The showdown on future airport development is almost at hand. Neighborhoods in San Jose and Santa Clara should prepare themselves and voice their concerns to the San Jose Planning Commission and the San Jose City Council.
Planning Commission hearings on future development at the airport are expected to begin shortly, perhaps as soon as March 1997. Soon after the Planning Commission makes its recommendations, the San Jose City Council will hold a public meeting to decide on future airport growth.
Our quality of life is at issue
For many years, the city has talked a good line about preserving the quality of life in San Jose and restoring our urban center. The 1980 Airport Master Plan expressed the opinion that future airport development must be carefully done so as not to jeopardize the quality of life in San Jose neighborhoods.
Over the last 15 years, however, San Jose International Airport has tripled its commercial aircraft operations and overwhelmed the neighborhoods with noise, increased air pollution and traffic congestion.
The new Airport Master Plan will determine the development of the airport for the next 1520 years. The City Council must select one of four alternate growth scenarios described in the Airport Master Plan and related Environmental Impact Report. All four airport development alternatives provide for significant additional growth in aircraft operations. However, each alternative has different environmental impacts:
Project Case is a maximum buildout of the airport and will have the most devastating impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
Alternative A is a slightly scaled back version of Project Case.
Although far less polluting than either Project Case or Alternative A, Alternative B will provide a 40% increase in air carrier passengers over 1995 levels.
The No Project Alternative involves no new major airport developments, but the existing airport will still accommodate additional air carrier operations. This alternative will have the least noise, air pollution, and traffic congestion of the development alternatives
Who will influence the decision?
San Jose's Airport Master Plan has been in the works for many years. The City of San Jose Airport Department is hoping that the neighborhoods will not attend the public hearings before the San Jose Planning Commission and the San Jose City Council.
Airport, business, and aviation interest groups have lobbied hard for the Project Case alternative. The only possible obstacle to uncontrolled growth at the airport is YOU!
If you don't act to protect the quality of life in your neighborhood, you're in for a big surprise: more noise, more air pollution, and more traffic congestionespecially on 101 and 880.
You must act now!
When the Planning Commission and the San Jose City Council hold public hearings on the Airport Master Plan and the Environmental Impact Report, you must act to protect your home and your family. No one else cares about the quality of life in your neighborhood or your property values.
Businessmen want more business travelers to fill their hotels, restaurants, and shops. They are far more concerned with the almighty dollar than they are with the quality of life for you and your family.
Come to the Planning Commission meeting on the Airport Master Plan and the Environmental Impact Report. Don't miss the City Council public meeting on these topics. The decisions made at these meetings will affect our lives and the lives of our children for many years to come!
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Facts you should know
Communities all over the nation have organized to oppose increasing noise pollution, air pollution, toxic emissions, and the destruction of wildlife habitats caused by airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a federal agency whose sole purpose is to promote the National Air Transportation System. This organization is no friend to environmentalists and community groups.
The San Jose City Council is the only legal entity that can adopt a moderate growth plan and implement actions to reduce noise and air pollution generated at San Jose International Airport.
Many cities in the United States adopted local laws to reduce noise pollution at their airports. These laws limit when aircraft can take off and land; what types of aircraft can operate at the airport; limit engine runups; and implement other noise mitigation measures. The City of San Jose has failed to adopt any such local laws to protect our environment and the quality of life of our neighborhoods. Since 1990, recent federal laws limit the power of local governments to adopt such local legislation.
The draft Environmental Impact Report, which describes the negative environmental impacts of proposed future airport development, significantly understates the potential air quality and noise pollution impacts for all project alternatives under consideration.
The San Jose Noise Control Program (the curfew) has been violated repeatedly, and the City of San Jose has never once brought an offending air carrier to trial in a lawsuit. In fact, the legality and enforceability of San Jose's Noise Control Program has never been tested in state or federal courts.
Tens of thousands of people in San Jose and Santa Clara are negatively impacted by noise pollution, air pollution, and traffic congestion caused by San Jose International Airport. Every proposed development project alternative being considered by the City of San Jose will worsen these problems for San Jose and Santa Clara residents.
The only way to influence the future development of San Jose International Airport is to attend the San Jose Planning Commission and San Jose City Council hearings on the draft Environmental Impact Report and Airport Master Plan.
