Loading...
SR-9-A (56) .. AP: JPM:TAW:mh: improv Council Meeting 11/29/94 Santa Monica, califor~~ Ii To: Mayor and City Council From: City Staff Subject: Recommendation to Direct the City Attorney to Prepare an Ordinance Establishing Procedures for Review of Improvements at the Santa Monica Airport. Introduction This report requests the City Council to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance establishing procedures for review of improvements at the Santa Monica Airport. Background The City Council requested that staff provide a list of approved or proposed improvements at the Airport. Airport improvements are made in accordance with the 1984 Master Plan and Airport Agreement which obligates the City to maintain and improve the Airport to mitigate noise and ensure the safety of aircraft operations. In addition to the approved or proposed improvements, the City anticipates negotiating several extensions to long term aviation ground leases over the next few years. To minimize noise and improve the safety of the Airport the City Council approved a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration on June 28, 1994 in the amount of $1,604,700. The projects approved to be constructed in the spring of 1995 are detailed in Attachment A. In addition to the approved projects the City has 1 NOV 2 9 199't 9A ~ applied for a federal grant in the amount of $1,989,000 for future noise and safety improvements. These improvements are detailed in Attachment B. There is no guarantee the City will receive any federal funds for these projects listed in Attachment B. In addition to the federal improvement projects underway or on file with the Federal Aviation Administration the City anticipates negotiating ground leases with three lessees which may change the improvements on these parcels. For example, the City will be soliciting request for proposals for the existing Cloverfield Fixed Base Operator (FBO) lease which expires in March of 1996. The City is obligated to provide space for three FBO's under the terms of the 1984 Airport Agreement. The Cloverfield FBO has been operating at the Airport since 1966 and serves as the third FBO. The new lease for the six acre FBO will include replacement of the fuel farm, remodeling of the terminal building, fencing and landscape improvements and construction of light aircraft hangars which will serve as a noise barrier to the homes south of the Airport. In addition to the ground lease with Cloverfield FBO it is anticipated that the City will receive requests from Gunnell Properties and Krueger Aviation to amend or extend their ground leases. 2 Discussion The construction of the light aircraft covers in August of 1994 created neighborhood concerns about the process of approval for improvements at the Airport. The City Council asked staff to develop a public process for improvements at the Airport. It is recommended that an ordinance be prepared providing thresholds for review, the criteria for review and the public notification process. Staff recommends a two tier process similar to that for other development projects in the City. This process would provide for administrative review by Planning staff if the project is below the established threshold provided the project will not have an adverse impact on surrounding residential uses. If the project is over the threshold or may have an adverse impact on surrounding residential uses, the project would be subject to a public hearing before the Planning Commission. The following outlines the proposed review process: ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL Threshold Any new construction under 2,500 square feet. Any new building under 18 feet in height. Any addition to an existing structure or expansion of an existing use under 10%. Any new wall up to eight feet in height or extensions to existing walls up to eight feet in height located at least 150 feet from any residential use. Installation of access control gates, lighting, markings or signage. Installation of aircraft monitoring and directional equipment. 3 Review Criteria Staff will define the criteria for approval, however, the following will be the general criteria to approve a project: The project would not be detrimental or injurious to surrounding residential uses. The project would not be contrary nor in conflict with the goals, policies and objectives of the General Plan and the Airport Master Plan. The site is physically suitable for the project. Public Notice No notice will be required for administrative approval projects. PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW Threshold Any new building over 2,500 square feet. Any new building over 18 feet in height. Any addition or expansion of an existing use over 10%. Any new walls or extensions to existing walls located within 150 feet from any residential use. Any new walls or extensions to existing walls over eight feet in height. Construction of any new access roads. Review Criteria Staff will develop the findings for review, however, the criteria will be similar to the standards for a development review application. Public Notice If the project is located within 500 feet of any residential use, all property owners and tenants within 500 feet of the project shall be notified of the Planning Commission hearing. If the project is located more than 500 feet from any residential use, the Planning Commission public hearing shall be noticed in the local newspaper and posted on the Planning Commission agenda. The proposed thresholds are considerably more restrictive than for other zoning districts throughout the City. For example, the C2 4 Neighborhood Commercial District has a Development Review Threshold of 11,000 square feet and the C4 District has a Development Review Threshold of 25,000 square feet. City staff will follow these guidleines until they are established as an ordinance. The guidelines outlined above are in addition to the current City requirements of review including the Building and Safety Division, Fire Department, Environmental and Public Works Department, and the Architectural Review Board for improvements at the Airport. Minor Airport maintenance and repair such as resurfacing and seal coating will be subject to the review and approval of the Airport Director. In addition, any lease with a term longer than month-to-month is reviewed and approved by the City Council. The Council will also award the construction contracts for all of the improvements outlined in Attachment A and B and the new Fixed Base Operator lease. Budgetary Fiscal Impact The development of the ordinance will not have any budgetary or fiscal impact. 