The City of Vacaville is about to let the "Nut Tree Dream" go south.  What we were originally sold on, a unique and vibrant gateway to our city.  A one of a kind "destination development" that would bring back some of the great things that the original Nut Tree offered.  Those plans have been lost.  What we have received is a strip mall with the normal, found just about everywhere, big box anchor retail outlets.   What is more dissappointing is that the remaining development will incourage non-retail tennants that will not attract any I-80 traveler dollars.  "Service-oriented" use is the new goal to help Nut Tree Associates fill their ill-planned two story buildings along the East Monte Vista Drive complex.  Everyone knew that retail doesn't like 2nd floor seating.  The exposure to foot and street traffic to tennants of those two buildings is minimal.  Development concept flaws are what the City of Vacaville is trying to mend.

City staff is advising us that "certain compromises in terms of the quality of uses" is a "possible stategy toward finishing out the retail development".  They also state that "the economic atmosphere in which the Nut Tree redevelopment project was concieved is different than what the city faces today".  I would think that the city staff and the land developers would be thinking with the big picture in mind.  A project that would be able to weather the test of an up and down economy.  Investing is much like land developing.  Quality lasts, go for the best products with good financial backing and history.  Our City staff, usually quick to do what is right, in a knowledgable way, now considers the Nut Tree project "a learning process and a normal process to see what works and how we can improve it" according to Senior Planner Peyman Behvand.  I know Mr. Behvand to be a very concientous fellow who want to do what is right.  This tells me that we have a serious long term problem with our "Gateway to Vacaville".

From the start there was a serious flaw in the plans that the Snell Group brought to Vacaville Planners.  There was no involvment of the large land use just north of the project, the Nut Tree Airport.  No gateway to the airport was ever proposed.  A total disconnect between our City Staff and County Staff promoted total disreguard of the airport bordering Nut Tree Development's northern flank.   The other flaw was the planned use of the property most affected by the airport, the land closest to the Runway Protection Zone.  This area was designated to have high density housing, a hotel and conference complex as well as business suites.  Now the city wants to strike the word "Hotel" from the plan.  We have always wanted a Hotel and convention center.  Placed in the right area, it would be what would draw people to Vacaville.  The Ball Park would be a great place for that.  This was a poorly conceived development from the start.  How to make it work at this point, let's see what it is like in ten years.

        

As SOME of you know there is a fire inspection going on at the Nut Tree Airport. Apparently there are some, including myself that never got ANY notification of the inspections.  Hey fire inspections are good, but to have county staff calling locksmiths to break into your hanger instead of calling you for assistance is just down right wrong, a waste of tax payer dollars and possibly illegal. Yes this happened to me today and from what I’m told this has happened to more then a handful of other in the past 48 hours.  Oh and by the way Eric takes pictures inside your hanger after the fire department is done.

I’m curious as to how many other didn’t get any notification of this inspection.  I do know of at least 1 other that wasn’t notified so it wasn’t just myself.

        

EnXco, a developer wanting to build additional wind tubines in the Montezuma Hills, offered $1 million at a Feb. 21 Solano County Planning Commission meeting.  The money is to be used to improve the radar system at Travis.  Travis Air Force base officials withdrew their long standing objections to the additional wind turbines after they were informed by their superiors that there were no "reasonable expectations" of problems with the system.

My question is, has anyone ruled out a negative affect on Radar accuracy in handling General aviation aircraft.  Is there still a question in the minds of those at Travis?  Has the promised funding clouded the original issue that these wind turbines, built closer to the base, might affect the accuracy of the returns from flying objects.  That flying object might be my or your aircraft crossing the TAFB flight space. 

The Reporter's Danny Bernardini wrote that Gregory Blue, regional manager of external affairs for enXco, said "We were trying to help them enhance their radar and we're doing it in the form of a gift."  "It's all about enhancing the radar so we can co-exist."  The question remains, will the additional turbines have an affect that will require some enhancing of the new radar system to remain safe.  Does this mean that until the system has been enhanced, are G.A. aircraft at risk during control by TAFB traffic controllers.  Has anyone looked into this?  Comments?

For those interested in this question, make plans to be at the ALUC meeting,  March 13, 2008.  The meeting is held at the Solano County Airport Conference Room, 7:00pm.  Maybe someone might ask this question of the commission. 

Danny Bernardini"s article can be found at www.thereporter.com

        

The Solano Pilot's Association is back and the local pilot enthusiasm seems high.  On Thursday, March 6th, over 40 pilots and interested persons packed the County Airport Conference room to elect new officers.  For a change there was an overall positive feeling about what we might accomplish as a unified group of aviators.  The first order of business was to elect officers.  The technique was not traditional.  Lou Tobin presided during the election.  He was last years president.  His term ended with no elections taking place.  The new officers took time to advise the audience that membership will be a number one goal.  With over 300 licensed pilots in the Vacaville area and many of them renting at the Nut Tree Airport, "we won't be happy with 20 to 30 members" advised newly elected President Jimmy Ferriera.  An effort will be made to make SPA relevent to the aircraft owners and pilots of Solano County.  As a group, we will be able to promote the wants and needs of the airport users.  Without a large percentage of local pilots as members, the association will not have a serious impact on future plans and development at the Nut Tree Airport.  For information about the Solano Pilots Association as well as membership information to to www.solanopilots.com  Comments?

