City Council

(19) 23-1339 CD 6 PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT (PLUM) and TRADE, TRAVEL AND TOURISM COMMITTEES’ REPORT relative to convening the necessary Citizens Advisory Committee meetings that will serve to provide input during all phases of the development process of the Van Nuys Airport Specific Plan; and related matters. Recommendations for Council action, as initiated by Motion (Padilla - Raman): INSTRUCT the Department of City Planning (DCP), with the assistance of the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), and in consultation with Council District 6 as Committee Chair responsible for the formation and/or operation of the Van Nuys Airport Specific Plan Citizens Advisory Committee, to convene the necessary Citizens Advisory Committee meetings that will serve to provide input during all phases of the development process of the Van Nuys Airport Specific Plan and its relevant studies; and which will include at least one local resident/stakeholder from, but not limited to, Council Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; and provide an option for Council District office staff participation. INSTRUCT the DCP, with the assistance of the LAWA, as initially instructed by the Council on March 3, 2023 (Council file No. 22-1127), to prepare a Specific Plan for the Van Nuys Airport (VNY), and thereby replace the Van Nuys Airport Plan and zoning ordinance (Council file No. 05-2286), which was adopted nearly 18 years ago. The Van Nuys Airport Specific Plan should include, but not be limited to, the following: Use the results of a forensic audit of VNY per criteria to be set by the Council to better understand the needs for VNY to remain self-sustaining, determine need or independence from future Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant use, and for assessment and possible reconsideration of the existing Plan’s airport land use map, and in consideration of policy needs. Outline criteria for economic studies related to VNY, including cumulative impact on the regional environment and surrounding communities, consideration of percentage of suppliers and workers that are located within Los Angeles County, and defining income designated solely for airport infrastructure versus income benefitting the region directly. Look at mitigating noise and other impacts from the airport on the surrounding area including jet blast and sound barrier installations between the airport and adjacent homes and businesses, green space to mitigate climate change and pollution factors on both the east and west side of the property, and other opportunities such as tree planting. Define Request for Proposal criteria that contains modernization to meet the City’s long term carbon reduction goals, including grey water systems and power capacity upgrades to allow electrified hangars and ramps to reduce emissions from ground operations. Establish a community benefit program for the surrounding area. Explore how land covered by the Specific Airport Plan can continue to be an economic generator by luring new commercial activity, including possible necessity of filing a formal release with the FAA to change key land use classifications to non-aeronautical where environmental justice and health issues or critical pollution mitigation needs dictate as such. Have extensive engagement with airport stakeholders and local residents with defined protocol moving forward. ADD Council District 12 to the list of Citizens Advisory Committee members. Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.