Military Compatibility

Palmdale is home to US Air Force Plant 42, a premier military installation, testing and research, and manufacturing site. Plant 42 is an important asset for the City’s economy and its continued success and operations are of critical importance to the entire region. This chapter seeks to balance and protect the needs of Plant 42 and the overall community to promote a sustainable environment where both coexist successfully.

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Chapter Highlights

USAF Plant 42. Palmdale is home to US Air Force Plant 42, a premier military installation, testing and research, and manufacturing site. Plant 42 is an important asset for the City’s economy and its continued success and operations are of critical importance to the entire region.

USAF Plant 42 Jobs. With approximately 12,000 employees, Plant 42 is the second largest employer in the Antelope Valley (after Edwards AFB), providing significant economic thrust and adding to the economic base of the City of Palmdale.

Land Use Compatibility. Land uses such as residential, schools, and places of assembly, that may be impacted by potential airport-related accidents are limited in the area surrounding Plant 42. This is documents in the AICUZ document.

City of Palmdale Coordination with Plant 42. The City of Palmdale values the ongoing partnership with Plant 42. Both entities support the mission and goal of Plant 42, which is to safely and successfully further military operations, research, and development within Palmdale.

Goals and Policies

Land Use Compatibility

Goal MC-1: Compatible adjacent land uses that support continued operation of Plant 42.

MC-1.1 Aerospace compatible land uses. Maintain appropriate land use designations surrounding Plant 42 to limit incompatible uses and to ensure continued safe operation of airport activities.

MC-1.2 Land use buffers. Continue to buffer Plant 42 from adjacent, non-compatible residential and commercial uses by reviewing development applications in the Military Influence Area for potential conflicts.

MC-1.3 Non-industrial land uses. Limit non-industrial uses from locating in the Aerospace Industrial area (aside from uses that directly support Plant 42 or airport operations).

MC-1.4 Evaluate existing and future land uses. Use overlay maps of the Air Installation Compatibility Use Zones (AICUZ) noise contours and Air Force Land Use Compatibility Guidelines to evaluate existing and future land use proposals.

MC-1.5 Solar energy facility compatibility. Ensure that there is no potential conflict between the operational mission of Plant 42 and any proposed adjacent solar energy facilities.

MC-1.6 Influence area development. Prohibit development in the Military Influence Area that would restrict access to military facilities, physically obstruct any portion of the Military Operating Area, or pose a health or safety hazard to military personnel.

Goal MC-2: Mitigate and/or avoid encroachment of incompatible development into space utilized by Plant 42 air operations.

MC-2.1 APZ development review. Within the Accident Potential Zones (APZ), review all development proposals for hazards to aircraft in flight including uses that release into the air any substance such as:

Steam, dust, or smoke, which could impair pilot visibility; uses that produce light emissions, glare, or distracting lights, which could interfere with pilot vision or be mistaken for airfield lighting; sources of electrical emissions, which could interfere with aircraft communications or navigation; and uses that could attract birds or waterfowl to the extent that they would pose a danger to aircraft operation in the vicinity of Plant 42.
Require project applicants to notify Plant 42 and the City of any potential hazards, including but not limited to the above list.

MC-2.2 AICUZ consistency. Require all development to be consistent with DoD regulations as outlined in the Plant 42 AICUZ Report and comply with regulations which affect development in the Clear Zones/Accident Potential Zones.

MC-2.3 Aviation easement. Through the development review process, require that all new projects within the APZ’s of Plant 42 provide an aviation easement.

Limit Noise Impacts

Goal MC-3: Protect residents from excessive noise and protect Plant 42 from noise complaints by preventing incompatible land uses from encroaching upon the site.

MC-3.1 Noise and overflight compliance. Ensure that all new land use proposals comply with the noise and overflight policies of the most recent AICUZ for Plant 42.

MC-3.2 Restrict new residential in APZs. Prohibit new residential zoning and new schools in the APZs.

MC-3.3 Restrict residential in high noise areas. Prohibit the redesignation of residential land within the 65-DBL noise contour and the overflight area to increased residential densities.

MC-3.4 Home occupant notification. Require homebuyer/renter notification or disclosure of aircraft noise for all new residential development located in an APZ, or east of Division Street and south of Technology Drive and north of Avenue Q and west of Sierra Highway.

MC-3.5 Noise reduction measures. New development within the 65 DBL noise contour area must adhere to the recommended noise level reductions incorporated into the design and construction.

MC-3.6 Avoid Noise Sensitive Uses. Discourage new noise sensitive development, such as places of worship, residential development, schools, and other similar uses, clustered adjacent to a noise zone.

MC-3.7 Noise Considerations Through Land Use Action. Through conditions of approval, require that any owner of developed or undeveloped property within the 65 CNEL noise contour that is seeking a land use action from the City, provide an aviation easement to the Los Angeles World Airports, the U.S. Air Force, and the City.

