Section 21690.20 Of Article 5. Los Angeles International Airport Relocation And Development From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 9. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 5.
21690.20
. The Legislature hereby finds that Los Angeles
International Airport is one of the important air terminals of the
world, making a significant contribution daily to the economy of
California.
Since 1959, jet air traffic at the airport has increased from 80
flights daily to nearly 1,000 daily. This increasing air traffic and
necessary expansion of airport facilities has had an adverse affect
on the residents of the surrounding areas. Expansion and development
has and is expected to require the acquisition of many homes in the
vicinity of the airport and has rendered other homes in areas
subjected to aircraft noise nearly uninhabitable. Property owners in
the vicinity of the airport are either unable to sell their homes or
able to sell only at depressed market prices. Under present laws, the
Department of Airports of the City of Los Angeles is required only
to pay homeowners "fair market value" for their property. With
increasing property costs and current high interest rates, it is
impossible for a homeowner to purchase a comparable dwelling in a
comparable residential area for amounts now being paid as "fair
market value."
The City Council of the City of Los Angeles has initiated this
legislation to enable the city to (1) assist displaced homeowners to
relocate in comparable residential areas and housing, (2) provide,
where available, replacement housing acceptable to affected
homeowners, and (3) purchase affected homes to compensate homeowners
for the depressed values of their property.
There is precedent for the provision of replacement housing, where
available, in Chapter 953 of the Statutes of 1968, by which the
Department of Public Works is authorized to provide relocation
assistance and replacement housing to certain individuals and
families displaced because of construction of certain state highway
projects. Further, there is precedent for relocation payments to
compensate certain homeowners in Public Law 90-495 and in Chapter 3
of the Statutes of 1968, First Extraordinary Session.