Chapter 4. Airports and Air Navigation Facilities

Article 3.5. Airport Land Use Commission

21670. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:
(1) It is in the public interest to provide for the orderly development of each public use airport in this state and the area surrounding these airports so as to promote the overall goals and objectives of the California airport noise standards adopted pursuant to Section 21669 and to prevent the creation of new noise and safety problems.
(2) It is the purpose of this article to protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring the orderly expansion of airports and the adoption of land use measures that minimize the public's exposure to excessive noise and safety hazards within areas around public airports to the extent that these areas are not already devoted to incompatible uses.
(b) In order to achieve the purposes of this article, every county in which there is located an airport which is served by a scheduled airline shall establish an airport land use commission. Every county, in which there is located an airport which is not served by a scheduled airline, but is operated for the benefit of the general public shall establish an airport land use commission, except that the board of supervisors of the county may, after consultation with the appropriate airport operators and affected local entities and after a public hearing, adopt a resolution finding that there are no noise, public safety, or land use issues affecting any airport in the county which require the creation of a commission and declaring the county exempt from that requirement. The board shall in this event, transmit a copy of the resolution to the Director of Transportation. For purposes of this section, "commission" means an airport land use commission. Each commission shall consist of seven members to be selected as follows:
(1) Two representing the cities in the county, appointed by a city selection committee comprised of the mayors of all the cities within that county, except that if there are any cities contiguous or adjacent to the qualifying airport, at least one representative shall be appointed therefrom. If there are no cities within a county, the number of representatives provided for by paragraphs (2) and (3) shall each be increased by one.
(2) Two representing the county, appointed by the board of supervisors.
(3) Two having expertise in aviation, appointed by a selection committee comprised of the managers of all of the public airports within that county.
(4) One representing the general public, appointed by the other six members of the commission.
(c) Public officers, whether elected or appointed, may be appointed and serve as members of the commission during their terms of public office.
(d) Each member shall promptly appoint a single proxy to represent him or her in commission affairs and to vote on all matters when the member is not in attendance. The proxy shall be designated in a signed written
instrument which shall be kept on file at the commission offices, and the proxy shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing member. A vacancy in the office of proxy shall be filled promptly by appointment of a new proxy.
(e) A person having an "expertise in aviation" means a person who, by way of education, training, business, experience, vocation, or avocation has acquired and possesses particular knowledge of, and familiarity with, the function, operation, and role of airports, or is an elected official of a local agency which owns or operates an airport.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1041; Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1117; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018;
Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 59. Effective June 30, 1993; Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 644.)

