The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 3‑0 on Jan. 13, 2025, to recommend that the full Board accept and record 132 avigation easements tied to San Francisco International Airport’s federally funded noise‑insulation program.

The resolution before the committee affirms the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and authorizes the director of property to execute and file the easement documents. Chair Supervisor Mirana Melgar offered the motion; the committee recorded three ayes and recommended the measure to the full Board for the Jan. 28, 2025 meeting.

Diana Volek, representing San Francisco International Airport (SFO), told the committee the easements are exchanged with property owners who receive federally funded noise insulation in exchange for signing avigation easements that acknowledge the city and county of San Francisco’s right to permit aircraft operations over their properties and to accept noise, vibration and other environmental effects incidental to airport operations. Volek said the program’s eligible geographic range is set by the Federal Aviation Administration and that the airport complies with federal and state mandates when determining eligibility. “This is part of the airport's federally funded noise insulation program in which the airport minimizes noise impact and provides noise insulation to affected properties,” Volek told the panel.

Committee members asked about outreach to neighboring jurisdictions. Luis Moreno, identified as SFO’s noise impact program representative, said there is no existing memorandum of understanding with San Mateo County and that the airport currently performs outreach directly to eligible properties; he said cities previously managed outreach in prior iterations of the program. Moreno also said the airport maintains a website where residents may check eligibility and pose program questions.

There were no public speakers on the item. Committee members voted to send the resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the clerk noted the item is expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors’ Jan. 28, 2025 agenda.

The action would allow the Department of Real Estate (as described in the resolution) to accept and record the avigation easements and to undertake related ministerial tasks described in the ordinance text.