Marin County staff on Monday told the Airport Land Use Commission that the county has begun an update to the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Noss Field Airport and is waiting on a Caltrans decision that will shape safety zones and policy maps.

Senior planner Kristen Drumm said the ALUCP, required by the state for public‑use airports, governs compatibility between airports and surrounding land uses within a two‑mile airport influence area to address noise, overflight, safety and airspace protection. "The state of California requires that your airport land use commission prepare and adopt an airport land use compatibility plan for public use airports within its jurisdiction," Drumm said during the presentation.

Why the update matters: the county's existing plan was adopted in 1991 and has not been revised in more than three decades, Drumm said. That outdated guidance constrains density and height in safety zones at sites the county wants to consider for housing, including four opportunity sites inside the influence area identified in the county's housing element.

A key technical question is whether the ALUCP should be based on the FAA's currently approved airport layout plan (ALP) or a simplified airport layout plan the county has asked Caltrans to accept as the ALUCP's basis. The simplified plan omits a crosswind runway that staff say is no longer feasible because the county sold the land and the property is part of the Burdell unit of the Petaluma Marsh Wildlife Area. Drumm said the FAA's ALP still shows the crosswind runway for long‑term planning, but the county has requested a waiver from Caltrans so the obsolete feature does not extend safety zones into developed areas.

"We have obtained additional information in our follow‑up submittal to Caltrans, which includes documentation from FAA that the current ALP does not consider the crosswind runway," Drumm said. "We hope that will provide sufficient documentation to Caltrans." Commissioner questions focused on the denial of an initial request and the timing of Caltrans' decision; staff said the December request was denied and follow‑up materials were submitted to clarify the county's position.

Project schedule and next steps: staff said the update kicked off in January 2024 with consultant Mead & Hunt, and that community engagement has included a project website, four project delivery team meetings and a public workshop on June 18, 2024. Drumm said the county anticipates releasing a public review draft in approximately May, which would start a 45‑day review period with stakeholder meetings and an additional commission workshop. The county will finalize CEQA scope after workshop feedback; staff said an initial study with a mitigated negative declaration is anticipated but the final approach will depend on issues raised during outreach.

Staff recommended commissioners consider a publicly noticed field hearing at Noss Field to combine a site tour with a hearing so commissioners and the public can view the airfield before the draft is released. Commissioners responded favorably and staff said they would coordinate dates.

The Airport Land Use Commission adjourned after the presentation; staff said further steps include Caltrans' decision on the simplified layout plan, the public review draft and subsequent hearings before the board of supervisors and the commission.

Ending: Staff will return with the public review draft, expected outreach dates and any Caltrans determinations that affect safety zones and the ALUCP's policy map.