Item 37 - EIR No. 2020-03 and GPA No.2020-06 Santa Ana General Plan Update

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS- M.S. #40 1 120 N STREET P. O. BOX 942874 SACRAMENTO, CA 94274-0001 PHONE (916) 654-4959 FAX (916) 653-9531 TTY 711 www.dot.ca.gov December 6, 2021 Ms. Melanie McCann, Principal Planner City of Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701-4058 Dear Ms. McCann: Making Conservation a California Way of Life. Electronically Sent mmccannC?santa-ana.ora iauevara C?sa nta-ana.org The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Division of Aeronautics (Division) appreciates the City of Santa Ana's (City) Notice of Intent (NOI) to overrule as is required by California Public Utilities Code (PUC) section 21676(b). The notice informs the Division of the City's intent to overrule the October 15, 2021, Orange County Airport Land Use Commission's (OCA LUC) determination that the proposed amendment to the City's General Plan update Golden City Beyond (Project) is inconsistent with the 2008 Airport Environs Land Use Plan (AELUP) forthe John Wayne Airport (JWA) regarding the City's comprehensive update of the Golden City Beyond General Plan. Resolution No. 2020- 078 to overrule was signed the next day, October 16, 2020, by Mayor Miguel A. Pulido, which shows the City's intent to overrule before the ALUC issued its determination. According to the NOI, "Pursuant to PUC Section 21676(b), the City may overrule the commission by a two-thirds vote of the City Council if it makes specific findings that the Project is consistent with the purposes of the State Aeronautics Act (SAA), as stated in PUC Section 21670. And, the City finds that the Project is consistent with the JWA AELUP and the ACT based on the following Findings of Fact and substantial evidence." In advance of a public hearing on the Resolution to consider overruling the ALUC's determination, the Division is providing the following comments pursuant to PUC section 21676. A goal of the Division is to assist cities, counties, and ALUCs in the implementation of policies that protect the safety and welfare where aeronautical activities take place. Another goal is to support public access to State permitted airports as well as the planned development and retention of airports across California. The most heavily used and relied upon of these airports are the commercial service airports, including JWA. Beyond the value of being an access point to the National Airport System supporting air passenger and air cargo traffic, airports are critical to the air attack agencies that rely on quick response times to manage incidents to minimizethe loss of life and property. During emergencies such as a pandemic orwildfire, the public may be more tolerant to aircraft noise. However, once these events subside, the number of noise complaints "Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated, and efficient transportation system to enhance California's economyand livability"