MC-3.8 Non-noise Sensitive Land Uses. Designate and permit land uses within the 65 CNEL contour that are primarily industrial, business park, commercial and recreational uses that are not noise sensitive; permit other uses only when it is found that no adverse noise impacts will result.

Aerospace Growth

Goal MC-4: Continued growth of Plant 42 operations in the Aerospace Industrial land use district.

MC-4.1 Land Supportive of Aerospace Industrial. Maintain sufficient land zoned for the Aerospace Industrial use to accommodate a wide variety of industrial, military, and supportive uses.

MC-4.2 Attract New Businesses. Encourage and recruit businesses that are affiliated with or are supportive of aerospace research and development.

MC-4.3 Land Supportive of Aerospace Industrial. Maintain and improve circulation to accommodate the unique demands of aerospace workplaces.

MC-4.4 Military Influence Area Coordination. Reference the Military Influence Area Map (Figure 8.3) to identify possible City actions in or near Plant 42 installations, operations areas, and/or military training routes and consult with Plant 42 for input, as appropriate.

MC-4.5 Legislation Support. Support State or Federal legislation that positively impacts existing and future operations at Plant 42 (e.g., changes to airspace, state tax incentives, encroachment, etc.). Similarly, oppose legislation that may have a detrimental impact.

Goal MC-5: Ensure that new development within the Risk of Adverse Impact on Military Operations and Readiness Area (RAIMORA) or Military Training Route (MTR) complies with Federal Aviation Regulations regarding height and obstructions.

MC-5.1 Height and Obstruction Ordinance Compliance. Ensure that City height and obstruction ordinances reflect current Air Force and FAA Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 77 requirements related to the RAIMORA zone covering the Restricted Airspace R2508 and the Nevada Test and Training Range and the Military Training Route.

MC-5.2 Notification for MTR Obstructions. For any proposed uses that could penetrate* the MTR, provide notification to those responsible for Plant 42 military operations.

MC-5.3 New Construction Height Compliance. Ensure all new development within the City is constructed in accordance with FAR Part 77 that is concerned with any construction or alteration more than 150 feet above ground level, or as defined in the AICUZ.**

MC-5.4 Tall Structure Review. Provide for special review recommendation on tall structures in the RAIMORA or MTR.

*For the purposes of determining whether a project penetrates the defined floor elevation of the Military Operating Area (MOA), a penetration means a physical obstruction from a structure or object, and/or a visual obstruction such as steam, dust, or smoke.
**For the purposes of calculating height of new proposed structures, the height of all structures (including wind turbines) means the distance from ground to the top of the highest point of the structure. For wind turbines this means the highest point of the turbine blade in vertical position.

Coordination

Goal MC-6: Enhanced communications with City government and its residents.

MC-6.1 Plant 42 Disaster Preparation. Prepare residents in case of an industrial accident or release of hazardous materials at Plant 42; distribute instructions/information to the public on actions to take if an incident occurs.

MC-6.2 Plant 42 Public Education. Participate in Plant 42 public education programs regarding missions and impacts associated with military aviation operations to increase public awareness.

MC-6.3 Military Liaison. Designate a military liaison function within the City to exchange information between the City and Plant 42 on issues of mutual concern including, but not limited to:

Early notification of development projects near Plant 42,
Early notification to the City of potential changes in aircraft operations (flight patterns, operational tempo, etc.),
Housing, recreation, and other issues related to Plant 42 personnel living in the City,
Track legislative impacts to the area.

Goal MC-7: Coordinate future development and infrastructure improvements.

MC-7.1 Project Coordination with Plant 42. Notify and coordinate with Plant 42 on major capital improvement projects or infrastructure expansion plans within the MIA that may impact Plant 42 operations.

MC-7.2 Grant Coordination with Plant 42. Collaborate with Plant 42 to pursue grant funding for things like infrastructure that will collectively serve the needs of Plant 42 and the community.

MC-7.3 Coordination Airport Plans with Plant 42. Notify and coordinate with USAF Plant 42 on City-initiated improvements or expansion plans related to the development of passenger air service at the Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD).

MC-7.4 Affordable and Workforce Housing. Promote the availability and development of affordable and workforce housing in the City to meet the needs of military personnel and their dependents.

MC-7.5 Coordination with Plant 42. Review and respond to any proposals from the USAF or other military contractors in Plant 42 involving any intensification of operations, changes in flight patterns, and relocation or extension of runaways that would potentially create safety or noise impacts for Palmdale residents.

MC 7.6 Interagency Land Use Coordination. Work with the County of Los Angeles, City of Lancaster and the military installations as needed to address any issues related to land use compatibility, safety, and operations.