The County will complete its Palomar Runway Extension Study soon. The County will determine whether Palomar will extend its runway from 4900 feet to 6000 feet. The County will also soon start its 2015 to 2035 Palomar Airport Master Plan study.
Presumably, the public will have the chance to comment on environmental documents the County prepares related to these projects.
Should You Care?
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Expanding Palomar airport has benefits. But the ultimate question is: Do the burdens outweigh the benefits?
A reader recently commented that he was glad to see the Lowe’s, bank, gas station, fast food restaurants, and retail shops spring up across from the airport. As am I. Carlsbad residents should have convenient stores and services close to their houses and businesses.
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The Lowe’s Center development will add many cars to the road and slow traffic on Palomar Airport Road and El Camino. But with the CEQA mitigation measures imposed on the project, traffic, air pollution, and noise burdens should be bearable.
Other Carlsbad projects are in the wings. These projects too will burden traffic and air quality and make noise.
The question for Carlsbad residents is: Are the cumulative impacts of Carlsbad projects plus the impacts of perhaps another 1,000,000 passengers per year at Palomar Airport acceptable?
What Factors Should You Consider in Deciding Whether to Support or Oppose Palomar Expansion?
For me, the decision is easy. Palomar should remain a smaller airport servicing private pilots, corporate jets, and commuter service to Los Angeles.
Yes, Palomar is a convenient airport for my San Francisco-loving daughter to use. But I’d rather drive to Lindbergh twice a year to pick her up if the trade off is avoiding daily Palomar-induced noise and traffic.
More concerning is what the County and FAA have repeatedly told the public: the County can’t arbitrarily limit the air traffic into Palomar. Once Palomar extends its runway, expect more planes. Especially watch for the County to shift traffic from Lindbergh to Palomar. The County will vehemently deny that shifting traffic will happen. But what alternative will Lindbergh have as it soon reaches capacity?
Also larger planes using Palomar create safety risks due to the methane-emitting landfill adjacent to the Palomar runway. Prior blogs have explained those risks.
In short, develop Carlsbad for Carlsbad residents, not for transient flyers.
What Can You Do?
First, be realistic. Understand that the County and Carlsbad Council are committed to expanding Palomar Airport if they can find the money. Their actions show this. But they are hesitant to approve airport expansions in public. But approve them they do. More on this issue in the next few weeks.
Second, know that simply complaining about airplane or helicopter noise to Carlsbad or the County falls on deaf ears. As explained in Blog #11, the government has essentially defined noise complaints out of existence.
Third, as explained in Blog #32 last week, your only hope of influencing Carlsbad or County is include reliable information in the written record that may force Carlsbad and County to better inform the public and to actually comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Few citizens have the time or desire to oppose Carlsbad or the County. But you can often contribute significantly with minimal effort. How? Carlsbad and County planning and environmental studies often make claims supported with weak evidence.
Citizens have expertise in many fields helpful to challenge Carlsbad and County claims. If you have expertise in accounting, aircraft or airport operations, engineering, environmental issues, finance, governmental planning and zoning, or other fields, offer your help to those interested in challenging Palomar Airport expansion.
