Frequently Asked Questions

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• What is an Airport Master Plan and why is one needed?

  An Airport Master Plan is a 20-year vision for how the airport can safely meet the current and future projected aviation demand. The Master Plan contains a list of projects at the airport proposed to be built over time and are necessary to safely meet demand.

• What has happened since the Master Plan was originally approved in 2018?

  On October 10, 2018, the County Board of Supervisors certified the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the McClellan-Palomar Airport Master Plan Update. In response to a ruling by the San Diego Superior Court, the Board of Supervisors subsequently rescinded the Master Plan Update and de-certified the PEIR on May 5, 2021, and directed staff to return to the Board to present options and get direction on how to proceed with the Master Plan. 

• How was the Master Plan changed after approval in 2018?

  To address the Court’s ruling, clarifications were made in the Master Plan to address the need for an amendment to Conditional Use Permit 172 from the City of Carlsbad prior to implementation of a design standard greater than B-II. In addition, minor administrative clarifications were also made. On the Master Plan website, a 1-page summary lists the areas where edits were made to the Master Plan. 

• What happens to the Master Plan now the Board of Supervisors have approved it? What’s next?

  Now that direction has been received from the Board of Supervisors, County staff have updated the Airport Layout Plan and received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  

• What are the benefits of extending a runway?

  Extending the runway would increase the space for aircraft to land and take off at the airport and improve the potential for future commercial air carrier service using small, regional, 30 to 70 passenger aircraft.  A runway extension would also reduce aircraft noise for communities west of Palomar because it would allow most aircraft to increase altitude sooner after takeoff. By increasing altitude sooner, sound from the aircraft is quieter to people on the ground.

• What public outreach has been conducted for the Master Plan and Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)?

  There have been two rounds of public outreach. Between 2014 and 2018, the County met with over 30 stakeholder groups, held multiple Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC) meetings, established and supported a dedicated project website, hosted three public workshops, and 2,200 emails were sent to interested parties including aviation business owners, residents, pilots, local cities and other state and federal agencies, and members of the public. 

  In 2021, the Master Plan and PEIR were updated based on the Court ruling and were made available to the public on September 14, 2021, both on the project website and in hard copy. The public was notified of the available documents and the re-start of the planning process through email notifications, letters, the project website, and direct correspondence with nearly 40 key stakeholders, including user groups, community groups, and neighboring cities. Staff held 21 focused one-on-one meetings with stakeholders, hosted a virtual informational meeting on September 29, 2021, distributed a mailer to over 750 addresses and five rounds of updates to over 3,000 interested parties via email, and ensured the public was notified in advance of opportunities to participate and engage with County staff. The County also presented at the October 14, 2021 PAAC meeting and is tentatively scheduled to return to the Board of Supervisors.

• What is the economic benefit of the airport on the region and community?

  An economic impact analysis report was recently conducted to evaluate the airport’s contribution to the broader San Diego region, to the North County, and to the City of Carlsbad economies. Airport-related capital investment, operational employment, visitor spending and airport-owned business park activity were quantified under existing conditions and forecasted for potential impact if the Master Plan was implemented under the D-III designation. 

  The airport currently supports approximately 2,600 jobs in the region, drives $461 million in industry activity, and generates $72 million in federal, state, and local taxes annually. 35% of these airport-generated jobs and 36% of the industry’s economic activity is located in the City of Carlsbad. With full development of the Master Plan Update, Palomar’s economic activity would almost double.

• How does the FAA’s forecast affect the Master Plan?

  The FAA’s forecast (also known as the Terminal Area Forecast) projects how aircraft will operate over the next 20 years. During the Master Plan process, County Airports worked with the FAA to determine specific forecasts for Palomar that were used for anticipated aviation demand. 

• Will the airport traffic increase with a longer runway?

  Ground and air traffic at Palomar is expected to continue to increase over time regardless of runway length. A longer runway enables an aircraft to have more room to take off and more stopping distance to land safely. The annual operations difference in 2021 for no project as compared to an extended runway is 3,000 total operations (159,100 as compared to 162,100).

• Can the runway extension be safely built over a landfill?

  Yes. With mitigation and best management practices during construction and lessons learned on other projects built over inactive landfills, a runway extension can be built safely over a landfill.

• How did the County consider safety in the Master Plan?

  Safety is a top priority for all County airports. While the County cannot control what types of aircraft use Palomar (only the FAA has this authority), the County can improve safety for aircraft currently using the airport. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides airport owners with guidance to safely accommodate the types of aircraft that use an airport, which is the foundation for the safety enhancements identified in the Master Plan. Specifically, at the beginning of the Master Plan process, an aviation forecast was prepared using an FAA formula that guides the airport design to protect aircraft and people on the ground.

