Boulevard and Borrego make airport site short list
Airport speaker leaves many unanswered questions about airport siting study

By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun
     ALPINE — A chamber of commerce breakfast held Tuesday morning with a guest speaker from the San Diego Regional Airport Authority left many participants with more questions than answers about a possible new airport site in the Back Country.
     “I would like to go back with your comments and views about your airport and this process,” said SDRAA Vice President Ted Sexton.
     Sexton spoke to the group about the current state of Lindberg field and about the ongoing airport site selection process. Several participants posed questions on the proposed sites, specifically the one in Boulevard, dubbed the Campo site, however, Sexton offered no clear answers.
     “People who aren’t out there all the time don’t understand the weather, winds and visibility,” said Bev Falor, owner of Mirror Offset. “It’s windy out there all the time, it just depends on how windy.”
     “You’re right,” replied Sexton, “the winds there, and the prevailing weather are major issues.”
Sexton did admit some problems with the Boulevard site saying that the location was quite a distance for travelers who would use the airport.
     “That’s a long way out there,” he said, “it’s 65 miles. Who wants to drive that far out to go to the airport? Accessibility is key.”
     The Boulevard site would be more than 45 minutes by car for the majority of San Diego County residents.
     He expressed sympathy with residents, briefly discussing the impacts that an airport would have in the area.
     “The airport has a huge quality-of-life impact,” he admitted, “the noise, air and ground pollution are major factors.”
     “The airport will have dispersed benefits throughout the county,” he continued, “but will have centralized effects to people in the area.”
     A new airport in Boulevard would certainly have many effects on the land and population of the area. The airport alone will require approximately 3,000 acres of space. Two runways are planned, each measuring at least 12,000 feet long separated by a median of up to 5,000 feet. Flight path areas would extend out at either end of the landing strips where constant air traffic would be coming and going.
     Roadways in the area would need to be revamped. Significant improvements to SR-94 would be necessary, and one or two new exits off I-8 would have to be built.
The issue of infrastructure and groundwater were not discussed at the chamber breakfast, however they remain a major issue for residents. The majority of properties in Boulevard are fed by well water and the area would require major water usage with the introduction of an international airport.
The airport authority estimates that about 200 residents would have to be moved to build the new airport in Boulevard and that another 200 would be in the direct path of incoming and outgoing aircraft.
     Sexton discussed the possibility of purchasing the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot land, which is located right next to the current airport site. With the acquisition of that land, Sexton said the airport could remain in its current location for an additional 10 to 15 years, but would still eventually have to be replaced.
     Sexton did not return calls from The Alpine Sun, so it remains unknown whether, and to what extent, potentially affected residents or other members of the public may participate in further studies. Also unknown is what elements will be included in further studies and whether details about sites will be included in the November ballot item.

Background
     The airport debate has been going on for about 50 years. Potential sites for a new location have been under continuous study since 2001.
     On Jan. 1, 2003, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority was established to operate San Diego International Airport. As mandated by state law, the authority is required to address the region's long-term air transportation needs including identifying a potential site or sites for a new airport.
     A working group was convened to establish criteria and thresholds for potential airport sites. The group included regional representation with individuals from aviation, airlines, transit, the environmental community, the U.S. Department of Defense, and economic and business interests.
As part of the Air Transportation Action Program, a joint project by SANDAG and San Diego Port District, the working group participated in the initial screening of sites to whittle 30 potential sites down to 16. A subsequent analysis resulted in five viable sites, plus the existing San Diego International Airport, being advanced for Phase II analysis.
     The Phase II analysis began in November 2003 and included computer modeling of the five sites under consideration. the models defined how airport facilities could be fit into the various areas involved. The functional airport structures must fit into portions of the study area, labled only as “Other,” to avoid protected lands. Protected lands include U.S. Forest Service, Indian trust lands, state parks and lakes and reservoirs.
     At its July 8, 2004 public meeting, the board of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority passed a resolution to adding two new areas to the list of sites slated for more detailed study prior to the 2006 county-wide airport site selection ballot measure. The two sites are the Boulevard and Borrego Springs areas of east San Diego County.
     There is still a fairly low awareness of the proposed airport in Boulevard, due in part to the airport authority’s loose reference to the area as the “Campo Study Area.” In reality, Campo is about eight miles west of the proposed site. Roughly, the grid is bounded by a line south of and parallel to Old Highway 80, Tule Jim Lane, and a line north of and parallel to Shasta Way and Camino del Mesa.
Regardless of their level of knowledge, voters will take action on the issue in the November 2006 election. The state law that created the authority agency requires that the Airport Authority study potential airport sites and prepare a ballot measure defining a new airport location for a countywide vote.
     According to its website, the authority believes that citizens should have the final word on whether and how the airport will be expanded.
     In addition, state law requires a vote. 
     When the airport issue comes before the voters in 2006, the agency hopes to provide them with more information so they can make a well-informed decision.
     According to authority documents, it will take 10 to 15 years to plan, fund and build an airport. Given this time frame, the 2006 vote is in line with how long officials believe it will take to develop a new or supplemental airport before the current site becomes unworkable.
     According to Sexton, a specific list of preferred sites will be finalized within the next few days, however, an official announcement of this decision will not be presented until May of this year.
The sites under review are Boulevard, Borrego Springs, East miramar, March Air Reserve Base, MCAS Miramar, NAS North Island, a desert site in Imperial County.
     The use of land currently in use by military authorities has been heavily criticized by military officials and families. In fact, the inclusion of Boulevard and Borrego was spurred by a study requested by military opposition.
      For further information, one may visit San Diego Regional Airport authority.

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