Sacramento LAFCO certifies EIR, expands spheres of influence for Airport South project despite community opposition

The Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission on a unanimous vote certified an environmental impact report (EIR) and approved amendments to the spheres of influence for the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Area Sewer District tied to the Airport South proposal, LAFCO project number 2023-03.

The decision, moved by a commissioner during the meeting, adopts staff recommendations including LAFCO resolutions 2025-09 (certify EIR and adopt findings), 2025-10 (approve SOI amendment for the City of Sacramento) and 2025-11 (approve SOI amendment for Sacramento Area Sewer District). The motion passed "unanimously," the clerk announced.

Why it matters: The SOI change clears a key regulatory step that would allow future city-level land-use decisions and potential annexation proceedings for roughly 474 acres of largely agricultural land near the airport. Opponents warned that approving the SOI and certifying the EIR would make it easier for large industrial development to move forward near homes, a school and habitat protected under the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan; supporters argued the move will create local construction and union jobs and economic stimulus.

Most important facts: Staff and counsel told commissioners the LAFCO action is limited and discretionary: LAFCO must determine whether the agencies can reasonably provide services without harming existing customers and must weigh its statutory missions (encouraging orderly growth; preserving open space and agricultural land; ensuring efficient services). Staff said the EIR was prepared cooperatively under a July 31, 2021 memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Sacramento and that the draft EIR public review ran May 31–July 17, 2024, with public comment hearings held previously.

Public testimony was split. Susan Hari, immediate past president of ECOS, told the commission, "I think it's naive to think that" that an SOI decision would not influence future land-use approvals and urged a no vote to protect the urban services boundary and habitat plan. Former Sacramento mayor Heather Fargo said the project has not been before the City Council and asked, "if you certify the EIR tonight, is the city council of Sacramento relieved of their burden of certifying EIR?" She urged the commission not to certify the EIR or approve the SOI. Opposing testimony emphasized potential harm to habitat, air quality and neighborhoods and flagged Parcel 8 as requiring further study.

Supporters included property owners and trade unions. Richard Kuna, representing parcel owners, asked the commission to allow property owners to use their land and said his parcel is contiguous to the city. John Hershey of UA Local 447 said the SOI expansion would provide opportunities for apprentices and journeyworkers; Rob Fong, also speaking for UA Local 447, said the project "is well positioned to kind of be an economic stimulus project for the city of Sacramento and the county of Sacramento." Several labor speakers said the project would create construction jobs for local apprentices and returning veterans.

Commissioner and staff exchanges focused on the legal scope of LAFCO's review and on clarifying the CEQA findings so they reflect LAFCO's role versus the city's. Counsel and staff advised that certifying the EIR means LAFCO finds the document was prepared in compliance with CEQA, was presented to the decision body and reflects the commission's independent judgment; whether the city later needs additional environmental review will depend on whether a future city project differs substantially from the project analyzed in the EIR. Staff emphasized that some EIR findings were revised between the April packet and this meeting to clarify responsibilities for mitigation and monitoring between the city and LAFCO.

Parcel 8 was repeatedly raised by speakers as an open question. Staff and counsel said the EIR evaluates potential development at a programmatic level and that, where parcel-specific unknowns remain, future project-level review or additional environmental documentation may be required if a later proposal differs from the EIR description.

The commission adopted the staff recommendation and directed the executive officer to complete required filings and transmittals under law.

Next steps: LAFCO's action amends the SOIs. Any actual land-use approvals or annexations are decisions for the City of Sacramento; the city may rely on this EIR where appropriate or may perform additional review if future projects differ from the EIR's scope.