Burbank Declines to Buy Land Earmarked for Airport Terminal

Burbank officials said Tuesday that they would not buy 81 acres slated for a new Burbank Airport terminal, a decision that could force sale of the property for non-airport use.

The decision further clouds the future of the $300-million terminal that officials have proposed to replace an existing facility that dates to 1930.

By buying the land, the city could help ensure that it would be reserved for the terminal project. With the city deciding against the purchase, the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority must put the parcel on the market and any buyer would be prohibited from using it for an airport.

Burbank officials have resisted the new terminal project on the grounds that it would create more noise and traffic for their community. They obtained an option to buy the site after negotiations for the new terminal were not concluded by a May 24 deadline.

Mayor Bill Wiggins said in a statement that there is still time for the city and the airport to cut a deal before the land is sold.

“However, there is no guarantee that will happen,” he said.

At issue is a portion of the 130-acre Plant B-6 site that the airport purchased last summer from Lockheed Martin for $86 million.

As part of the agreement, the airport took title to 49 acres, and the rest of the site was held in a trust during negotiations over the terminal.

But the agreement also specified that the land be put up for sale if Burbank declined to purchase it by Monday.

Airport spokesman Victor Gill said airport officials were still hoping to salvage a deal, even as they prepared to sell the land.

Even with a possible sale on the horizon, the Airport Authority appears to be taking other steps to secure a terminal.

On Monday, the Airport Authority announced it was moving ahead with a federal study of airport noise with the goal of winning a ban on nighttime flights between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.