In Memoriam

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San Martin Airport Update - May 2010

November, 2004 (6 years ago), the Board of Supervisors (BOS) voted in favor of the 4th and last chapter of the 2022 Master Plan for San Martin Airport (E16).
KEY ELEMENTS of Chapter 4:

• Runway “length” extended from 3100 feet to 5000+ feet.
• Runway and Taxiways “strengthened” from 12,500-pound capacity to 35,000-pound capacity.
• Runway widened from 75 feet to 100 feet.
• 330+ acres of people’s homes and/or property are earmarked (circled on a map in Chapter 4) to be taken via eminent domain when the airport expands.
• 36 box hangers constructed for larger aircraft (in addition to the current new hangars).
• Terminal and Maintenance building constructed for County staff, flight planning and a restaurant.

The BOS approved this expansion in order to encourage larger, faster, heavier aircraft (business jets…).

Many people worked very hard for several years to defeat the proposed expansion of the San Martin Airport.  As a result, a lot of us know more about airports than we ever expected or even wanted to know; individuals & buss loads attended and spoke at the Board of Supervisors' (BOS) meetings.  Often it was very frustrating but we kept on top of this community concern. 

After the BOS passed Chapter 4, most people thought the Airport expansion was a done deal but SMNA hung in there.  We knew that none of the decisions made up-to-that point made any difference unless/until the ENVIRONMENTAL Study was completed and the final findings supported the proposed expansion. 

In 2009 - 2010, the FAA approved some funding for the CEQA environmental study but the CEQA would require County Airports for come up with an additional $100 - $200,000 in a 5-year timeframe for their share of this process.

May 2010, County Airports gave the environmental monies back to the FAA due to lack of funds.  They plan to re-look at this in 2 - 3 years.  By that time, the studies done for the 20-year Master Plan would be up to 13 years old; a lot has changed during that time period.

San Martin/South County Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Revised Draft 2008

Aircraft Noise Complaint Hotline Information

Chris Plummer’s Airport Primer Document

Latest Expansion Documents (Chapters 3 & 4 of Master Plan Draft)

Airport Roles & Forecasts (Public Review Draft, Chapter 2)

South County Airport Good Neighbor/Noise Abatement Policy, Procedures & Traffic Map

SouthCounty Airport Runway Layout Plans - Alternatives 1, 2, 3 & 4

SMNA Board of Directors Position on Q99 paper

San Jose Mercury News article - November 18, 2002

Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal Article - August 2, 2002

• Visit the South County Airport Expansion Poll page to get involved and express your
  opinion.

© Copyright 2007, Emilio Littel (emilio at littel dot com) / San Martin Neighborhood Alliance, All Rights Reserved

P.O. Box 886, San Martin, California 95046

408.683.2667