  For Palomar, the FAA guidance considers the largest and fastest category of aircraft currently using the airport. This is called a “critical design aircraft” and is defined by FAA as having at least 500 annual operations. With over 700 takeoffs and landings per year, Palomar’s critical aircraft, as determined by the FAA, is the Gulfstream 500/600 series business jet, categorized as a D-III, which holds 18 passengers. However, the airport still only meets B-II design standards. It is important to note, 40% of the business jets currently based at Palomar exceed the B-II design standards.
  

  Therefore, FAA standards indicate that the airport should be designed to meet D-III standards based on the aircraft using the airport today and projected to use the airport in the future.
  

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• What are the findings of the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)?

  In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the PEIR evaluated the potential environmental impacts of the Master Plan’s design alternatives (i.e., B-II and D-III). (Please note that the options are explained under the Master Plan questions above.)
  
  For the B-II alternative, the PEIR found three areas with potential impacts: Aesthetics, Hazardous Materials, and Transportation. After mitigation, the potential environmental impacts would be less than significant.

  For the D-III alternatives, the PEIR found five areas with potential impacts: Aesthetics, Biology, Construction Noise, Hazardous Materials, and Transportation. After mitigation, the potential environmental impacts would be less than significant.
  

• Why was the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) de-certified in May of 2021?

  In November 2018, a lawsuit was filed claiming the environmental review was not adequate in the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). The Superior Court ruled most of the County’s analysis was adequate; however, it found the PEIR should have included additional noise analysis where residents reported noise concerns during the public comment periods.

  In addition, the Superior Court ruled that an amendment to Conditional Use Permit 172 (which was issued by the City of Carlsbad on September 24, 1980) was required to implement the Master Plan’s recommended alternative (i.e., D-III Modified Standards Compliance Alternative).
  

  The County Board of Supervisors decided not to appeal the Court’s ruling and was required to remove approval of the Master Plan and decertify the PEIR. The Master Plan and PEIR have been revised to address the Superior Court’s findings, and options to move forward with the project will go back to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.
  

• Will the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) be recirculated for public comment after being de-certified in May of 2021? If not, why?

  Recirculation of the PEIR is not required as the additional analysis completed by the County concluded that no new significant impacts would occur as a result of the Master Plan. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), inclusion of this additional data in the PEIR did not preclude or deprive the public of a meaningful opportunity to comment during prior review periods. Furthermore, the supplemental analysis was completed in direct response to previous public comments. Therefore, recirculation of the PEIR is not required. 

  The public is welcome to review the draft documents that were made available in September 2021 and will be presented to the Board of Supervisors, including an explanation why recirculation is not required.
  

• What additional noise analysis was prepared and what did it conclude? Where can I find the additional noise analysis?

  In January 2021, the San Diego Superior Court found the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) should have included additional noise analysis where residents reported noise concerns during the public comment periods. 

  As a result, the County conducted additional noise analysis to satisfy the Court’s ruling. Specifically, any public comments concerning aircraft noise that were received during prior public review periods between 2016 and 2018 were analyzed for potentially significant impacts. Public noise comments that included an address or nearby landmark (such as a park or an intersection) sufficient to identify a location were included within the Supplemental Noise Analysis (PEIR Appendix D). Comments that did not provide a location or sufficient information were not included. Upon reviewing all public comments, a total of 66 locations were identified for inclusion in the Supplemental Noise Analysis, including locations in the Cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista.

  All studied locations were reviewed for their existing condition, future conditions without a change to the airport and two future conditions with changes at the airport. The analysis concluded that none of the locations would be located within the 65-decibel contour, which is the FAA-defined threshold of significance used in the PEIR. Therefore, the Supplemental Noise Analysis verifies that no aircraft-related significant noise impacts would occur in areas affected by the Master Plan.

  The additional noise analysis is available on the Master Plan website by navigating to the Program Environmental Report page and clicking on Supplemental Noise Analysis.

• How come the aircraft noise over my house now isn’t considered to be an impact of the Master Plan?

  As part of the environmental analysis, existing noise conditions were taken into consideration and used as the baseline to project how noise would change around the airport if the Master Plan were implemented. The environmental analysis found that no residences are located within the 65-decibel noise contour under existing conditions or future conditions with the project. The 65-decibel contour is the FAA-defined threshold for determining a noise impact.

• What changes were made to the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) since it was approved in 2018?

  On the Master Plan website, a 1-page summary is available listing the areas where edits were made to the PEIR (i.e., Chapters 2.4 and 3.1.7). In addition, a “Tracked Changes” version of the PEIR is available online showing the proposed edits in strikeout/underline. 

  As noted on the website, the draft documents were prepared for the Board of Supervisors' consideration at a future. The "tracked changes" versions reflect minor edits compared to documents initially considered by the Board in October 2018.

• What did the lawsuit say about the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)?