21670.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, if the board of supervisors and the city selection committee of mayors in the county each makes a determination by a majority vote that proper land use planning can be accomplished through the actions of an appropriately designated body, then the body so designated shall assume the planning responsibilities of an airport land use commission as provided for in this article, and a commission need not be formed in that county.
(b) A body designated pursuant to subdivision (a) which does not include among its membership at least two members having an expertise in aviation, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 21670, shall, when acting in the capacity of an airport land use commission, be augmented so that body, as augmented, will have at least two members having that expertise. The commission shall be constituted pursuant to this section on and after March 1, 1988.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), and subdivision (b) of Section 21670, if the board of supervisors of a county and each affected city in that county each makes a determination that proper land use planning pursuant to this article can be accomplished pursuant to this subdivision, then a commission need not be formed in that county.
(2) If the board of supervisors of a county and each affected city makes a determination that proper land use planning may be accomplished and a commission is not formed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subdivision, that county and the appropriate affected cities having jurisdiction over an airport, subject to the review and approval by the Division of Aeronautics of the department, shall do all of the following:
(A) Adopt processes for the preparation, adoption, and amendment of the comprehensive airport land use plan for each airport that is served by a scheduled airline or operated for the benefit of the general public.
(B) Adopt processes for the notification of the general public, landowners, interested groups, and other public agencies regarding the preparation, adoption, and amendment of the comprehensive airport land use plans.
(C) Adopt processes for the mediation of disputes arising from the preparation, adoption, and amendment of the comprehensive airport land use plans.
(D) Adopt processes for the amendment of general and specific plans to be consistent with the comprehensive airport land use plans.
(E) Designate the agency that shall be responsible of the preparation, adoption, and amendment of each comprehensive airport land use plan.
(3) The Division of Aeronautics of the department shall review the processes adopted pursuant to paragraph (2), and shall approve the processes if the division determines that the processes are consistent with the procedure required by this article and will do all of the following:
(A) Result in the preparation, adoption, and implementation of plans within a reasonable amount of time.
(B) Rely on the height, use, noise, safety, and density criteria that are compatible with airport operations, as established by this article, and referred to as the Airport Land Use Planning Handbook, published by the division, and any applicable federal aviation regulations, including, but not limited to, Part 77 (commencing with Section 77.1) of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(C) Provide adequate opportunities for notice to, review of, and comment by the general public, landowners, interested groups, and other public agencies.
(4) If the county does not comply with the requirements of paragraph *** (2) within 120 days, then the plan and amendments shall not be considered adopted pursuant to this article and a commission shall be established within 90 days of the determination of noncompliance by the division and a plan shall be adopted pursuant to this article within 90 days of the establishment of the commission.
(d) A commission need not be formed in a county that has contracted for the preparation of comprehensive airport land use plans with the Division of Aeronautics under the California Aids to Airport Program (Title 21 (commencing with Section 4050) of the California Code of Regulations), Project Ker-VAR 90-1, and that submits all of the following information to the Division of Aeronautics for review and comment that the county and the cities affected by the airports within the county, as defined by the plans:
(1) Agree to adopt and implement the comprehensive airport plans that have been developed under contract.
(2) Incorporated the height, use, noise, safety, and density criteria that are compatible with airport operations as established by this article, and referred to as the Airport Land Use Planning Handbook, published by the division, and any applicable federal aviation regulations, including, but not limited to, Part 77 (commencing with Section 77.1) of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations as part of the general and specific plans for the county and for each affected city.
(3) If the county does not comply with this subdivision on or before May 1, 1995, then a commission shall be established in accordance with this article.
(e) (1) A commission need not be formed in a county if all of the following conditions are met:
(A) The county has only one public use airport that is owned by a city.
(B) (i) The county and the affected city adopt the elements in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d), as part of their general and specific plans for the county and the affected city.
(ii) The general and specific plans shall be submitted, upon adoption, to the Division of Aeronautics. If the county and the affected city do not submit the elements specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d), on or before May 1, 1996, then a commission shall be established in accordance with this article.
(Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1182; Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 725; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018;
Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 644; Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 66. Effective on July 6, 1995.)

21670.2. (a) Sections 21670 and 21670.1 do not apply to the County of Los Angeles. In that county, the county regional planning commission has the responsibility for coordinating the airport planning of public agencies within the county. In instances where impasses result relative to this planning, an appeal may be made to the county regional planning commission by any public agency involved. The action taken by the county regional planning commission on such an appeal may be overruled by a four-fifths vote of the governing body of a public agency whose planning led to the appeal.
(b) By January 1, 1992, the county regional planning commission shall adopt the comprehensive land use plans required pursuant to Section 21675.
(c) Sections 21675.1, 21675.2, and 21679.5 do not apply to the County of Los Angeles until January 1, 1992. If the comprehensive land use plans required pursuant to Section 21675 are not adopted by the county regional planning commission by January 1, 1992, Sections 21675.1 and 21675.2 shall apply to the County of Los Angeles until the plans are adopted.
(Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1182; Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 54. Effective April 20, 1990.)

