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CALIFORNIA STATE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR <br />California Department of Transportation <br />DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS - M.S. #40 <br />1 120 N STREET <br />P. O. BOX 942874 <br />SACRAMENTO, CA 94274-0001 <br />PHONE (916) 654-4959 <br />FAX (916) 653-9531 <br />TTY 711 <br />www.dot.ca.aov <br />August 12, 2025 <br />Mr. Jerry C. Guevara <br />Senior Planner <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, California 92702 <br />Dear Mr. Guevara: <br />Electronically Sent <br />uevara@santa-ana.o <br />The California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (Caltrans), <br />supports cities, counties, and Airport Land Use Commissions (ALUCs) in developing <br />land use policies that promote public health, safety, and welfare near airports. <br />On July 16, 2025, Caltrans received the City of Santa Ana's draft Resolution No. 2025- <br />xx, which declared the City's intent to overrule the Orange County ALUC inconsistency <br />determination for the proposed Village Santa Ana Specific Plan (Project) with the <br />Airport Environs Land Use Plan (AELUP) for John Wayne Airport (JWA). We appreciate <br />the opportunity to provide input on the City's proposed overrule. <br />Caltrans has reviewed the City's Findings included in the July 16, 2025 submittal, along <br />with the ALUC Staff Report and Inconsistency Determination Letter, both dated June <br />19, 2025. Based on this review, Caltrans has determined that the that the City's <br />Findings do not provide sufficient justification to support the proposed overrule. <br />Specifically, Caltrans disagrees with the following statement in the Findings: "The <br />residential and commercial land uses under the proposed Project are consistent with <br />the height standards of the AELUP." <br />The proposed building heights within the Project penetrate the FAA Part 77 Horizontal <br />Surface for JWA by up to 107 feet, as outlined in the ALUC Staff Report. The AELUP for <br />JWA, consistent with Section 2.1.3 in the AELUP, states that an FAA No Hazard <br />determination does not automatically equate to an ALUC finding of consistency. The <br />allowance of structures that exceed the 100:1 notification surface undermines the <br />intent of the AELUP to protect navigable airspace and ensure compatibility with <br />airport operations. <br />"Provide a safe and reliable transportation network that serves all people and respects the environment" <br />