        

Solano County is finally looking for a vendor to take over the FBO position at Nut Tree.  The Request for Proposals (RFP) has finally been released for a Fixed Base Operator(FBO) at the Nut Tree Airport.  This long awaited document is the first step in securing a new vendor for the FBO complex.  The RFP was finally released on Friday, February 29, 2008.  Our last FBO vendor went out with a wimper over 8 months ago.  We have been without formal FBO services since then.  What took so long to publish an RFP is unknown.  What would you want in a new FBO?  The RFP refers to an FBO Complex.  The county hopes to see a comprehensive proposal covering a range of services including aircraft maintenance, retail shop, flight training, aircraft rental, sightseeing,  flight planning and pilot lounge as well as non-aviation components such as a restaurant and automobile rental.  Solano County uses the term "partnering" in several places in the RFP.  This idea indicates our counties willingness to see a more progressive and modern business plan for the FBO that may require several businesses to gather together to get the job done.  What do all of you think about this?  What do you want?  Do you think we could support such a complex.  Would it bring more business to our area including the Nut Tree Properties next door? Comments?
You can see the entire request at: 
NUT TREE AIRPORT RFP, FBO 2008  Please scroll down to last entry to view the RFP

        

The publication General Aviation News featured an article about the Nut Tree Airport and local aviation issues in their February 8, 2008 issue.  The very upbeat article covered an interview with a County Supervisor, our Airport Manager Andy Swanson and this blog's moderator David Aronson.  The Nut Tree Airport Forum was also a focal point of the article. 

        

John Foster, chairman for the ALUC, survived his appointment during the meeting of the Solano County Mayors on January 16, 2008.  According to the Vacaville Reporter, the decision to remove him was delayed.  mayor Elizabeth Patterson(Benecia) and others sad they were weary of making a decision based only on the accusations that Foster acted inappropriately at an ALUC meeting.  Four of the seven Mayors "were concerned about making a decision without evidence of misconduct".  Dixon Mayor Mary Ann Courville said that "removing Foster may look suspicious".  "To me, it looks too close to a Wal-Mart decision."  Jane Day, Suisun City's vice mayor did move to remove Foster during the meeting.  The motion was recalled after hearing about the other Mayor's questions.  "As much as you (Day) are telling me it isn't retaliation, it's preceived that way to the public" said Courville. 

Mary Ann Courville, you are right on.  This entire action stinks of political micromanagement of an appointed advisory panel.  We did find out  that our original thought that the removal of John Foster would possibly bring a close to the effectiveness of the ALUC.  ALUC vice chair John Kakacek, according to the Reporter, said that  "if the politicians get rid of Foster, I'm going to resign.  I don't want to be a part of a Mickey Mouse organization that is controlled by political outsiders because they don't like our decisions." 

You can make a difference about the direction of this action.  Please contact your city Mayors and County Supervisors and tell them what you think. Contact information can be found in the right border.

On top of all this is the document from CalTrans advising the Suisun City planners that they agree with the findings of the ALUC on the Wal-Mart issue.  That document does not support the actions of mayors Augustine, Sanchez and Price.  To give John Foster the boot would not look good for them.  You can view the findings of the CalTrans Aeronautics div. below.  Your comments?

Caltrans letter to Suisun City

January 27, 2008

The Reporter's Danny Bernardini reported on Suisun City's upcoming decision to overide, or not, the ruling of the ALUC on the Wal-Mart issue.  He sites the economic reasoning, the close to 1 Million, year after year, of revenue to that city.  He doesn't do justice to the safety issue though.  The Caltrans letter above, states that there are wide responsibilities that are transfered to those that overule a land use commission.   This particular news article sites a comment by Suzanne Bragdon,  City Manager for Suisun City.  She maintains that there are no conflicts between the EIR (environmental impact report) and the Travis Air Base Land Use Compatibility Plan.  My guess is that Ms. Bragdon either doesn't realize what those two documents are for or that she is using the acronyms as a smoke screen for the public.  The Land use compatibility plan is concerned about public safety as well as the long term health of the economic center called TAFB.  The EIR is concerned with the habitat, water, species etc.  To use these two documents to support a future Suisun City Council's overule  of the ALUC's ruling is a staff error in guiding the council.  I hope the elected officials understand that.  Your comments?

        

Tonight, according to the Vacaville Reporter, our own John Foster, chairman for the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) will probably be removed.  This could be the beginning of the end for this meaningful commission and it's important work.  The affect of removing John is not known but the reasons are clear.  The Vacaville Mayor Len Augustine, Suisun's Mayor Pete Sanchez and Fairfield's Mayor Harry Price want him out due to the unfavorable ruling over a Super Wal-Mart.
The experience that I have had with John Foster has been through dealings with the city of Vacaville over the intention to build high density homes very near or in the protection zone of our airport.  During our joint meeting with the ALUC, NTAAC, Vacaville city staff and Snell representatives, John made significant points and asked compelling questions about the illogical land use.  He has always dealt with people and issues fairly.  John has given the ALUC strong leadership and has benefited the health of our Solano County economy by being protective of Travis Air force Base.  I caution Mayors Augustine, Price and Sanchez to be very careful with this.  The public is watching and we can make a difference once we see what is happening.  I encourage our County Supervisors to make an appeal to keep John on and congratulate him for the great job he has done.  Any Comments.

