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<br />ALUC Minutes <br />Page 5 <br />January 15,2004 <br /> <br />Chairman Bresnahan suggested that the members hear testimony from the project sponsors. <br /> <br />Mr. Franco Mola, Geneva Commons developer, thanked the ALUC for having Mr. Mestre's <br />presentation, noting that his noise consultant is also present. <br /> <br />Chairman Bresnahan asked the noise experts to estimate the level of aircraft that had just departed <br />JW A, adjacent to the meeting room. The sponsor's noise consultant indicated a single event of 65- <br />70 dB. The Chairman observed that is much noisier than Mr. Mola expects in his building. <br /> <br />Mr. Mola confirmed the requirement to design to 45 CNEL interior, adding that the EIR covered that <br />and the building will be tested for compliance. He stressed that the project complies with setbacks <br />and noise studies, and asked for a favorable finding. <br /> <br />No one else from the audience wanting to speak, the Chairman asked for a second to the motion and <br />discussion by the members. There was no second for the motion. <br /> <br />During the ensuing discussion among the Commissioners, Mr. Brady confirmed that with the <br />elapsing of 60 days, the project would be deemed Consistent by law. He noted a few instances when <br />projects were withdrawn and later re-submitted by local agencies in order to avoid violating the 60 <br />day limit, as well as an ALUC finding of Inconsistency. <br /> <br />Commissioner Kranser explained his view that the AELUP is out of date, since the new EIR and <br />Settlement Agreement have allowed an increase to 85 daily departures from 73 and the passenger <br />count has already exceeded the old 8.4 MAP limit. He stated that the JW A AELUP needs to be <br />corrected, like the obsolete EI Toro AELUP, and he urged the ALUC to consider projects like the <br />current one under a realistic 20 year plan, recognizing that the margins of safety around JW A are <br />shrinking. He asked the members to consider that the true margins may be less than shown in an <br />obsolete AELUP, which could create danger for residents, aircraft, and the airport. <br /> <br />Replying to Commissioner Kranser, Executive Officer Golding reviewed the duty of the ALUC to <br />change the AELUP upon a referral from the airport, noting that the joint County-Newport Beach EIR <br />583 and new Settlement Agreement show the noise impacts within the 1985 contours, as Mr. Mestre <br />had stated. She confirmed that the AELUP contours serve as the planning lines for the neighboring <br />jurisdictions, and especially in Santa Ana Heights where FAA funds have been devoted to sound <br />attenuation of homes, etc. based on those noise contours. She concluded that the facts support the <br />current JW A AELUP as perfectly adequate. <br /> <br />Commissioner Propst stated his view, as a pilot, that the building is in a bad place, and voiced his <br />preference to let the motion die for lack of a second, and allow the 60 days to elapse, rather than <br />approving a residential project so close to Runway 19R. <br /> <br />Commissioner H. Beverburg agreed that a reasonable member would have to abstain from voting for <br />the project. He suggested a finding of Inconsistency on the project, so that the City could override <br />the ALUC and proceed with a project that he views as borderline. He noted that buildings will not <br />be tom down and the ALUC doesn't have too many options as the usage of JW A increases. He <br />agreed with Commissioner Propst that the members could abstain on a vote, thereby allowing <br />approval by default, but he moved to find the project Inconsistent as a better option. There was no <br />second for the motion. <br /> <br />75C-168 <br />