Advisory Board: Airport Land Use Commission
Subject: Oliveira Composting Facility
Presenter: Jamar Stamps, AICP, ALUC staff
Contact: (925) 655-2917
PROJECT SUMMARY
December 2021, the Proposed Project came before the Airport Land Use Commission (“ALUC”) for an Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (“ALUCP” or “Plan”) consistency determination. The December 2021 ALUC staff report is provided as Exhibit A for reference.
The applicant requested ALUC review and determination of consistency with the Plan for a proposed (currently operating) green material composting business (“Oliveira Enterprises, Inc.” or “Proposed Project”).
According to the Proposed Project description (Exhibit B), the facility is not open to the public and does not accept unscheduled deliveries. The facility accepts source-separated green material from customers that it hauls from as well as some commercial accounts that deliver contracted green material. Oliveira’s unique processing method involves allowing cattle to feed on green waste prior to processing it into compost. Once the cattle are done, the remaining material is processed using a standard windrow composting method. The resulting compost is sold to local
horticultural and agricultural uses.
The Proposed Project site is on approximately 30-acres of a 40.61-acre site (two parcels of 20.25-acres (001-041-057) and 20.36-acres (001-041-058)) and is located at 124 & 136 Bethany Lane, off Bruns Road, just south of Byron Highway in unincorporated Byron in Contra Costa County (“County”). Proposed project plans are provided in Exhibit A.
RECOMMENDATION
APPROVE the proposed project per the following condition:
1. Glare or distracting lights, which could be mistaken for airport lights, could pose a flight hazard and shall be shielded downward to ensure they do not aim above the horizon.
BACKGROUND
ALUC staff presented the Proposed Project at the December 2021 ALUC meeting with a recommendation for approval with the condition glare or distracting lights, which could be mistaken for airport lights, be shielded downward.
During the ALUC’s discussion, Commissioners were mainly concerned with the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) Obstruction Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis (“OE/AAA”). Specifically, whether the Proposed Project would be compatible with the current area navigation (“RNAV”) Global Positioning System (“GPS”) for Byron Airport’s Runway 30 approach. The Commission ultimately decided to continue the item until the FAA returned an OE/AAA determination of no hazard to air navigation. ALUC staff transmitted this request in a letter dated December 17, 2021 (Exhibit C).
December 2022, the FAA returned a determination of no hazard to air navigation (Exhibit D) which was received by the County Department of Conservation and Development on August 31, 2023 (received by ALUC staff on July 8, 2025). The FAA OE/AAA includes review by several FAA divisions, including the Flight Procedures Division. As such, it can be concluded that this no hazard determination confirms the Proposed Project does not affect any current instrument flight procedures (approaches or departures), i.e., RNAV.
CONCLUSION
The Proposed Project does not contain characteristics that result in or have the potential to result in inconsistencies with ALUCP compatibility criteria. Therefore, ALUC staff recommends the Commission find the Proposed Project consistent with the Plan and approve the Project.