San Jose City Council members are elected by district. Some city council members may not care about the quality of life for you and your family because they live far from the airport and won't rely on you to get reelected. As such, it is important to be present at the city council chambers to voice your opinion and make a commitment to work for the defeat of disinterested council members in the next district elections. Get involved!
Your physical presence at the upcoming Planning Commission and City Council hearings on future airport growth is crucial. Come early if you want a seat, and don't come alone! Bring your family, bring a friend, bring a neighbor.
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CAAP supporters can elect next mayor!
Four members of the San Jose City Council have been mentioned as potential candidates for the mayor's office. Councilmen David Pandori and Frank Fiscalini and Councilwomen Marjorie Fernandez and Pat Dando may seek election to the mayor's office upon the departure of Mayor Susan Hammer.
These four council members will soon be voting on the issue of future airport development.Both the quality of life in your neighborhood and your property values will be impacted by their votes. Because CAAP membership is large, CAAP supporters alone could determine the outcome of the next mayor's election.
Recent mayoral elections have been won or lost by as few as 1,200 votes!
For these reasons, we urge you to attend the Planning Commission and City Council meetings on airport growth and to take note of their votes. Any council member who votes to expand the airport and increase noise and air pollution and traffic congestion does not deserve your vote for mayor.
CAAP can make a difference! Let these council members know that you won't vote for them in an election for mayor if they vote for the Project Case or Alternative A. Remember, only you can make a difference. Don't rely on someone else to speak for you. Attend the Planning Commission meeting on March 12 and the City Council meeting on April 1.
Don't come alone!
The upcoming Planning Commission and City Council meetings on airport growth and its environmental impacts may be your only opportunity to stand up and be counted. Don't come alone! Find a neighboror better yeta group of neighbors, to go with you to council chambers. We need thousands of citizens in attendance to make an impression!
Beyond noise: a brief look at traffic and air quality impacts
|
Type of Impact |
Project Case |
Alternative A |
Alternative B |
No Project |
|
Traffic Impact |
||||
|
Average daily trips (ADT) |
72,000 auto trips to or from SJIA daily, 45% increase in traffic. |
58,000 auto trips to or from SJIA daily, 32% increase in traffic. |
54,000 auto trips to or from SJIA daily, 27% increase in traffic. |
48,000 auto trips to or from SJIA daily, 18% increase in traffic. |
|
Intersection congestion |
Significant and unavoidable at 7 freeway and surface road intersections. |
Significant and unavoidable at 7 freeway and road intersections. |
Significant and unavoidable at 5 surface road intersections. |
No significant impact. |
|
Freeway congestion |
Significant and unavoidable impact to 101 north of 87; 87 north of SJIA and south of 880; 880 north and south of Coleman Ave. |
Significant and unavoidable impact to 101, 87, and 880. |
No significant impact. |
No significant impact. |
|
Air Quality |
||||
|
NO2 |
Addl. 2,922 lbs per day, 42% increase. Impact significant and unavoidable. |
Addl. 1,423 lbs per day, 23% increase. Impact unavoidable. |
Addl. 474 lbs per day, 10% increase. Impact unavoidable. |
Addl. 126 lbs per day, 3% increase. Impact unavoidable. |
|
Particulate matter |
Addl. 1,439 lbs per day, 59% increase. |
Addl. 749 lbs per day, 43% increase. |
Addl. 331 lbs per day, 25% increase. |
Addl. 180 lbs per day, 15% increase. |
|
Reactive Organic Gases |
2% reduction |
22% reduction |
37% reduction |
43% reduction |
|
SOx |
Addl. 186 lbs per day, 42% increase. |
Addl. 73 lbs per day, 22% increase. |
Addl 26 lbs per day, 9% increase. |
2% reduction. |
Attention neighborhood association reps:
CAAP is sponsoring a workshop for neighborhood associations on Saturday morning, February 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at Hester School.
Councilman David Pandori will also be in attendance. Following a short presentation by CAAP regarding the proposed airport master plan, information and packets for distribution to your neighborhood will be handed out.
Take advantage of this opportunity to become informed and have your questions answered.
If your association has not received an invitation announcing the location for the workshop, or if you have other questions, please call Wanda Buck at 296-0298.
CAAP
P.O. Box 26142
San Jose, CA 95159