Santa Monica's sustainability commission will hear a presentation on the airport expansion project at a special joint meeting Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.
Peter James, deputy city manager, is listed on the agenda to present on the airport project to the Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice and the Environment. Heidi Creighton, principal design and planning manager in the Department of Public Works, is scheduled to introduce the Depave Santa Monica Project.
The meeting brings together several city bodies. The Clean Beaches & Ocean Parcel Tax Citizens' Oversight Committee, the EV Subcommittee and the Arts Commission will join the sustainability commission at the Santa Monica Institute Room on the second floor of the Civic Center Parking Structure, 330 Olympic Drive.
Because it is a special meeting, public comment is limited to agenda items only. General public input on non-agenda topics will not be heard.
Airport site has drawn commission attention for months
The airport's future has been a recurring topic for the sustainability commission. At its Oct. 12, 2026, meeting, the commission voted 4-0 to create subcommittees related to the airport park project. Commission Member David Pettit proposed two subcommittees: one focused on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review and another on general design and implementation. Chair Dean Kubani suggested the commission create the CEQA subcommittee and asked staff to check whether a design subcommittee would add value, given how far along the design already was.
In June 2025, the commission adopted a motion stating that "the most sustainable and viable option for the Santa Monica Airport site is to utilize the entire site as a regenerative Great Park." The motion, proposed by Chair Kubani and seconded by Vice-Chair Alex Tower, passed 4-1. Commissioner Olivia Walker cast the lone dissenting vote.
That motion recommended the City Council "reaffirm and direct staff and your consultants that following closure of the Santa Monica Airport the site will be designed and built entirely as a regenerative park." It argued the airport site is a poor location for housing because it sits far from major transit corridors.
Conversion project timeline and funding
At a Jan. 26, 2026, Airport Commission special meeting, city staff said the goal was to bring a framework diagram to City Council at the second meeting of April 2026, according to approved minutes. Staff said the project team planned to present at all board and commission meetings between then and April 2026.
By July 27, 2026, city staff told the Airport Commission they were still working on a plan for a $10 million grant, with updates expected sometime in the fall, according to meeting minutes. Staff said approximately 25% of the funds may go to preconstruction activities, including environmental analysis and design. The remainder may go toward Phase 1 of the Airport Conversion Project.
What's ahead
The sustainability commission's Dec. 21, 2026, meeting is canceled because of a city holiday closure. The next regular meeting falls on Jan. 25, 2027, when the commission is scheduled to hear a presentation on the Disposable Food Serviceware Ordinance from Aditi Busgeeth and Karl Bruskotter. The agenda notes the commission plans to take action on that item before a City Council presentation on Feb. 9, 2027.
Residents requesting disability-related accommodations should contact [email protected] at least four days before the meeting. Translation requests should be submitted at least 72 hours beforehand.
