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AIRPORTS COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	09/11/2014
Subject: Byron General Plan Amendment - Presentation
Submitted For:	Keith Freitas
Department:	Airports
Referral No.:
Referral Name:
Presenter:	Patrick Roche	Contact:

Information

Referral History:

The Airport Committee, at their September 24, 2012 meeting, directed Airports staff to schedule the use of the Mariposa Community Benefits Fund for the full Board of Supervisor’s consideration.

On December 4, 2012, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Department of Conservation and Development to undertake a General Plan Amendment study for the Byron Airport.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, on December 4, 2012, authorized the use of a portion of the Mariposa Energy Project Community Benefits Fund to perform a General Plan Amendment Study for the Byron Airport

Referral Update:

Background:

The Byron Airport (Airport) Master Plan, approved in 2005, identified a diversity of aviation and aviation-related land uses for the long term build-out of the Airport. To fully implement the Airport Master Plan, it is necessary to undertake a General Plan Amendment (GPA) process to provide consistency with and allow for the range of contemplated land uses. The GPA will require an environmental analysis of the proposed changes before the amendment can be considered for approval.

This process will be initiated and performed by the Department of Conservation and Development working in collaboration with the Airports. The GPA and environmental processes could take up to twenty-four (24) months to complete, depending on findings during the environmental review component. The projected project cost range of $90,000 to $250,000 is contingent on the elements identified during the environmental review. The cost estimate identified is a range and does not include updating the Byron Chapter of the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, which may be required to be consistent with the GPA. Any request for additional funding through Mariposa Energy Project Community Benefit Fund, to include additional work scope and budget related to an update of the Byron Chapter to the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, will be brought back to the Airport Committee and the Board of Supervisors for consideration at a later date.

While the GPA is necessary to provide land use consistency with the approved Airport Master Plan, the GPA and related environmental review processes are not eligible for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding.

The Mariposa Energy Project Community Benefits Fund (Mariposa Community Benefit Fund) was established to enhance and support the Byron Airport. Airports staff reviewed the proposed use of the Mariposa Community Benefit Fund for the Byron Airport with the Airport Committee, Aviation Advisory Committee, East County cities and community groups, and a pilots association. All comments provided on this matter were in support of using a portion of the Mariposa Community Benefit Fund for the Byron Airport GPA.

Staff from the Department of Conservation and Development, and the Airports Division, Public Works Department, have had discussions about the scope of work for this County-initiated effort. Staff from the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD staff) then prepared a recommended work scope for the Byron Airport General Plan Amendment (GPA) Study and the accompanying Byron Airport, P-1 Planned Unit District Zoning Text Amendment Study (combined Work Scope; see attached). DCD attended the Aviation Advisory Committee’s (AAC) June 12, 2014, meeting to discuss and receive comments on the preferred Work Scope.

As requested by DCD staff at the June 12, 2014, AAC meeting, Airport staff scheduled the Work Scope on the July 10, 2014, AAC meeting agenda to discuss and provide more detailed commentary. Airports staff prepared a memorandum that combined the Airports staff and AAC objectives and comments, thoughts and suggestions on the Work Scope relative to land uses which should be permitted and those which should be subject to a land use permit or development plan (see attached). A copy of the memorandum was distributed to DCD staff for consideration prior to completing the Work Scope necessary to initiate the process.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

Receive & Accept update status of the Byron General Plan Amendment.

Attachments
Byron Airport GPA Study