Foes Seek Veto of Exemption to Airport Law

Opponents of a bill exempting Los Angeles County from a new law aimed at controlling growth around California’s airports are launching a last-ditch effort to persuade Gov. George Deukmejian to veto the legislation.

The bill is bound for Deukmejian’s desk after clearing the Assembly last week on a 51-18 vote. The measure passed the Senate last month.

The bill, by state Sen. Robert G. Beverly (R-Manhattan Beach), would exempt the county from a 7-month-old law that puts teeth into statutes designed to ensure that new development is compatible with the state’s 269 airports.

Without the exemption, far-reaching regulations could be placed on development near Los Angeles International Airport, as well as airports in other parts of the county, including Santa Monica, Torrance, Hawthorne and Catalina Island.

Supporters of Beverly’s bill to exempt Los Angeles County from the law say the county is special because in all but a few cases, the land around its airports is already densely developed. The supporters also object that the law will force cities to yield to a countywide airport planning agency.

Beverly says he expects such arguments to carry weight with Deukmejian. “There’s been some modest opposition, but I feel confident he’ll sign it,” the senator said.

But foes of an exemption for Los Angeles County argue that regional airport planning is needed to promote air safety and minimize the exposure of homes and businesses to aircraft noise. They say such problems have led to the closure or conversion to private use of 18 airports in the state during the last 10 years--a time of growing demand for air service.

Among those planning to make these arguments to Deukmejian are the California Department of Transportation, the California Commission on Aviation and Airports and the city of Los Angeles, which wants planning mechanisms in place as it moves to develop a public airport in Palmdale.