What is the ALUC? Top
ALUC stands for Airport Land Use Commission. There are ALUCs throughout California,
and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
serves as the ALUC for the San Diego region. As dictated by state law, each ALUC
has two primary roles:
- To prepare, adopt and update the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (ALUCPs) for
each public-use and military airport within their jurisdiction; and
- To review local agency land use actions to ensure that new development is compatible
with adopted ALUCPs.
The San Diego ALUC is committed to developing airport land use compatibility plans
that protect public safety and the ability of airports to operate now and in the
future.
What is an ALUCP and what is its purpose?
Top
The purpose of an Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) is to protect the
safety of people, property and aircraft on the ground and in the air in the vicinity
of the airports by providing guidance on appropriate future land uses surrounding
airports. ALUCPs also protect airports from encroachment by new incompatible land
uses that could restrict the airport's operations. These plans are developed based
on four separate compatibility factors: noise, safety, airspace protection
and overflight.
What's the difference between an ALUCP and an airport master
plan? Top
The fundamental difference between an Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (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 use 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.
What is the difference between an ALUCP and an Air Installation
Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) document? Top
An Air Installations Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) Study is prepared by the military
to project the near-term operations of an air station. Per California state law,
the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) for an air station is required to
be consistent with the land use recommendations in the AICUZ study. AICUZ studies
are not prepared for general aviation and commercial airports.
Is the public involved in developing the Airport Land Use Compatibility
Plans (ALUCPs) for San Diego County? Top
Yes. The ALUC is currently in the process of preparing the ALUCP for San Diego International
Airport. The public is highly encouraged to participate in that effort through two
important forums. First, Public Workshops are being held at each major milestone
throughout the project. The Public Workshops are intended to inform people of the
status of the project and answer any questions that you may have. The second forum
is the Steering Committee meetings. The Steering Committee is open to anyone that
wishes to help advise staff on the preparation of the SDIA ALUCP. These meetings
will be held approximately once per month and each will focus on a major topic of
the ALUCP, specifically noise, airspace protection, overflight, or safety. The Steering
Committee meetings provide a opportunity for people to have a direct impact on the
final SDIA ALUCP. The schedules for both the Public Workshops and the Steering Committee
meetings will be updated regularly on this website.
How do ALUCPs apply to existing land uses?
Top
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (ALUCPs) do not apply to existing land uses.
They only apply to new or future development or redevelopment.
What authority does the ALUC have to enforce land use restrictions?
Top
The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) guides landowners and local agencies about
appropriate land uses around an airport, but has no authority to enforce its recommendations.
Rather, local agencies (e.g., cities and the County) are required by state law to
bring their general plans into conformance with adopted ALUCPs. The local agencies enforce
any potential land use restrictions stemming from the adopted ALUCPs.
In San Diego, the ALUC is working collaboratively with the local agencies to create
ALUCPs that protect the public.
How does the ALUC coordinate with local land use agencies?
Top
The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) coordinates with local agencies during the
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan Technical Advisory Group (ATAG) process to help
develop Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (ALUCPs) with clear and implementable
land use recommendations. In addition, the ALUC works with local agencies to
determine whether proposed projects in their jurisdiction are compatible with surrounding
airports.
What happens if a city and/or the County disagree with the
ALUC? Top
If, despite all efforts to forge mutually agreeable solutions, an agency disagrees
with the determination made by the ALUC, it may make specific findings pursuant
to state law to overrule the ALUC's determination with a two-thirds vote of its
governing body (PUC 21676).
How do Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans affect my property
rights? Top
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (ALUCPs) only affect new land uses, not
existing development. Structure replacement and infill development are generally
permitted, with certain limited exceptions.
Does an ALUCP allow for an airport to expand?
Top
Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans (ALUCPs) do not enable airport operators to
expand airport operations; they merely reflect and must be based upon the airport
operators' master plans and their projections about future operations, which have
to be submitted to and reviewed by Caltrans.
How do I get more information? Top
To stay informed about the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) process,
check the Land Use Compatibility page frequently. You may
also call 619-400-2462 or submit comments
or questions to alucpcomments@san.org.
Once draft ALUCPs are published for review and 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 may 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.