21670.3. (a) Notwithstanding the deadlines in Sections 21671.5 and 21675.1, the commission in the County of Mendocino shall adopt the comprehensive land use plans required pursuant to Section 21675 by June 30, 1993, for all public airports in the county except the Willits Municipal Airport.
(b) Until the commission adopts a comprehensive land use plan, the city or county shall first submit all actions, regulations, and permits within the vicinity of a public airport to the commission for review and approval. Before the commission approves or disapproves any actions, regulations, or permits, the commission shall give public notice in the same manner as the city or county is required to give for those actions, regulations, or permits. As used in this section, "vicinity" means land which will be included or reasonably could be included within the plan. If the commission has not designated a study area for the plan, then "vicinity" means land within two miles of the boundary of a public airport.
(c) The commission may approve an action, regulation, or permit if it finds, based on substantial evidence in the record, all of the following:
(1) The commission is making substantial progress toward the completion of the plan.
(2) There is a reasonable probability that the action, regulation, or permit will be consistent with the plan being prepared by the commission.
(3) There is little or no probability of substantial detriment to or interference with the future adopted plan if the action, regulation, or permit is ultimately inconsistent with the plan.
(d) If the commission disapproves an action, regulation, or permit, the commission shall notify the city or county. The city or county may overrule the commission, by a two-thirds vote of its governing body, if it makes specific findings that the proposed action, regulation, or permit is consistent with the purposes of this article, as stated in Section 21670.
(e) If a city or county overrules the commission pursuant to subdivision (d), that action shall not relieve the city or county from further compliance with this article after the commission adopts the plan.
(f) If a city or county overrules the commission pursuant to subdivision (d) with respect to a publicly owned airport that the city or county does not operate, the operator of the airport is not liable for damages to property or personal injury resulting from the city's or county's decision to proceed with the action, regulation, or permit.
(g) A commission may adopt rules and regulations which exempt any ministerial permit for single-family dwellings from the requirements of subdivision (b) if it makes the findings required pursuant to subdivision (c) for the proposed rules and regulations, except that the rules and regulations may not exempt either of the following:
(1) More than two single-family dwellings by the same applicant within a subdivision prior to June 30, 1993.
(2) Single-family dwellings in a subdivision where 25 percent or more of the parcels are undeveloped.
(h) Until June 30, 1993, no action pursuant to Section 21679 to postpone the effective date of a zoning change, a zoning variance, the issuance of a permit, or the adoption of a regulation by a local agency, directly affecting the use of land within one mile of the boundary of a public airport, shall be commenced in the County of Mendocino.
(i) This section shall become inoperative on June 30, 1993, and is repealed on that date. (Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 353.)
Note: Stats. 1992, Ch. 353, also reads:
SEC. 2. In enacting Section 21670.3 of the Public Utilities Code pursuant to Section 1 of this bill, the Legislature finds and declares that:
(a) The Legislature has not extended the deadlines in Sections 21671.5 and 21675.1 of the Public Utilities Code for the Willits Municipal Airport.
(b) This act shall have no effect on the pending litigation brought by the City of Willits regarding the lack of a comprehensive land use plan for the Willits Municipal Airport.
(c) The Legislature does not intend to further extend the deadlines in Sections 21671.5 and 21675.1 of the Public Utilities Code for the County of Mendocino.

21671. In any county where there is an airport operated for the general public which is owned by a city or district in another county or by another county, one of the representatives provided by paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 21670 shall be appointed by the city selection committee of mayors of the cities of the county in which the owner of that airport is located, and one of the representatives provided by paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 21670 shall be appointed by the board of supervisors of the county in which the owner of that airport is located.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1041; Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1117; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018.)

