Legal News

Court of Appeals socks it to Long Beach PTA in airport expansion hearing

By Richard Binder

The city of Long Beach has tried to expand the Long Beach Airport terminal and build a new parking garage since 2006, only to see its efforts stymied by legal challenges over the findings of a required environmental impact report. City officials say that due to Long Beach's strict airport noise ordinance, the project won't increase the number of flights.  But they cite the necessity to meet the needs of an increasing volume of flights and passengers.

The Long Beach Unified School District, later joined by the PTA, sued the city, claiming that the environmental report didn't take into account the noise and pollution impacts of a possible increase in the number of flights that they said could arise as a result of the airport expansion. An Orange County judge ruled in favor of the city in February 2008, but the PTA alone appealed the decision.

On Monday, a three-justice panel California Court of Appeals for the 4th District asked critical questions of both parties' arguments during an hour-long hearing, which seemed to especially target the PTA. A ruling is expected within 90 days.

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Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on April 28, 2009 (boomark / email).