Burbank Plans to Block Expansion of Terminal

City officials said Friday they will attempt to block the proposed expansion of the Burbank Airport passenger terminal using an obscure state law that the airport has already challenged in federal court.

The Burbank Planning Department released a report recommending the City Council “disapprove” the airport’s plans to build a new terminal that would be three times as large as the existing facility, and to purchase Lockheed Martin Corp.’s 130-acre B-6 property where it would be located. The council will vote on the issue Tuesday.

City officials say the council has jurisdiction over the airport expansion, citing a section of the state Public Utilities Code that gives local governments certain veto powers over construction of airports within their borders.

“We have the ability to approve or disapprove the expansion and the acquisition of the land,” City Manager Robert “Bud” Ovrom said Friday. “We intend to follow the process for reviewing the project as outlined by state law.”

But airport officials have countered that the airport is an independent government agency, not subject to city development regulations. In June, the airport filed a federal lawsuit, charging that the state law is unconstitutional and asking the court to overturn it. The case has not yet gone to court.

“We believe that the federal law supersedes the state law, and therefore [the city has] no authority over the airport in this matter,” airport spokesman Victor Gill said.

Even if the City Council votes to disapprove the land purchase and terminal expansion, Gill said the Airport Authority would very likely continue moving forward with expansion plans until the court rules on whether the city has any authority over the project.

Ovrom said the Planning Department’s report also lists what criteria the airport must meet to obtain city approval of the expansion. They include limiting the airport terminal to 14 passenger gates, mitigating traffic increases and offsetting the property taxes the city will lose when the Lockheed land becomes part of the airport, he said.

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, which oversees the airport’s operation, contends the existing terminal should be replaced. A pro-expansion majority, led by authority members from Glendale and Pasadena, say a bigger terminal is needed to accommodate increasing demand through 2010.

Burbank officials contend the project would create significant noise and traffic problems, which would be borne by local residents.