Muzzy Ranch v. Solano County Airport Land

Certified for Partial Publication. [*]

In this case we determine whether respondent Solano County Airport Land Use Commission's adoption of an airport land use compatibility plan for the area surrounding the Travis Air Force Base was a "project" as that term is used in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Respondent concluded that adoption of the plan was not a project, appellant Muzzy Ranch Co. challenged that conclusion by petition for writ of mandate, and the trial court denied the petition. We reverse, holding that adoption of the plan was a project because it has the potential to result in physical change to the environment by displacing housing development from the Travis vicinity to elsewhere in the region. In the unpublished portion of this opinion, we address appellant's arguments related to Air Force land use compatibility studies for Travis.

Respondent Solano County Airport Land Use Commission (Commission) was established under the State Aeronautics Act (Pub. Util.Code, § 21001 et seq.) for the purpose of "ensuring the orderly expansion of airports" and the adoption of appropriate land use measures in Solano County. (Pub.Util.Code, § 21670,…