21671.5. (a) Except for the terms of office of the members of the first commission, the term of office of each member shall be four years and until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor. The members of the first commission shall classify themselves by lot so that the term of office of one member is one year, of two members is two years, of two members is three years, and of two members is four years. The body which originally appointed a member whose term has expired shall appoint his or her successor for a full term of four years. Any member may be removed at any time and without cause by the body appointing that member. The expiration date of the term of office of each member shall be the first Monday in May in the year in which that member's term is to expire. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the body which originally appointed the member whose office has become vacant. The chairperson of the commission shall be selected by the members thereof. (b) Compensation, if any, shall be determined by the board of supervisors.
(c) Staff assistance, including the mailing of notices and the keeping of minutes and necessary quarters, equipment, and supplies shall be provided by the county. The usual and necessary operating expenses of the commission shall be a county charge.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the commission shall not employ any personnel either as employees or independent contractors without the prior approval of the board of supervisors.
(e) The commission shall meet at the call of the commission chairperson or at the request of the majority of the commission members. A majority of the commission members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No action shall be taken by the commission except by the recorded vote of a majority of the full membership.
(f) The commission may establish a schedule of fees necessary to comply with this article. Those fees shall be charged to the proponents of actions, regulations, or permits, shall not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service, and shall be imposed pursuant to Section 66016 of the Government Code. Except as provided in subdivision (g), after June 30, 1991, a commission which has not adopted the comprehensive land use plan required by Section 21675 shall not charge fees pursuant to this subdivision until the commission adopts the plan.
(g) In any county which has undertaken by contract or otherwise completed land use plans for at least one-half of all public use airports in the county, the commission may continue to charge fees necessary to comply with this article until June 30, 1992, and, if the land use plans are complete by that date, may continue charging fees after June 30, 1992. If the land use plans are not complete by June 30, 1992, the commission shall not charge fees pursuant to subdivision (f) until the commission adopts the land use plans.
(Added by Stats. 1967, Ch. 852; Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 419, Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 306; Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1572; Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 140. Effective July 22, 1991.)
Note: Stats. 1989, Ch. 306 also reads:
Sec. 7. The Legislature finds and declares that the requirement for airport land use commissions to adopt comprehensive land use plans was adopted in 1970. The Legislature finds and declares that this act sets July 1, 1991, as the deadline for the commissions to adopt these required plans. The Legislature further finds and declares that this deadline provides sufficient time to the commissions to adopt these plans. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature not to reimburse airport land use commissions for costs incurred by the commissions after July 1, 1991, for the preparation of comprehensive land use plans pursuant to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 21670) of Chapter 4 of Division 9 of the Public Utilities Code.

21672. Each commission shall adopt rules and regulations with respect to the temporary disqualification of its members from participating in the review or adoption of a proposal because of conflict of interest and with respect to appointment of substitute members in such cases.
(Added by Stats. 1967, Ch. 852.)

21673. In any county not having a commission or a body designated to carry out the responsibilities of a commission, any owner of a public airport may initiate proceedings for the creation of a commission by presenting a request to the board of supervisors that a commission be created and showing the need therefor to the satisfaction of the board of supervisors.
(Added by Stats. 1967, Ch. 852; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018.)

21674. The commission has the following powers and duties, subject to the limitations upon its jurisdiction set forth in Section 21676:
(a) To assist local agencies in ensuring compatible land uses in the vicinity of all new airports and in the vicinity of existing airports to the extent that the land in the vicinity of those airports is not already devoted to incompatible uses.
(b) To coordinate planning at the state, regional, and local levels so as to provide for the orderly development of air transportation, while at the same time protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.
(c) To prepare and adopt an airport land use plan pursuant to Section 21675.
(d) To review the plans, regulations, and other actions of local agencies and airport operators pursuant to Section 21676.
(e) The powers of the commission shall in no way be construed to give the commission jurisdiction over the operation of any airport.
(f) In order to carry out its responsibilities, the commission may adopt rules and regulations consistent with this article.
(Amended by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1052; Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1041; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018.)

21674.5. (a) The Department of Transportation shall develop and implement a program or programs to assist in the training and development of the staff of airport land use commissions, after consulting with airport land use commissions, cities, counties, and other appropriate public entities.
(b) The training and development program or programs are intended to assist the staff of airport land use commissions in addressing high priority needs, and may include, but need not be limited to, the following:
(1) The establishment of a process for the development and adoption of comprehensive land use plans.
(2) The development of criteria for determining airport land use planning boundaries.
(3) The identification of essential elements which should be included in the comprehensive plans.
(4) Appropriate criteria and procedures for reviewing proposed developments and determining whether proposed developments are compatible with the airport use.
(5) Any other organizational, operational, procedural, or technical responsibilities and functions which the department determines to be appropriate to provide to commission staff and for which it determines there is a need for staff training or development.
(c) The department may provide training and development programs for airport land use commission staff pursuant to this section by any means it deems appropriate. Those programs may be presented in any of the following ways:
(1) By offering formal courses or training programs.
(2) By sponsoring or assisting in the organization and sponsorship of conferences, seminars, or other similar events.
(3) By producing and making available written information.
(4) Any other feasible method of providing information and assisting in the training and development of airport land use commission staff.
(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1008. Effective September 18, 1990.)