5 Recommendation It is recommended that the City Attorney be directed to prepare an ordinance establishing procedures for review of improvements at the Santa Monica Airport in consultation with the Resource Management and Planning and Community Development Departments. Prepared by: Jeffrey P. Mathieu, Director Resource Management Timothy A. Walsh, Airport Manager Suzanne Frick, Director, Planning and Community Development 6 ATTACHMENT A APPROVED PROJECTS Project 1 . Blast Walls. Phase II Blast from aircraft departing on Runway 3-21 has become an increasing problem at Santa Monica Airport. Phase I of the Blast Wall Project placed walls near the departure runup areas. The walls have effectIvely prevented debris from blowing across roadways and into residentIal areas. Phase IT of the Blast Wall Project will prevent and deflect the high velocity blast of departing aircraft from reaching the residential areas east of the runway end. This will provide significant relief to those affected by the arrcraft blast Project 2 - Fencing and Gates. Phase II Runway incursions continue to be a problem at Santa Monica, requiring further restrictIons on access. The Phase I Access Control Project involved the installation of six (6) access control gates and perimeter fencing. AddItional signage, road closures, restrIctIons to access, and education of users have reduced the number of runway incursions. Further actions are required, including the installation additional access control gates and fencing. Project 3 - Perimeter Road Realignment The clfculatIon of vehtcles on the Airport's airside has caused significant safety problems over the past several years. Numerous improvements have been made to reduce runway incursions and veluc1e and aucraft conflIcts including the mstallation of an FAA access control project. With all of the improvements, runway incursions contmue to be a significant problem. To complete the safety lmprovements, the City proposed to realIgn the west perimeter road to connect WIth Airport Avenue TIus will greatly enhance safety by redireCtIng velucles outsIde the arr operauons area. Project 4 - Repair, Seal Coat, and Mark Existing Taxiways This project consists of a crack seal and seal coat of the existing north and south parallel taxiways. The conilltion of the taxiways at the Airport has deteriorated because of frequent use by arrcraft. Some of the taxiway pavement is part of the original runway built in 1942. Numerous longitudinal cracks exist on the taxlway. Some reconstruction will be required m Isolated areas where structural failures have occurred because of the aircraft using the facility. Project 5 . Lighting and Signing TIns project consists of the installation of runway distance remaining markers that are needed by arrcraft requmng the full runway length. AddItionally, gmdance signs are to be installed to define the runway bener and to prevent runway incursIOns The final component of this project is to recess taxJ.way lIghts in those areas where above-ground lIghts are repeatedly struck by aircraft maneuvering on the ground. Project 6 - Repair, Seal Coat and Mark Existing Parking Aprons. Phase II This project conSIst of a follow-up to the original project submitted as part of the AIP-04 project in 1988. The aircraft parking aprons have permanently been establIshed as a result of the significant change that occurred. in 1986 when the aeronautIcal activities were moved from the southslde to the nortllSlde of the Airport. As a result, some of the CIty parkmg areas require crack reparr, seal coat, and uedown reconfiguration. Project 7 - Aircraft Maintenance Runup Enclosure Aircraft runup noise for maintenance inspections has become an increasing problem at urban anpons like Santa Monica. The amount of space allocated on the Airport to conduct these operations safely and with as httle intrusion to the surrounding neighborhoods has become increasingly difficult The mamtenance runup enclosure is required to abate the noise of engine TU.nups at the Airport. The maintenance runup enclosure will handle arrcraft Wlth up to 60 foot wmg spans. Project 8 . Pave Infield Areas The infield areas between the north and south parallel taxiways and the runway presently consist of oIled native material. These areas have deteriorated, causing dramage problems and debris that is blown onto the runway by aircraft blasts. Project 8 will cap these areas with asphalt to eliminate drainage and FOD problems now being experienced. Project 9 . Refurbish Rotating Beacon The present airpon rotatmg beacon is low-powered and dIfficult to see at night or m low visibIhty III the Los Angeles Basin. The beacon is over 4Q years old and is in need of replacement AddItionally, the exiSTIng tower needs painting and repairs. SANTA MONICA AIRPORT PROJECT COST SUMMARY Total Federal Local Project Cost Share Share Blast Walls - Phase II $ 300,000 $297,000 $33,000 FencinglGates 111,111 100,000 11,111 Perimeter Road Reahgnment 311,000 279,900 31,100 Repair, Seal, and Mark TaxIways 202,000 181,800 20,200 Lighting and Sigmng 63,889 57,500 6,389 Reparr, Seal, and Mark Aprons 220,000 198,000 22,000 Aircraft Mamtenance Runup Enclosure 385,000 346,500 38,500 Pave Infield Areas 125,000 112,500 12,500 Refurbish Rotanng Beacon 35.000 