COMMISSION HAS CRITICISM FOR LAX PLAN COUNTY COMMISSION SAYS LAND-USE POLICY VIOLATED.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

A little known county agency with limited jurisdiction has become the latest forum for critics of Mayor James Hahn's proposed $91 billion modernization plan for Los Angeles International Airport.

Members of the County Regional Planning Commission on Monday urged the County Airport Land Use Committee - a subordinate arm of the commission - to find Hahn's LAX master plan inconsistent with a 1991 land-use policy that specified noise and traffic restrictions for the airport.

During the lengthy hearing at the county Hall of Administration, the commission suggested the LAX master plan might require significant changes to be in compliance with the land-use policy.

Airport officials contested the validity of the 1991 policy and whether it had been brought up to date, while others said the airport - as it is now - is in violation of the policy and the county had failed to take any action over the past 15 years.

Jim Ritchie, deputy executive director of the Airports Department, also said an analysis done of the proposed master plan was inaccurate - in failing to note that noise problems predicted for the airport were being resolved.

``Everyone agrees something needs to be done at LAX,'' Ritchie said. ``Doing nothing is not an option. The (master) plan strikes the right balance.''

But critics of the modernization plan say it fails to include guarantees that passenger traffic will be limited to 78 million a year, that noise and traffic levels will be too high and there were inadequate security precautions.

Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke said her main concern is the plan for a separate facility at Manchester Square - which would serve as the main entry point for passengers and their luggage - and concern over potential passenger growth.

``There is nothing here that says we will cap growth at 78 million annual passengers,'' Burke complained. ``It could easily grow to 98 million.''

Similar concerns were voiced by aides to Supervisors Don Knabe and Michael Antonovich.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who worked with Hahn to develop a compromise proposal that would phase in developments, said the city had tried to accommodate critics by agreeing to look more closely at elements, such as the Manchester Square facility.

Also, she said the city does favor a regional approach to air transportation, but that it would take a state or federal mandate to create a regional agency.

Andrew Lazaretto, the county's consultant who found fault with the LAX plan, said he didn't believe it should be scrapped, but could meet the county guidelines with some changes.

Even if the panel does determine the airport plan is out of compliance with the county, the City Council will be able to override its decision.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com