The state requires an airport land use compatibility plan (ALUCP) for every public use airport.
The Marin County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) for Gnoss Field is a planning document to promote the compatibility between the airport and surrounding land uses. It is used by the Airport Land Use Commission to review land use proposals in the vicinity of the airport. The document includes land use policies related to four major planning factors including safety, protecting airspace from hazards, noise impacts, and overflight issues to ensure the orderly growth of the airport. The ALUCP applies to all properties within the airport influence area. The airport influence area is the geographic extent of the ALUCP, which is a two-mile radius around the airport. The ALUCP has a 20-year planning horizon.
The ALUCP does not:
- Control how and where aircraft operate on the ground or in the air around the airport. This means the ALUCP does not affect aircraft flying over your neighborhood.
- Affect existing land uses. It only applies to future land use.
- Regulate the airport or its operations.
The Marin County Airport Land Use Commission adopted the current Airport Land Use Plan in 1991.
The Marin County Airport Master Plan (AMP) for Gnoss Field was updated by the Board of Supervisors in 1997. The AMP is a 20-year comprehensive study of the airport. It describes the airport’s short, medium, and long-term development plans to meet its existing and forecasted aviation demand. The AMP only focuses on the airport property; it does not apply outside of the airport boundary.
The AMP includes the Airport Layout Plan (ALP). The FAA must approve the ALP to ensure it follows the FAA airport design standards.
The AMP is prepared by the Department of Public Works, which also manages the airport.
Learn more about the Gnoss Field airport.
The Airport Layout Plan (ALP) is a drawing of the existing and proposed airport facilities. It also reflects the anticipated growth of the airport for the next 20 years.
Since the update to the AMP in 1997, subsequent updates have been made to show new proposed construction projects at the airport. The current ALP was approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in October 2022, which includes the construction of a 3,000-foot crosswind runway for future planning consideration only. The information contained in this ALP, together with supplemental information provided in the 1989 Master Plan and by airport personnel, form the foundation for the ALUCP.
The Gnoss Field runway is known for having strong westerly crosswinds. Crosswind coverage is less than the desired 95 percent. Therefore, as part of the early Master Plan studies, the County explored construction of a 3,000-foot crosswind runway within the 20-year planning timeframe. The proposed crosswind runway was intended to add additional capacity and alternative options for take-offs and landings during less-than ideal wind conditions. However, instead of constructing the crosswind runway, the County widened the existing runway between 1997 and 2001 from 60 feet to 75 feet to address concerns about crosswinds.
Staff has recently requested that the Caltrans Division of Aeronautics approve a “simplified airport diagram” that removes the crosswind runway as the basis for the ALUCP. This request is being made because crosswind runway has never been built even though it is shown on the 2018 ALP. The likelihood of the County constructing it is small, however. Changes in nearby land uses have been major factors in this status. In particular, the crosswind configuration would impact the conservation of state-owned land to the east where proposed development would occur. Further, construction would require acquisition of expensive land and entitlements from local, state, and federal agencies. Given this status, the County has chosen not to continue planning for a crosswind runway and, thus, is not considered in the ALUCP.
This change does not affect the status the existing ALP.
As mentioned previously, the FAA approved the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) in 2022. Any change to the ALP or AMP may require public notification and outreach. The ALP would require FAA approval. This effort would require significant investment in time and expenditure. The airport does not receive any monies from the County’s General Fund. Instead, the airport relies on federal and state grants, generated by aviation fuel taxes from across the state and the country, for capital projects and planning efforts. Specifically, any project would rely on funding from the FAA and approval by the Board of Supervisors
The Marin County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) evaluates land use plans and proposed development in the vicinity of the County airport at Gnoss Field to ensure that land use decisions take into account compatibility with the airport, aviation activities and the 1991 Airport Land Use Plan. The authority for establishment of the ALUC is derived from State Law (Public Utilities Code Section 21670).
The ALUC consists of 7 members, which includes all five members of the Planning Commission plus two members with aviation expertise.
The airport has operational noise abatement procedures in place. Read here to learn more and who to contact.