At Agua Dulce : County Wants Study on Expanding Airstrip

The county Board of Supervisors has voted to apply for a $150,000 federal grant to study the feasibility of expanding Agua Dulce’s tiny airstrip into a full-service airport several times larger than it is now.

The board also postponed indefinitely its vote on a proposal supported by Agua Dulce residents to limit expansion of the 50-plane airstrip.

Tuesday’s vote was a partial victory for the county Aviation Division, county Airport Commission and private pilots’ groups that have waged a yearlong campaign to expand the airstrip, despite widespread opposition by local residents.

Group Pushes Expansion

Led by Jack Tippie, county Aviation Division director, the pro-expansion group has argued that the privately owned airstrip should be purchased by the county and expanded for recreational use by private pilots.

The group wants the airstrip’s capacity increased to 300 airplanes, including small jets. It is also pushing for night flying and development of airport industries around the rural site.

Although the county can apply for a study grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, the board adopted several restrictions after arguments by Supervisor Mike Antonovich on behalf of the community.

Restrictions on Study

Those restrictions include the stipulation that consultants who conduct the feasibility study be informed that:

Agua Dulce recently adopted a special zoning plan to preserve its rural flavor and discourage widespread development.

The airport should not be expanded beyond 175 airplanes, a compromise figure suggested Tuesday by Antonovich.

Night flying should not be permitted.

Residents who spoke Tuesday reminded the board that noise from the 50 to 60 planes using the airstrip is already disrupting the quiet Santa Clarita Valley community.

“Noise in Agua Dulce seems louder because there is no background noise like there is in the city, and you can hear a dog bark a mile away,” said resident Nat Gould.

“People already have to stop talking when the planes fly over low,” he said.

A survey conducted by the county Department of Regional Planning late last year showed that 80% of Agua Dulce’s 2,500 residents oppose development of the airstrip, whose flight pattern crosses scores of homes.

Dozens of residents had asked the county to refuse to apply for the federal grant, fearing that it would pave the way for airport expansion.