OXNARD : Panel’s Decision Due on Airport Acreage

The Ventura County Aviation Advisory Commission will decide next week whether to recommend that the County Board of Supervisors authorize the purchase of 82 acres of land near the Oxnard Airport.

At its meeting next Thursday, the 10-member commission will discuss proposals for purchasing 54 acres of land west of the airport and 28 acres north of the airport, located at 2889 West 5th St.

If purchased, the 54-acre plot will be used to “protect the existing runway configuration,” said Austin Cline, administrative officer of the county’s Department of Airports.

Currently the planes are taking off and landing over land that is privately owned and used to grow Christmas trees and row crops, Cline said.

“If someone attempted to build some structures on there, the (Federal Aviation Administration) would say you can’t do that, or you can’t do it above a certain height,” Cline explained. “The owner then might sue. . . . This whole thing is just to resolve that problem. Right now we don’t have a problem with the agriculture.”

The 28 acres north of the airport would initially continue to be used for row crops, but in the future may be used for expanding the airport, Cline said.

The 82 acres would cost about $9.5 million, but the FAA may fund 90% of the purchase, Cline said. September would be the earliest they could be acquired, he said.

After the commission makes a recommendation, the Oxnard Airport Authority would also examine the proposal, Cline said. The final purchase decision would be left to the Board of Supervisors.

The Aviation Advisory Commission meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Camarillo Airport, 295 Durley Ave.