San Joaquin County in Ca. Wants to Protect Airport

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors is putting its collective foot down on growth around the airport.

Tuesday, supervisors voted unanimously to have staff members look into creating a protection zone surrounding the Stockton Metropolitan Airport.

The vote follows a plan by Arnaiz Development Co. of Stockton to build Tidewater Crossing, a 2,100-unit housing development within a mile of an airport runway.

And although Tidewater Crossing isnt on the drawing board yet, supervisors opted to have the county's Community Development Department come up with the best option to create the protective zone.

One such option, floated by Supervisor Victor Mow, would be to put in place a moratorium on development around the airport.

But I don't know if we want to go there, he said.

Another option considered was a protection zone, much like the Livermore Airport has surrounding it.

Although a protection zone like Livermores wouldn't fit in with the Stockton Airport, it was just a model of how it could be, Mow said.

Just what that protection zone should be is unknown, Mow said. If the discussion is to say 2 miles, is that what we want? Or, will one and three-quarter miles accomplish the same thing?

The desire to protect the county-run airport is based on its importance to the region, Mow said Wednesday afternoon.

We need a protection zone around it so you don't get residential development that would compromise this asset, he said. Its a land-use issue. But Wednesday afternoon, Supervisor Leroy Ornellas questioned whether it was a land-use issue or more directed at Tidewater Crossing.

Why didn't this come up two years ago? Ornellas said Wednesday afternoon. Why not when Seabreeze was being proposed?

Seabreeze is a two-part housing development approved by the county's Local Agency Formation Commission in 2004. Situated off state Highway 99, it has 200 single-family lots.

I think we do need to plan for the airport and its future, he said. I just wish it would have started a year ago.

Still, if Tidewater Crossing is developed, it could affect Aeromexicos desire to bring international travel to the airport, said Barry Rondinella, the airports director.

They've expressed some concerns, Rondinella said Wednesday morning. Most of those concerns have centered on possible noise complaints and flight restrictions in the area, he said.

It depends on what Tidewater looks like, he said.

And while he defends the mixed use of commercial and manufacturing as compatible near or around an airport, Rondinella said residential and schools are not compatible near an airport.

In San Jose, that debate has come full circle with Reid-Hillview Airport, a small airport on the east side of San Jose across the street from Eastridge Mall.

Originally built in the early 1930s, before development mushroomed in San Jose, the airport is now the target of area residents who want it shut down.

And in Livermore, the noise of airplanes flying overhead has drawn the ire of not only Livermore residents living down the street but also Pleasanton residents living near the airport.

The debate between the county and Stockton is not the first time the two governments have squared off over development at the Stockton Airport.

The county and Stockton are still haggling over improvements at Airport East Business Park.

Airport East Business Park is a 500-acre mix of manufacturers and commercial use on the east side of the airport. At its buildout, the county envisions 7 million square feet of manufacturing, research and development, along with offices and air cargo facilities, according to a project list for the airport.

Stockton officials have been unwilling to provide sewer and water services to the area unless the county agrees to future annexation by Stockton, or at least signs an agreement that if Stockton annexes the area the county wont object, said Mark Madison, Stocktons municipal utilities director.

Although the area is still undeveloped, the county has applied for service in the East Airport area, Madison said Wednesday morning.

We are not in agreement just yet to the conditions for the city providing services, he said. Weve imposed conditions. If they object to those conditions, it is possible the city could deny them services.

Supervisors are expected to get a report on an airport protection zone within four weeks.

In the meantime, Stockton will wait and see what the county comes up with, said Christine Tien, Stocktons deputy city manager. Theres nothing we can do.

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