Contact Information:

        

I am not one who grew up at Vacaville's Nut Tree Airport.  There are several Vacaville Citizens who actually did spend their childhood at the airport.  We need to hear from them about their "airport vision a decade away".  Mine is one from someone who loves flight, mechanical things like airplanes, the excitement of pre-flight inspections and the rush of the throttle to the firewall takeoff roll.  I also like the people that frequent the place.  From the families that accompany the children participating in a Young Eagles Fly Day to the crusty hangar fellows who spend way too much time in a lawn chair looking at their airplanes, I like all of them.  The people who fly in for fuel from far off places.  They spend a half hour here, telling anyone who will listen about their flight and the aircraft that lifted them.  There is a wide range of our neighborhood that visits just to look around.   The Duncan Miller hangars are a prime attraction.  A little harder to find now that our soil is secure.  Easy enough though but we could invite some ideas on how we can be secure and invite visitors as well.  At Duncan's hangar you will find a group of men, much aviation history between them, willing to show you around.  A "museum" of sorts, old aircraft all polished and restored.  I see the education oriented aviation types too.  Young and old, consumed by the science and craft of aircraft maintenance.  Students at our Solano County Aviation College.  They spend days and evenings in a big hangar, a lot of blackboards and test equipment.  Parts of a variety of aircraft, engines, wings, you name it.  They attend lectures and have hands on lessons on aviation engineering.  The private and rented hangars are also a source of activity, people busy doing what they love.  Business abounds as well.  Plans for more are in the works.  A new FBO is in our future.  An FBO is another way of saying a training/repair/fueling/aviation store and maybe a restaurant business.  Too early to tell as the county is dealing with the preliminary paperwork to invite interested parties to submit a proposal.  After summing up what we have now, I see that it is a pretty cool place, as it is.  But, as you know, nothing stays the same.  In ten years, I hope that most of what we enjoy today will remain.  I see a need for bringing more commercial interests along the north/east border.  Retail space along the road and commercial hangars that support GA and light turbine or jets.  I would like to see a longer runway to allow light jets to actually purchase full tanks of fuel regardless of the time of year or temperature.  I want better services for our tax paying aircraft owners.  Maybe even a hotel and convention center on airport land. Encouraging tourism along with professional and technical conferences.  The new Airport Master Plan should outline visions like these.  What do you want your local airport to be like in a decade?
Article addicion made  01/06/2008.... I have been reminded that I did not mention the housing of the original Nut Tree Post Office on the airport grounds.  That would be great and I wish it would happen!

        

During the December 4, 2007 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, there were several very important concepts brought up.  The subject of the State and Federal legislative platform was discussed.  The airport, a strong source of FAA funding, was on the top of the list for 2008 lobbying.  The supervisors have noticed that money is coming into this airport and they didn't need to do much to get it.  Supervisor Spering asked if the Board had spent time developing visionary or general planing for the future of the airport.  Duuuuu. No, not this year.  How about hardly...  Spering went on to advise that the Supervisors should be setting priorities.  Not some sub-committee.  Thanks from the past and present volunteers manning the NTAAC.   We are waiting Supervisor Spering.  Where have the directives come from for the past decade or more.  Not from the overworked Supervisors.  Over a year ago, three of us from the NTAAC met with both Sups Vasquez and Reagan.  We wanted more funding, more support, better county intervention when the city plans affect the airport plans.  We were advised that the "Enterprise funding" for the airport allowed for no additional county funding.  We wanted funding for a new Airport General Plan.  No way.  Nothing has happened in over 18 months.  Now, we have Supervisor Spering saying there are development opportunities, that there has to be some investment on the part of Solano County.  He adds that the airport is "a great economic opportunity".     Where have you been.  All the while, our local airport management is existing in a war zone.  Andy Swanson has limited resources to successfully manage the airport.  It seems that the county talks a big talk but puts nothing into the system to make it work.  Andy answers the phone, takes out the trash, handles the overflowing toilet in the men's bathroom (a problem for years), fields all the calls from county, attends county meetings and still works with the FAA to increase funding for Airport enhancements and modernization.   We are waiting Supervisor Spering, Vasquez and Reagan.  It is time for you to promote this airport with some Solano County Funding.  More personnel would be a good start.  Funding the new Airport Master Plan would be a great way to step up.  The NTAAC voted to advise (beg) the Supervisors to do just that recently.  I hope all of you out there will view the video excerpt.  The County Sups need your push! Comments welcome!

This video is an excerpt of the December 4, 2007 Board of Supervisors meeting. A must see for airport supporters.