Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Airport Development Opposed

Homeowner, property-owner and residents organizations in the East Valley are lining up to join the city of Los Angeles in a lawsuit aimed at halting construction of a proposed new passenger terminal at Burbank Airport.

Groups from Studio City, North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and Valley Village last week filed a motion to intervene in the city’s suit, which alleges that an environmental impact report on the plan to build a 670,000-square-foot terminal was inadequate. They also allege that the project violates state environmental regulations. The groups’ request will be considered Oct. 20 in Los Angeles Superior Court, said attorney Barbara Lichman, who filed the motion.

“We need to intervene in this for two reasons,” Lichman said. “We want to be co-participants in the resolution of this case and we want to preserve our right to appeal in the unlikely event the judge rules against the city.”

Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. and an attorney, said the groups filed the motion to protect their own interests.

“The last time the city sued, they settled and got almost nothing,” Close said. “We want to make sure that same thing doesn’t happen again.”

Airport officials say the new, larger terminal is needed to resolve long-time safety concerns and to accommodate projected increases in passengers at the airport.