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Residents urge Carlsbad council to act on Palomar Airport expansion, citing health and quality‑of‑life concerns
Summary
Public comment at the Oct. 28 council meeting focused heavily on Palomar Airport operations and the county’s recent actions to add commercial service. Speakers asked the council to assert local land‑use authority, rescind or challenge the airport’s conditional use permit and to coordinate with neighboring cities.
Carlsbad — Dozens of Carlsbad residents and neighbors from North County used the Oct. 28 public‑comment period to press the City Council to act against what they describe as a county‑led expansion of Palomar Airport and the addition of commercial airline service.
Kathy Gillen, founder of the group No Big Jets, told the council she and a delegation of 22 residents asked the council to "demand the county respect and adhere to your city's governing documents." Don Petro (Petro) said attendees requested three steps: begin the process of rescinding the airport’s conditional use permit, challenge the county to justify deviations from permit conditions, and collaborate with other North County cities to maintain Palomar Airport for general aviation rather than commercial service. "Please act expeditiously and assertively," Petro said.
Other speakers described noise, late‑night and early‑morning flights and alleged violations of preferred flight paths. Cynthia Trevino, who said she lives 2.7 miles from the airport under Palomar’s west departures, described jets waking her household as early as 3:19 a.m. and urged the council to direct staff to begin processes described by earlier speakers. Anita Arnold, speaking from the Seabright neighborhood, said flight patterns and training operations have changed in recent years and expressed safety and noise concerns.
Several commenters urged the council to coordinate with other North County jurisdictions and cited a recent announcement that United Airlines intends to begin flights at Palomar; one commenter said Vista previously adopted a resolution opposing airline service. Speakers framed the issue as a matter of public health, safety and local control rather than a technical airport operational question.
Council did not take action on the matter during the meeting; under Brown Act rules the council may not act on nonagenda items except through a future agenda item or closed session as allowed by law. The comments were taken under the public‑comment rules that govern the meeting.
