Resident warns of aviation and flooding risks at San Jerónimo airpark; commissioners approve consent agenda

Wayne Wood, a resident at 1564 Culebra Road, told commissioners at the May 28 meeting that he is concerned development near the San Jerónimo airpark could threaten aviation safety and worsen flood risk for nearby homes.

Wood described the airpark as a private airport with public access that he said has operated for about 40 years and is shown on FAA sectional charts. He estimated about 2,500 aircraft operations per year at the field, said the site hosts sheriff’s helicopter training and youth aviation events, and warned that changes to site planimetry could reduce stormwater retention and “take away resilience for larger storms.” He also referenced federal airspace limits, saying parts of the approach and transition surfaces extend west beyond nearby roads and that encroachment could raise risks for pilots and people on the ground. Wood spoke as an individual and provided his name and address for the record: “Yo soy Wayne Wood, y mi dirección es 1564 Culebra Road.”

A separate caller, who identified herself as Janet Prosques from 268 West Mariposa, left a voicemail opposing a requested status change for a case identified in the record as “040.” The caller’s statement was recorded as opposition; the transcript did not include details connecting that case to the airpark comments.

The meeting then moved through a consent agenda described by staff as items recommended for approval with no required discussion. Commissioners voted to approve the consent agenda as amended to change Item 16 to a proposal labeled “high-density residential.” The transcript records five named affirmative votes: Commissioner Profe (recorded), Commissioner Milem (recorded), Commissioner Sánchez, Commissioner Eagle (recorded), and President Peck. Commissioner Bustamante left the room at about 2:01 p.m.; the roll call earlier in the meeting listed Sánchez, De Suki, Ivette, Mayland, Bustamante, Seagal, an additional commissioner present, and President Peck.

The transcript notes a commissioner would recuse themselves during discussion of a planimetry-related file, but does not identify which commissioner will recuse or whether the recusal occurred before the vote on the consent agenda. After the vote the meeting record states there were no staff reports and the session was adjourned at about 2:11 p.m.

Why it matters: development that encroaches on FAA approach or transitional surfaces can create flight-safety hazards and local disputes; changes to grading and planimetry also can affect stormwater retention and flood risk for nearby homes. Commissioners approved a change to Item 16 on the consent agenda; the transcript does not specify whether that amendment pertains to the area discussed by the public commenters.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve consent agenda as amended (Item 16 amended to high-density residential). Motion text and mover/second not specified in transcript. - Outcome: Approved. - Recorded votes in transcript: Commissioner Profe — yes; Commissioner Milem — yes; Commissioner Sánchez — yes; Commissioner Eagle — yes; President Peck — yes. - Noted absence: Commissioner Bustamante left the room at about 2:01 p.m.

Public comment and next steps

Speakers in the record urged commissioners to consider aviation safety, community training uses and stormwater impacts before allowing development that could intrude on federal airspace or reduce on-site retention. The commission’s approval of the consent agenda, including the amendment to Item 16, was recorded with no additional public hearing or deliberation on the airpark concerns during this session. The transcript did not record any staff direction to follow up on the airpark or stormwater issues.