The New Year Day is the time to embrace challenges with renewed energy and hope, to learn from past experiences, and consider how to do better in 2025. South Vista is vibrant, has beautiful landscapes, and continuously adapts to challenges including land use, conservation, housing, circulation, noise, and safety. These areas of concern have been outlined in the 2024 update of the 2050 General Plan (https://vista2050.com). The South Vista Communities Board will continue its involvement in all matters related to maintaining and improving the community’s environment (parking, landscaping, architectural design, improvements and modifications), its standards of health and safety, and its quality of life. Through our advocacy we can do more in meeting community challenges and improving the quality of life than as individuals.
Issues related to Palomar Airport became foremost in 2024, with the San Diego County Board of Supervisors proposal for approving a lease agreement with American Airlines to start services as early as 2025. On October 22, 2024, the Vista City Council passed a resolution, sponsored by Dan O’Donnell, opposing the county’s approval of the lease, citing safety concerns related to the operation of larger jetliners, potential health risks, increased noise, and atmospheric pollution. On Wednesday, December 11th, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors postponed a decision on whether to grant American Airlines a lease to operate jet services with larger aircraft (76-passenger capacity) on daily flights out of Palomar Airport. This lease would allow C-class aircraft to operate at the airport, which is currently designated as a B-II class facility. This flight path flies directly over our homes in Vista and will have an impact on the quality of life for our residents.
Unfortunately, on Wed, January 8th, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) unanimously ap-proved the American Airlines lease contract to fly a large C-class jet out of Palomar Airport starting on Feb 13th. This goes against the wishes of the residents of the cities of Carlsbad, and Vista, both of which have passed resolutions opposing the lease agreement. The meeting drew extensive public input, with 28 speakers addressing the board and over 1,100 e-comments submitted, the majority opposing the lease agreement. Concerns about noise, environmental impacts, and safety were raised. South Vista Communities thanks Vista Councilmember Corinna Contreras for her impassionate arguments against the proposal made at the meeting.
Supporters of the lease highlighted the economic benefits and reduced traffic to San Diego International Airport. County staff cited federal law and court rulings as to why denying the lease agreement would open the county to possible litigation or corrective action. Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, representing District 3 and Carlsbad as the host city for the airport, said she would support the AA contract. She said she felt she had “a gun to her head” regarding FAA grant assurances the county has taken and the possibility the money could be clawed back or put in jeopardy in the future. This was based on the County staff report, all information given by county staff. Airport officials offered adding two more noise monitors to the four now at the airport and will report the data collected to the board at the end of the year.
South Vista Communities is frustrated and dissatisfied by this decision. No provisions were made on how voluntary quiet hours will be respected, or on ensuring that appropriately-sized B-II aircraft be used at this B-II General Aviation Airport. No attention was given to the particulate pollution and health safety aspects that residents described. Additionally, although the County is under a Court order to honor Carlsbad’s local control over Palomar Airport, the City of Carlsbad was not consulted by the County, nor did the City give its approval.
Carlsbad considers the American Airlines contract an expansion of services at the airport, and the county should have consulted with the city before approving it.
— Francis Dumler, President
