Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the ALUC?
ALUC stands for Airport Land Use Commission. There are ALUCs throughout California. As dictated by state law, each has two primary roles:
- To develop and adopt airport land use compatibility plans (ALUCPs) for the airports within their jurisdictions, and
- To review local agency land use actions to ensure that new development is compatible with adopted ALUCPs.
In San Diego County, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is the designated ALUC. The San Diego ALUC is committed to developing airport land use plans that protect public safety and the ability of airports to operate now and in the future.
2. What is the purpose of an ALUCP?
The purpose of an ALUCP is to protect the safety of people, property and aircraft on the ground and in the air in the vicinity of the airports. ALUCPs also protect airports from encroachment by new incompatible land uses that could restrict the aiports’ operations.
3. What's the difference between an ALUCP and an airport master plan?
The fundamental difference between an ALUCP and an airport master plan is that the focus of the ALUCP is on the land surrounding an airport, while the focus of an airport master plan is on property within the airport boundary. ALUCPs are required to utilize the information provided in airport master plans when projecting airport operations into the future.
In addition, primary responsibility for adoption of an ALUCP rests with the ALUC, while responsibility for adoption of an airport master plan belongs to the entity that owns the airport.
4. What is the ATAG and what is its role?
ATAG is the ALUCP Technical Advisory Group which was formed at the direction of the Airport Authority board to enable interested parties to express their concerns to Airport Authority staff in a fair, open and transparent process. The ATAG includes representatives from local cities, the County of San Diego, other government agencies, airport operators, the military, private property owners and their attorneys, pilots groups, economic development organizations, community planning groups and professional land use associations.
The ATAG has worked through many complex issues including the basic policies and compatibility criteria and has reached consensus on major issues.
ATAG members have been actively engaged in the ATAG process and continue to support it. In addition to briefing the organizations they officially represent, many members actively brief other business and community organizations and bring their feedback back to ATAG for consideration.
5. Are the ALUC and the ATAG working with local governments and organizations in developing the ALUCPs?
Yes. The ATAG specifically includes representatives from cities, the County and other agencies who serve as conduits for information to and from the ATAG and ALUC staff.
6. How has the ATAG contributed to the ALUCP process?
The ATAG has enabled stakeholders to thoroughly discuss their concerns with each other and Airport Authority staff and has come to consensus on the major issues.
The ATAG process has been instrumental in helping the Airport Authority understand stakeholder issues and helped the Airport Authority to develop better land use plans.
7. How do ALUCPs apply to existing land uses?
ALUCPs do not apply to existing land uses. They only apply to new or future development or redevelopment.
8. What authority does the ALUC have to enforce land use restrictions?
The ALUC guides landowners and local land use jurisdictions as to what kinds of new development are appropriate around an airport, but has no authority to enforce its recommendations. Rather, jurisdictions, e.g., cities and the County are required to bring their general plans into conformance with adopted ALUCPs. The jurisdictions enforce any potential land use restrictions stemming from the adopted ALUCPs.
In San Diego, the ALUC is working collaboratively with the jurisdictions to create ALUCPs that protect the public and are consistent with their general plans.
9. How does the ALUC coordinate with local land use jurisdictions?
The ALUC works with local jurisdictions primarily through the ALUCP process. In addition, ALUC members and staff work directly with elected officials and staff of local jurisdictions affected by airports.
10. What happens if a city and/or the County disagree with the ALUC?
If, despite all efforts to forge mutually agreeable solutions, a jurisdiction disagrees with the ALUC, it may make specific findings pursuant to state law and, with a two-thirds vote of its governing body, overrule the ALUC.
11. How do ALUCPs affect my property rights?
ALUCPs affect new land uses, rather than existing development. Structure replacement and infill development are generally permitted, with certain limited exceptions.
ALUCPs do not enable airport operators to expand airport operations; they are merely reflect and must be based upon the airport operators’ master plans and their projections about future operations.
12. How do I get more information?
The best place to stay informed of the ALUCP process is to check the Airport Authority website: www.san.org. Click on San Diego County Regional Airport Authority on the homepage and then on Land Use Compatibility on the menu bar at the left. ATAG Meetings are posted under Technical Advisory Group.
Once draft ALUCPs are published for comment, the public can send written comments by mail, email or fax. Written comments may be mailed to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Attn: Airport System Planning, P.O. Box 82776, San Diego, CA 92138-2776. Emailed comments should be sent to alucpcomments@san.org. Comments submitted by e-mail must be limited in length to not more than 2,000 words, and must not contain attachments. Written comments may be faxed to (619) 400-2459.
Additional sources regarding ALUC issues include the California Airport Land Use Planning Handbook, State of California Department of Transportation Division of aeronautics, January 2002 at http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/planning/aeronaut/htmlfile/landuse.php
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