HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment - David Diamond and Mary Hetherington rom:David Diamond
To:Planning Division
Cc:Mary Hetherington
Subject:Comment regarding Truckee 2040 “Noise and Safety” Document
Date:Friday, July 8, 2022 6:56:18 AM
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Dear Planning Division,
This comment comes from myself (David Diamond) and my friend Mary Hetherington
(copied on this email). We are sitting directors on the Truckee Tahoe Airport District, but this
comment comes from us as individuals who are Truckee residents. Our comment does not
represent an official position of the Airport District. For identity confirmation, you can contact
us via our District emails for response. Those addresses are
and
Our comment is related to Chapter 8: Safety and Noise Element, of the Truckee 2040
General Plan update. Specifically, section heading “Airport Safety,” and policy
subsections SN-8.17 - “Flyover Noise” and SN-8.18 “Future Airport Noise Exposure”.
We appreciate the Plan’s recognition of and respect for airport land use compatibility.
It’s imperative that you inhibit, where possible, development that will result in noise
and safety impacts for those who occupy future structures.
In a housing-challenged region like ours, wouldbe tenants can be enticed by whatever
is available or affordable, thereby accepting tenancy in less desirable situations. We
do not want any Truckee neighborhood to bear the brunt of airport operations, either
through property value reductions or noise and safety impact.
This brings us to our primary concern with the content in the policy subsections:
“Supporting the efforts of” and “cooperating with” the Airport District is not enough.
The Airport District is under the direction of elected officers who potentially change
every two years. It cannot be assumed that every airport board will consist of
community focused directors who reliably act in the interests of Truckee and other
regional municipalities affected by airport operations.
For this reason, we encourage the Town to strengthen its language toward its Airport
District partnership. Don’t just aim to support and cooperate with the Airport District;
aim to encourage, guide and challenge the Airport District.
Commit to addressing the Airport District Board when issues come before it that
could adversely impact the residents of Truckee. Pledge to current and future
Truckee residents that the Town will keep an eye on Airport District policy, and that
you will speak up on behalf of Truckee residents who are most directly impacted by
airport operations’ safety and impact.
We are different agencies, but we have in common the human beings we serve.
Because we cannot be certain that all current and future elected officers will always
act in the best interests of our shared community members, we must adopt policy
that accounts for any weaknesses in political will.
Sincerely, and, again, speaking only for of ourselves and not the Truckee Tahoe
Airport District,
David Diamond and Mary Hetherington