21674.7. An airport land use commission that formulates, adopts or amends a comprehensive airport land use plan shall be guided by information prepared and updated pursuant to Section 21674.5 and referred to as the Airport Land Use Planning Handbook published by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation.
(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 644.)

21675. (a) Each commission shall formulate a comprehensive land use plan that will provide for the orderly growth of each public airport and the area surrounding the airport within the jurisdiction of the commission, and will safeguard the general welfare of the inhabitants within the vicinity of the airport and the public in general. The commission plan shall include and shall be based on a long-range master plan or an airport layout plan, as determined by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation, that reflects the anticipated growth of the airport during at least the next 20 years. In formulating a land use plan, the commission may develop height restrictions on buildings, specify use of land, and, determine building standards, including soundproofing adjacent to airports, within the planning area. The comprehensive land use plan shall be reviewed as often as necessary in order to accomplish its purposes, but shall not be amended more than once in any calendar year.
(b) The commission may include, within its plan formulated pursuant to subdivision (a), the area within the jurisdiction of the commission surrounding any federal military airport for all of the purposes specified in subdivision (a). This subdivision does not give the commission any jurisdiction or authority over the territory or operations of any military airport.
(c) The planning boundaries shall be established by the commission after hearing and consultation with the involved agencies.
(d) The commission shall submit to the Division of Aeronautics of the department one copy of the plan and each amendment to the plan.
(e) If a comprehensive land use plan does not include the matters required to be included pursuant to this article, the Division of Aeronautics of the department shall notify the commission responsible for the plan.
(Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 714, Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1117; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018.
Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 306; Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 563.)

21675.1. (a) By June 30, 1991, each commission shall adopt the comprehensive land use plan required pursuant to Section 21675, except that any county which has undertaken by contract or otherwise completed land use plans for at least one-half of all public use airports in the county, shall adopt that plan on or before June 30, 1992.
(b) Until a commission adopts a comprehensive land use plan, a city or county shall first submit all actions, regulations, and permits within the vicinity of a public airport to the commission for review and approval. Before the commission approves or disapproves any actions, regulations, or permits, the commission shall give public notice in the same manner as the city or county is required to give for those actions, regulations, or permits. As used in this section, "vicinity" means land which will be included or reasonably could be included within the plan. If the commission has not designated a study area for the plan, then "vicinity" means land within two miles of the boundary of a public airport. (c) The commission may approve an action, regulation, or permit if it finds, based on substantial evidence in the record, all of the following:
(1) The commission is making substantial progress toward the completion of the plan.
(2) There is a reasonable probability that the action, regulation, or permit will be consistent with the plan being prepared by the commission.
(3) There is little or no probability of substantial detriment to or interference with the future adopted plan if the action, regulation, or permit is ultimately inconsistent with the plan.
(d) If the commission disapproves an action, regulation, or permit, the commission shall notify the city or county. The city or county may overrule the commission, by a two-thirds vote of its governing body, if it makes specific findings that the proposed action, regulation, or permit is consistent with the purposes of this article, as stated in Section 21670.
(e) If a city or county overrules the commission pursuant to subdivision (d), that action shall not relieve the city or county from further compliance with this article after the commission adopts the plan.
(f) If a city or county overrules the commission pursuant to subdivision (d) with respect to a publicly owned airport that the city or county does not operate, the operator of the airport is not liable for damages to property or personal injury resulting from the city's or county's decision to proceed with the action, regulation, or permit.
(g) A commission may adopt rules and regulations which exempt any ministerial permit for single-family dwellings from the requirements of subdivision (b) if it makes the findings required pursuant to subdivision (c) for the proposed rules and regulations, except that the rules and regulations may not exempt either of the following:
(1) More than two single-family dwellings by the same applicant within a subdivision prior to June 30, 1991.
(2) Single-family dwellings in a subdivision where 25 percent or more of the parcels are undeveloped.
(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 306; Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 140. Effective July 22, 1991.)

