Compromise Proposed on Airport

In a dramatic push to win the city’s approval for a new terminal, Burbank airport’s governing board on Friday offered to seek a mandatory curfew on flights.

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority also agreed to cut the number of aircraft gates at the terminal by two, to 14.

“It is our sincere hope that we can get a prompt resolution, and we would very much like to receive any counterproposals from the city as soon as possible,” airport Executive Director Dios Marrero said. “This is a historic opportunity for both sides to resolve this long-standing dispute and get on with building the facility both agencies want.”

Burbank officials greeted the proposal favorably, calling it the biggest step toward compromise by the Airport Authority since battle lines were drawn in the early 1990s.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this much movement in the authority since this dispute first began,” Burbank Mayor Stacey Murphy said. “I hate to be too optimistic, but I think we are going down the right road.”

“The finish line is in sight,” said Charles Lombardo, one of three Burbank representatives on the three-city Airport Authority. “Now’s not the time to stumble.”

The Airport Authority is hoping to resolve issues concerning the terminal by July 26. That is the deadline for the authority to pay $30 million to Lockheed Martin a partial compensation for the new terminal site it seized under eminent domain.

Airport officials say they don’t want to pay for the land without assurances from Burbank that it will approve the terminal.

The compromise plan was approved by the Airport Authority on a 7-0 vote after a closed session. Under the plan, a 14-gate terminal would be built, to be expanded to 16 gates by 2009 and to 19 gates by 2019 if the airport meets certain conditions.

The authority also said it would support a curfew on airline flights between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and would close the terminal from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

In the past, the Airport Authority has not taken a position on curfews, saying it is strictly a matter for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA issued an opinion in May, saying it could not impose a mandatory overnight curfew or a cap on flights without completing a lengthy noise study.

However, Burbank officials believe that if the Airport Authority and local government support the curfew, the FAA may waive the requirement for a study.

Airline officials, however, oppose the curfew and are concerned about setting precedents for other airports, said Neil Bennett, a spokesman for the Air Transport Assn., an industry trade group.

Burbank officials have expressed concern that the new terminal will erode the city’s quality of life by transforming a regional airport into a busy national facility.