Palo Alto Council Rejects Airport Runway Expansion

The Palo Alto City Council has shut down controversial proposals to extend the runway at the Palo Alto Airport, a move that sparked strong reactions from both the aviation community and environmental groups.

The council’s decision comes after a heated meeting, where dozens of speakers – including pilots, conservationists, and local leaders from East Palo Alto and Menlo Park – weighed in on the future of the airport. The city’s Public Works Department had put forth a long-term plan to guide changes over the next 20 years. While some of these changes, like switching to unleaded fuel and installing solar panels, were met with support, there was a clear consensus: any upgrades must stay within the current footprint of the airport.

At the heart of the debate were options to extend the runway, some of which would have pushed into the iconic Baylands, threatening the nearby duck pond and a beloved golf course. But the plan that gained the most traction with the community – and the council – was to do nothing at all.

This planning effort is part of a Federal Aviation Administration requirement, though the FAA doesn’t actually mandate airports meet their standards for runway lengths. To comply, Palo Alto would need to expand its 2,400-foot runway by more than a thousand feet. That, however, is off the table for now.

Some local pilots argued for a longer runway, suggesting it could actually reduce environmental impact by cutting down on multiple landing attempts. Tom Myers, chair of the West Valley Club, stated that “a longer runway would allow fewer planes to circle, which means less pollution and noise.” Others, like Alan Marcum, who volunteers for Angel Flights, stressed that even a small extension would improve safety, calling the current runway “critically short.”

But for many residents and environmental advocates, protecting the Baylands was the top priority. Palo Alto High School sophomore Avroh Shah presented a petition with nearly 1,800 signatures urging the council to reject any plan that would encroach on the wetlands. Shah’s message was clear: "We don’t want to bring the airport closer to our East Palo Alto neighbors or disrupt the duck pond where families visit daily."

The council also heard from environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Green Foothills, which warned that expansion could devastate wildlife in the area, including 280 bird species that rely on the Baylands’ unique ecosystem.

Concerns about equity were also raised, with East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio Lopez pointing out that the airport’s noise and pollution disproportionately affect lower-income communities. “We’re talking about health disparities for families in East Palo Alto,” he said, “and we cannot jeopardize that with an expansion.”

After a survey showed little public support for a bigger runway – with 43% of respondents favoring no action – the council moved to back a modest approach. While some members, like Vicki Veenker, acknowledged the community’s lack of interest in expansion, others, including Mayor Greer Stone, voiced firm opposition to any proposal that would require undedicating parkland.

Stone was resolute, stating: “Undedicating parkland is a non-starter for me, and I believe it would be for the people of Palo Alto. Once that space is gone, it’s gone for generations, if not forever.”

In the end, the council chose to prioritize sustainability and safety over expansion, with council member Pat Burt stressing that the focus should be on creating a greener, safer airport, not a bigger one.

That’s the latest from Palo Alto tonight, where the city is standing firm on preserving its Baylands while navigating the future of its airport. Stay with us for more updates as the story develops.