Future of Fairview Park fly field remains up in the air as Costa Mesa conducts review

The long-term fate of the Fairview Park fly field remains up in the air as Costa Mesa continues to collect input regarding the use of model aircraft in the park and city staff wraps up a comprehensive review.

There will be opportunities for public comment throughout January, and city staff members plan to present their findings to the Fairview Park Steering Committee by Feb. 12, Fairview Park Administrator Cynthia D’Agosta said during Wednesday’s committee meeting.

The City Council agreed last summer to allow the Harbor Soaring Society — a model aircraft hobbyist group — to continue flying the skies over the 208-acre park through June while staff reviewed whether the activity is compatible with the park’s master plan. Another consideration is Measure AA, a 2016 voter-approved law that requires residents to sign off on changes that could affect Fairview’s open, passive nature.

“A decision was made to investigate some of the new [state and federal] regulations ... that apply to Fairview Park because of the restoration we are doing,” D’Agosta said.

Restoration efforts include changes to fencing, signage and trails in the park.

Wednesday’s committee meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd to the first-floor conference room in City Hall.

“This is certainly the most crowded room that this committee has faced,” City Councilwoman Arlis Reynolds said.

Some who attended characterized the model aircraft as a noisy disruption and said flying rules are not being enforced.

Harbor Soaring Society President Henry Smith said the Costa Mesa-based club, which has flown models of up to 10 pounds at the park since 1963, is respectful of the environment. However, it is hard to regulate non-members who break the rules while flying their aircraft, he said.

Others argued that it shouldn’t be the club’s responsibility to deal with non-member scofflaws.

Dave Meriwether, an associate vice president of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, said he was concerned that taking away or heavily regulating fly fields like Fairview’s would negatively impact innovation in the overall model aircraft industry.

Scott Thomas, conservation committee co-chairman for the Sea & Sage Audubon Society, gave a presentation showing a white-tailed kite being harassed by a model aircraft at the park. He said federal and state law prohibits harassing, harming or pursuing protected species, several of which call Fairview Park home.

Another public hearing regarding the model aircraft issue will be held Jan. 16 at City Hall. The Steering Committee plans to deliberate and present its recommendations to the council by May 19.

The city also has launched an online survey that is open until Jan. 24 at surveymonkey.com/r/CPZY77T.

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