  Upon adoption of the Master Plan and certification of the PEIR in 2018, Citizens for a Friendly Airport filed a petition for Writ of Mandate and complaint on November 6, 2018, challenging the County Board of Supervisors’ decision alleging there were deficiencies in the PEIR, and the County needed to obtain an amendment to a Conditional Use Permit by the City of Carlsbad.

  On January 26, 2021, the Superior Court upheld the PEIR analysis and dismissing the claims, except on two items. While the Superior Court determined the noise analysis was generally adequate, the Court found the PEIR should have included additional noise analysis for all areas where residents reported noise concerns during the public comment periods. 

  On March 4, 2021, the Superior Court ordered the County to set aside all approvals associated with the October 10, 2018, approval of the Master Plan, certification of the PEIR, and related actions. The Board decided not to appeal the Court’s ruling and was required to remove approval of the Master Plan and decertify the PEIR.

• Did the Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)/Master Plan rely on the County CAP?

  No. The PEIR did not rely on the Climate Action Plan. County staff conducted an independent greenhouse gas emissions analysis for the PEIR using a project-specific threshold developed specifically for the Master Plan.  The GHG analysis concluded that the Master Plan would result in less than significant impacts and no mitigation was required.

  In addition, it was determined that 10 of the 26 reduction measures from the 2018 CAP could be applied to the Master Plan improvements, which are listed in the PEIR in Table 3.1.5-12.
  

• Why not delay the Master Plan until the Climate Action Plan and Regional Decarbonization Framework are done, and Sustainability can be included?

  The State and County have made addressing climate change and sustainability two of the top priorities affecting our communities. The County Board of Supervisors is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update and reducing carbon throughout the region through the Regional Decarbonization Framework. Planning, coordinating, and implementing effective sustainability objectives and measures is crucial to reducing the County’s impact and ensuring safe and healthy communities.  While the Master Plan created a blueprint for development at Palomar over the next 20-year planning cycle, it did not initially incorporate or address sustainability objectives. As part of the County's consideration of the Master Plan in 2021, the Department of Public Works (DPW) has identified new opportunities to include sustainability objectives in the planning process.  

  Through continued coordination with other County sustainability efforts such as the CAP Update and Regional Decarbonization Framework, as well as research on the latest innovations in aviation sustainability, staff has developed options for the Board’s consideration. These sustainability options would explore opportunities for potential leadership related to County and tenant facilities and/or operations, aircraft operations, and ground transportation. Some examples of the sustainability opportunities may include green infrastructure, projects to help achieve zero net energy, partnerships on regional advanced air mobility, incentivizing sustainability measures in existing and new leases, exploring the use of sustainable aviation fuels, potential infrastructure for electric powered aircraft, and creating intermodal transportation connectivity.

  The Master Plan’s Program Environmental Impact Report analyzed greenhouse gases using its own analysis and is independent from the CAP. Its independent analysis concluded that GHG impacts would be less than significant, and the Court agreed with the County's findings.
  

• What are the air quality impacts of the project?

  The PEIR analyzed implementation of the Master Plan Update at full build out in 2036. The PEIR and its accompanying Air Quality Technical Report (PEIR Appendix F) concluded that air quality impacts would be less than significant, and no mitigation would be required.

• Did the project use/analyze Vehicle Miles Traveled?

  The PEIR analyzed traffic impacts using Level of Service, which was the State-adopted metric required at that time when the EIR was released for public review and certified by the Board of Supervisors in 2018. Nonetheless, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is a new metric that the State started requiring in July 2020. Therefore, although the County was not required to discuss VMT in the PEIR, estimated VMT calculations were included for informational purposes only (since neither State nor County-adopted VMT thresholds existed when PEIR was prepared and certified).

• What are the potential traffic impacts of the project?

  Palomar Airport is located in the City of Carlsbad and supported by a major road infrastructure network. Most notably, Palomar Airport Road, El Camino Real, and College Boulevard provide access to the surrounding communities. Future aircraft operations at Palomar – while expected to increase compared to current conditions – would largely not result in significant delays to the road network.

  The Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) analyzed 19 intersections and 19 road segments and found that only two intersections would experience some delays during peak morning and evening hours due to increased aircraft operations.
  

  To offset these two impacts, the County intends to mitigate in coordination with the City of Carlsbad. 
  

  In addition, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is proposing the Carlsbad Palomar Mobility Hub in the San Diego Forward: 2021 Regional Plan (Regional Plan). This Mobility Hub has been identified as a major employment center due to its close proximity to the coast and Palomar. Mobility Hubs are places of connectivity where different travel options – walking, biking, transit, and shared mobility – come together. Although airport property improvements are not part of the SANDAG Regional Plan, SANDAG has identified several improvements to support a transit access option, including improvements on North County Transit District Route 445 to serve the airport terminal for more direct access to the terminal and connect to COASTER service at the Carlsbad Poinsettia Station.