31.500 3.500 TOTAL $1,783,000 $1,604,700 $178,300 ATTACHMENT B PROPOSED PROJECTS Project 1 - Airport Layout Plan Update Recent development and FAA projects reqwre an update of the Airport Layout Plan. The last update was approved by FAA in 1986. Project 2 - Obstruction Marking and Lighting The addition of blast walls and other obstructions near the object free area and the runway protection zone require lighnng and marking Project 3 - Runway Protection Zone Enhancements The operation of aircraft on the 4,987 foot runway requires the study and construction of runway overrun protecnon. The Airport's current runway protection zones are very small with residential uses as close as 275' from the runway end. Enhancements to the runway protection zone would nnrror research conducted at the FAA Research and Development facility in Atlantic Qty to protect aircraft and passengers from aircraft overrun incidents. Project 4 - Noise Monitoring System Upgrade Noise impacts on surroundIng communities connnue to affect the role of the Airport ill the National Transportation System. An upgrade to the noise monitoring system to include fught track capability and addInonal monitors in Venice, West Los Angeles and Santa Monica in conformance with the 1984 AIrport Agreement will further reduce noise impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Project 5 - General Aviation Noise Study The 1984 AIrport Agreement required the CIty to implement an experimental performance- based noise program. The program was designed to lower the nOIse levels of single and multi-engme piston arrcraft which compnse 80% of the fleet at Santa Monica. This general aVIation noise study would develop specific general aviation noise abatement flight profiles by tesnng vanous safe pliot techmques to lower nOIse levels. The study would promote the Administrator's General Aviation Action Plan goal 3D regardIng lowering of general aVIation noise through changes in aircraft flight manual operanons. This project was one of the recommendations of the Santa Monica Arrport Safety Committee. Project 6 - Blast Walls - Final Phase This is the final phase of Blast Wall installation at Santa Monica Airport. The blast walls proposed ill thIS project would be placed at the west-end of the arrport to rrutigate run-up and reverse thrust noise from aircraft departing on Runway 3 Project 7 - Helicopter Approach Path Indicator This project will include the installation of a helicopter approach path mdicator (HAPn for hehcopter operations at Santa Momca Airport. The Helicopter Approach Path Indicator will ensure adequate clearance from obstructions for helicopters operating at Santa Momca The Helicopter Approach Path Indicator will also lower community noise levels by raising the altitude of hehcopter arrivals. The Helicopter Approach Path IndIcator was a recommendation of the Santa Monica Arrport Safety Report dated July 25, 1994. Project 8 - Fencing and Access Control - Final Phase The final phase of access control and penmeter fencing will involve the installation of two more gates and the separation of airside and landslde activities resulting from aircraft parlang ramp changes. The additional gates will further improve the reduction m runway incursions resulting to date from previous FAA fencmg improvements. Project 9 - East Perimeter Road Realignment The circulation of vehicles on the airslde has caused significant safety concerns over the past several years. To complete the safety improvements and reduce the velucle/aircraft conflict a realignment of the east penmeter road to connect with Airport Avenue IS necessary and will separate vehicles and arrcraft completely. This was also a recommendation of the Airport Safety Committee Project 10 - Taxiway Centerline Lighting The North and South parallel taxlways are currently marked with centerline reflectors This project would provide for the installanon of 10,000 feet of taxiway centerlme hghting and the adchnon of a regulator and electrical vault expansion. Flush mounted taxiway centerhne lighnng IS requIred because of the extensive drift-off areas North and South of the runway. Project 11 - Alternative Aircraft Fuels Study The FAA General AViation Action Plan recommf:nded the orderly development of alternative general avianon fuels to reduce emissions. Santa Monica Airport is faced With the potennal Federal Implementation Program by the Envrronmental Protectlon Agency to impose monetary takeoff charges per operation to minimize emissions. The Santa Monica Airport proposes to study and fly an alternative fuel aircraft which IS safe and minimizes ermssions to exceed future local and federal air quality Il}aIldates. The study would be coordinated with the appropnate FAA agencies including arrcraft certification and system engmeering and development AlternatIve fueled aircraft will further general aviatIon and avoid Its demise by proposals such as the FIP. Project 12 - Runway Exit Zone Pavement Reconstruction lbis project will complete the work begun in the 05 FAA project to pave the exit zone edge to the North and South taxiway with full strength pavement of 30,000 single wheel 60,000 dual wheel and 105,000 dual tandum weights. ~ SANTA MONICA AIRPORT Project Cost Sununary PrOject Total Federal Local Cost Share Share Arrport Layout Plan Update $10,000 $ 9.000 $1.000 Obstruction MarkIng and Lighting 50,000 45.000 5.000 Runway Protection Zone 400,000 360,000 40,000 Enhancements Noise Monitoring System Upgrade 300.000 70.000 30.000 General AviatIon NOIse Study 100.000 90,000 10.000 Blast Walls - Fmal Phase 250,000 225,000 25,000 Helicopter Approach Path IndIcator 50,000 45.000 5.000 Fencmg and Access Control- Fmal Phase 100.000 90.000 10,000 East Perimeter Road RealIgnment 400,000 360,000 40,000 Taxiway Centerline Lighting 125,000 112.500 12.500 Alternative Aircraft Fuels Study 250,000 225.000 25,000 Runway ExIt Zone Pavement 175.000 157.500 17.500 Total $2,210,000 1,989,000 221,000