21675.2. (a) If a commission fails to act to approve or disapprove any actions, regulations, or permits within 60 days of receiving the request pursuant to Section 21675.1, the applicant or his or her representative may file an action pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure to compel the commission to act, and the court shall give the proceedings preference over all other actions or proceedings, except previously filed pending matters of the same character.
(b) The action, regulation, or permit shall be deemed approved only if the public notice required by this subdivision has occurred. If the applicant has provided seven days advance notice to the commission of the intent to provide public notice pursuant to this subdivision, then, not earlier than the date of the expiration of the time limit established by Section 21675.1, an applicant may provide the required public notice. If the applicant chooses to provide public notice, that notice shall include a description of the proposed action, regulation, or permit substantially similar to the descriptions which are commonly used in public notices by the commission, the location of any proposed development, the application number, the name and address of the commission, and a statement that the action, regulation, or permit shall be deemed approved if the commission has not acted within 60 days. If the applicant has provided the public notice specified in this subdivision, the time limit for action by the commission shall be extended to 60 days after the public notice is provided. If the applicant provides notice pursuant to this section, the commission shall refund to the applicant any fees which were collected for providing notice and which were not used for that purpose.
(c) Failure of an applicant to submit complete or adequate information pursuant to Sections 65943 to 65946, inclusive, of the Government Code, may constitute grounds for disapproval of actions, regulations, or permits.
(d) Nothing in this section diminishes the commission's legal responsibility to provide, where applicable, public
notice and hearing before acting on an action, regulation, or permit.
(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 306.)

21676. (a) Each local agency whose general plan includes areas covered by an airport land use commission plan shall, by July 1, 1983, submit a copy of its plan or specific plans to the airport land use commission. The commission shall determine by August 31, 1983, whether the plan or plans are consistent or inconsistent with the commission's plan. If the plan or plans are inconsistent with the commission's plan, the local agency shall be notified and that local agency shall have another hearing to reconsider its plans. The local agency may overrule the commission after such hearing by a two-thirds vote of its governing body if it makes specific findings that the proposed action is consistent with the purposes of this article stated in Section 21670.
(b) Prior to the amendment of a general plan or specific plan, or the adoption or approval of a zoning ordinance or building regulation within the planning boundary established by the airport land use commission pursuant to Section 21675, the local agency shall first refer the proposed action to the commission. If the commission determines that the proposed action is inconsistent with the commission's plan, the referring agency shall be notified. The local agency may, after a public hearing, overrule the commission by a two-thirds vote of its governing body if it makes specific findings that the proposed action is consistent with the purposes of this article stated in Section 21670.
(c) Each public agency owning any airport within the boundaries of an airport land use commission plan shall, prior to modification of its airport master plan, refer such proposed change to the airport land use commission. If the commission determines that the proposed action is inconsistent with the commission's plan, the referring agency shall be notified. The public agency may, after a public hearing, overrule the commission by a two-thirds vote of its governing body if it makes specific findings that the proposed action is consistent with the purposes of this article stated in Section 21670.
(d) Each commission determination pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) shall be made within 60 days from the date of referral of the proposed action. If a commission fails to make the determination within that period, the proposed action shall be deemed consistent with the commission's plan.
(Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1182; Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1041; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018.)

21676.5. (a) If the commission finds that a local agency has not revised its general plan or specific plan or overruled the commission by a two-thirds vote of its governing body after making specific findings that the proposed action is consistent with the purposes of this article as stated in Section 21670, the commission may require that the local agency submit all subsequent actions, regulations, and permits to the commission for review until its general plan or specific plan is revised or the specific findings are made. If, in the determination of the commission, an action, regulation, or permit of the local agency is inconsistent with the commission plan, the local agency shall be notified and that local agency shall hold a hearing to reconsider its plan. The local agency may overrule the commission after the hearing by a two-thirds vote of its governing body if it makes specific findings that the proposed action is consistent with the purposes of this article as stated in Section 21670.
(b) Whenever the local agency has revised its general plan or specific plan or has overruled the commission pursuant to subdivision (a), the proposed action of the local agency shall not be subject to further commission review, unless the commission and the local agency agree that individual projects shall be reviewed by the commission.
(Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1117.)

