Airport Plan Hits New Turbulence

SAN DIEGO-The county’s board of supervisors has voted unanimously against a proposal to build an air cargo port at Brown Field, dealing yet another blow to the $1.1-billion project.

Supporters of the project say it would boost the local commercial real estate market, pump millions of dollars in tax revenue into the local government’s coffers and create jobs. But supervisors complained about several issues, including problems with the environmental impact report and the lack of key information that only the Federal Aviation Administration could provide.

The project to expand the city-owned airport near Otay Mesa actually falls under the jurisdiction of the San Diego City Council, which is considering a possible public hearing in mid-August. Project developers say the council vote will be the real test for the project, which calls for 48 air cargo flights per day.

But the project has run into resistance on all fronts thus far. The board upheld its staff’s recommendation to oppose the project based on safety, noise, air quality, land use and transportation concerns. Brown Field should remain a general aviation airport and the project’s environmental studies “don’t pass muster,” concluded Supervisor Greg Cox, whose district includes the airport.