News•Feb 23, 2026
Pilots Win Court Fight Over Housing Near California Airport
A Santa Cruz County judge ruled that Watsonville violated the State Aeronautics Act and CEQA by approving a 21‑unit housing project inside the safety zone of Watsonville Municipal Airport. The court ordered the city to adopt state‑mandated airport compatibility standards in its General Plan and to conduct a full environmental impact report before any future development near the airport. The decision overturns a 2021 approval and blocks further permits until compliance, reinforcing legal requirements for airport‑adjacent land use. The ruling concludes a decade‑long legal fight by the Watsonville Pilots Association.