21677. Notwithstanding Section 21676, any public agency in the County of Marin may overrule the Marin County Airport Land Use Commission by a majority vote of its governing body.
(Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 934; Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 144.)

21678. With respect to a publicly owned airport that a public agency does not operate, if the public agency pursuant to Section 21676 or 21676.5 overrides a commission's action or recommendation, the operator of the airport shall be immune from liability for damages to property or personal injury caused by or resulting directly or indirectly from the public agency's decision to override the commission's action or recommendation.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1041; Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1117; Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018.)

21679. (a) In any county in which there is no airport land use commission or other body designated to assume the responsibilities of an airport land use commission, or in which the commission or other designated body has not adopted an airport land use plan, an interested party may initiate proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to postpone the effective date of a zoning change, a zoning variance, the issuance of a permit, or the adoption of a regulation by a local agency, which directly affects the use of land within one mile of the boundary of a public airport within the county.
(b) The court may issue an injunction which postpones the effective date of the zoning change, zoning variance, permit, or regulation until the governing body of the local agency which took the action does one of the following:
(1) In the case of an action which is a legislative act, adopts a resolution declaring that the proposed action is consistent with the purposes of this article stated in Section 21670.
(2) In the case of an action which is not a legislative act, adopts a resolution making findings based on substantial evidence in the record that the proposed action is consistent with the purposes of this article stated in Section 21670.
(3) Rescinds the action.
(4) Amends its action to make it consistent with the purposes of this article stated in Section 21670, and complies with either paragraph (1) or (2) of this subdivision, whichever is applicable.
(c) The court shall not issue an injunction pursuant to subdivision (b) if the local agency which took the action demonstrates that the general plan and any applicable specific plan of the agency accomplishes the purposes of an airport land use plan as provided in Section 21675.
(d) An action brought pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be commenced within 30 days of the decision or within the appropriate time periods set by Section 21167 of the Public Resources Code, whichever is longer.
(e) If the governing body of the local agency adopts a resolution pursuant to subdivision (b) with respect to a publicly owned airport that the local agency does not operate, the operator of the airport shall be immune from liability for damages to property or personal injury from the local agency's decision to proceed with the zoning change, zoning variance, permit, or regulation.
(f) As used in this section, "interested party" means any owner of land within two miles of the boundary of the airport or any organization with a demonstrated interest in airport safety and efficiency. (Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1018.)

21679.5. (a) Until June 30, 1991, no action pursuant to Section 21679 to postpone the effective date of a zoning change, a zoning variance, the issuance of a permit, or the adoption of a regulation by a local agency, directly affecting the use of land within one mile of the boundary of a public airport, shall be commenced in any county in which the commission or other designated body has not adopted an airport land use plan, but is making substantial progress toward the completion of the plan.
(b) If a commission has been prevented from adopting the comprehensive land use plan by June 30, 1991, or if the adopted plan could not become effective, because of a lawsuit involving the adoption of the plan, the June 30, 1991, date in subdivision (a) shall be extended by the period of time during which the lawsuit was pending in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Any action pursuant to Section 21679 commenced prior to January 1, 1990, in a county in which the commission or other designated body has not adopted an airport land use plan, but is making substantial progress toward the completion of the plan, which has not proceeded to final judgement, shall be held in abeyance until June 30, 1991. If the commission or other designated body adopts an airport land use plan on or before June 30, 1991, the action shall be dismissed. If the commission or other designated body does not adopt an airport land use plan on or before June 30, 1991, the plaintiff or plaintiffs may proceed with the action.
(d) An action to postpone the effective date of a zoning change, a zoning variance, the issuance of a permit, or the adoption of a regulation by local agency, directly affecting the use of land within one mile of the boundary of a public airport for which an airport land use plan has not been adopted by June 30, 1991, shall be commenced within 30 days of June 30, 1991, or within 30 days of the decision by the local agency, or within the appropriate time periods set by Section 21167 of the Public Resources Code, whichever date is later.
(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 306.)