveyed and stressed to their staff." The Senator suggested that local groups network with others in the County, to give such concerns greater magnitude and exposure. She pointed out that airport governance is separate from state and local government.

Suhail Kahlil replied that land use in a prime issue, saying "There needs to be an independent Environmental Impact Study (EIR) as part of the Airport Compatibility Plan." His concern was that the Airport Authority (SDCRAA) was acting more like "cheer leaders" in pushing for operational efficiencies which in turn drove airport expansion projects, causing them to "rubber stamp" land use approval.

CAPTION: (ABOVE LEFT) Senator Kehoe's Policy Director Deanna Spehn (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

Deanna Spehn stated, "There must be a full Environmental Impact Report. Senator Kehoe is pushing for a full EIR not only for San Diego International Airport (Lindbergh Field), but also for Montgomery Field, Brown Field, Palomar, and the other regional airports in the county."

As to expanded use of the 250-degree departure vector, Mr. Kahlil commented that there has been an increased frequency of flights south of the 275-degree vector in the past year, and has requested data from the FAA and Airport Authority to show traffic usage along these vectors. He also asked, "Why doesn't the FAA allow the Airport Authority to utilize their noise monitors to measure if there are increases over 65 dB (along the more southernly departures)?"

Paul Grimes, who has worked in the airline industry as an executive with Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) asked, "What happens in the future when there are increased flights?", implying that more departures along all approved vectors are inevitable.

CAPTION: (ABOVE RIGHT) Brittany Taylor of the Ocean Beach Planning Board (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

In response, Councilman Faulconer stated, "We need very clear rules. You can't keep jamming more and more planes into a single runway."

 Senator Kehoe added, "I want to hear from other cities in the region, and learn if they have the same concerns." She requested that the Peninsula Community Planning Board send her a copy of a letter they are preparing to transmit to Congresswoman Davis, who had said, "Send us a detailed report (on the future prospect of more flights using these vectors), and we will ask for clarification and follow up."

As to flight logjams, the Senator added, "We ought to do something about flight congestion at San Diego International Airport. I'm talking about spreading out the flights more. We'll never let the curfew go. I'm a big supporter of the curfew."

CAPTION: (ABOVE LEFT) Councilman Faulconer's Administrative Assistant Matt Awbrey (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

Policy Director Spehn mentioned that the Naval Air Station, North Island, which is in Coronado, across the Bay from San Diego Airport, has the busiest re-work facility in the U.S., and has also expanded their departure vectors. She added, "Land use review by the military is a closed process. Decisions are made in Washington, D.C., and not subject to civilian review."

CAPTION: (RIGHT) Left to Right: Brittany Taylor and Councilman Kevin Faulconer (Original photo by Joel Siegfried)

The conference adjourned about 2:30 p.m. with some participants remaining to informally continue discussions.

The next meeting of the Peninsula Community Planning Board Airport Committee will be this Friday, October 30, from 12:00 Noon to 1:30 P.M., in Liberty Station at 2750 Womble Road, in the McMillan Building.

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