Agenda

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7. a.

AIRPORTS COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	03/08/2023
Subject: Discuss Con Fire Station 9 to Airport Property, Buchanan Field
Submitted For:	AIRPORTS COMMITTEE
Department:	Airports
Referral No.:
Referral Name:
Presenter:		Contact:

Information

Referral History:

ConFire has identified a preferred location to relocate Fire Station 9 which is an approximate 3-acre site of land located generally east/northeast of the Center and Willow Street intersection on the west side of Buchanan Field Airport. The project will also include an air ambulance component in collaboration with REACH Air Medical. The desired location of the fire station is designated for non-aviation use and the hangar location is designated for aviation use on the adopted Airport Master Plan. CEQA analysis of the site is currently underway.

On October 8, 2019, the Board authorized Airports Staff to negotiate lease and development terms for 3-acres of County owned land at Buchanan Field Airport. The Buchanan Field Flood Report update is nearing completion which will provide the mitigation options for projects located along the drainage ditch on the west side of the airport. This project will be located in the Flood Report impacted area. Due to the space constraints and ditches, Airport staff requested the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine that the combined air ambulance and fire station project would be an acceptable use on land noted for aviation use on the Airport Layout Plan. The FAA responded that as the fire station serves the broader community, we would have to undertake a release process to use aviation land for a non-aviation purpose. Airport staff has provided further project detail to the FAA about the combined and interrelated nature of the full project and asked for a reconsideration of their determination.

Public Works Capital Projects and Environmental staff are still working with environmental consultants to perform the necessary environmental analysis for the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as required by the FAA to make a release of land for non-aeronautical use determination. FAA staff reviewed the first round of NEPA reports and has indicated that a Categorical Exclusion is likely, but additional information is needed to formalize this approach. The development team is completing the additional environmental review items. The finalized packet will be submitted to the FAA so they can complete the environmental review necessary for the land use release process (to allow for the non-aviation, fire station, and component).

Staff from the Development Services and Airports Division have been working with the developer of the 16-acre parcel to the north of the ConFire site to determine a feasible solution to the drainage insufficiencies along Marsh Drive. Because those efforts have yet to yield a viable alternative, the Fire District has decided to forego moving Fire Station 9 to Buchanan Field. However, if a drainage solution is discovered allowing development on the west side of the airport, the air operations portion of ConFire’s needs may still be met at Buchanan Field.

Referral Update:

When a drainage solution is determined that allows additional development on the west side of the airport, re-engage with ConFire to gauge their interest in basing an air operations unit at Buchanan Field.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

Fiscal Impact (if any):

None.

Attachments
No file(s) attached.