A ruling by a county airport
land use commission could be a
factor in delaying a plan to move
the northernmost runway of Los
Angeles International Airport
toward Westchester, which Culver
City officials maintain could
have any impact on their city
Culver City is one of three
governmental bodies that are
engaged in a legal action against
Los Angeles World Airports,
which owns LAX, over its modernization
plans.
Ontario, San Bernardino
County and Culver City believe
the airport moved too quickly
with their modernization plans,
the most controversial of which
is the decision to move the airport’s
northernmost runway
toward Westchester and portions
of Playa del Rey.
Culver City, which lies north
of Westchester, argues that it
will be on the receiving end of
pollution from the airport.
The county Airport Land Use
Commission was scheduled to
vote on a staff report recommendation
Sept. 11 to uphold what
is called an “impasse appeal”
based on a number of factors.
Some include what the three
entities allege are LAWA’s failure
to submit to the county commission,
and the commission’s
failure to consider, the entire
LAX Specific Plan Amendment
Study Project when determining
its compatibility with the county
airport land use commission’s
similar plan, the project’s inconsistencies
with the county commission’s
policies governing
items such as structural incursions
into the north airfield and
LAWA’ failure to mitigate the
alleged violations of state law,
according to court papers submitted
by the law firm of Buchalter
Nemer.
“Culver City views the staff’s
position as a significant step
toward resolving the City’s conflict
with the city of Los Angeles
and its airport operating agency,
Los Angeles World Airports
(LAWA), regarding the LAX
expansion,” Culver City City
Manager John Nachbar said.
“Culver City has consistently
held the position that LAWA did
not disclose to the public the
full extent of the Specific Plan
Amendment Study project or its
impacts,” Nachbar said. “The
(airport land use commission)
staff analysis concurs with that
position, and Culver City is looking
forward to confirmation of
the staff’s position by the (Airport
Land Use Commission) on
Sept. 11.”
If the commission accepts the
recommendation, there is the
possibility that the Los Angeles
City Council, which voted in
favor of the airport’s modernization
plan on April 30, could possibly
reconsider the plan.
According to a Department
of Regional Planning administrator,
the commission’s task
is to ensure that the airport’s
actions are in compliance with
the state’s Aeronautics Act.
Because of the LAX modernization
plan, Culver City will be
likely be required to update its
land use ordinances to make
them compatible with the airport’s
plans.
