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AGENDA ITEM NO. 16.
CITY OF HAWTHORNE City Council AGENDA BILL For the meeting of 12/09/2025 Originating Department: Public Works |
City Manager:
Department Head:
SUBJECT:
Development of Hangars at the Hawthorne Municipal Airport.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
No Motion, informational item only. Staff recommends the Council receive the staff report on the development of Hawthorne Airport Hangars.
DISCUSSION:
On November 25, 2024, Hawthorne Airport, LLC submitted an application for a phased demolition of outdated structures and the construction of 13 new aviation hangars at four distinct locations within the boundaries of the Hawthorne Municipal Airport. The hangars will accommodate private aircraft and aviation-related businesses, and support aviation operations. The Project also includes associated improvements such as new taxiways, parking areas, utilities, grading, stormwater management infrastructure, and erosion control measures. The proposed project is located entirely within the Hawthorne Municipal Airport, also known as Jack Northrop Field, at 12101 Crenshaw Boulevard, Hawthorne, California 90250.
At the time the project application was submitted, Hawthorne Airport LLC was party to the Ground Lease, dated January 3, 2005 (including four amendments thereto), for the Hawthorne Airport. Under the terms of this lease, Hawthorne Airport, LLC had the right and power to construct improvements, including improvements like those contemplated by the Project, provided Hawthorne Airport LLC meets certain requirements. On November 12, 2025, the City Council consented to the assignment of the Ground Lease to Archer Aviation, Inc. The assignment was effective on November 12, 2025. It is anticipated that Archer Aviation, LLC will assume the permit in the near future.
Pursuant to Hawthorne Municipal Code Section 17.06.10, the City’s zoning code does not apply to city-owned property, including the Hawthorne Airport where the Project is located. Therefore, the Project is not required to obtain any zoning permit. The Project is only required to obtain a building permit. Under the City’s Code, the Building Director has the decision-making authority to approve or deny the building permit. The Building Director has reviewed the building permit application and has made findings that the application meets the City’s requirements.
Although not required for a ministerial building permit, the City analyzed the Project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and prepared draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) to document the potential environmental effects of the proposed project and to mitigate any potentially significant impacts to less than significant levels with measures agreed to by the Project Applicant.
A Notice of Intent to Adopt an IS/MND was published on November 5, 2025, by the City of Hawthorne Public Works Department on behalf of the City of Hawthorne as Lead Agency, and the proposed IS/MND was available for public review during a 30-day comment period. The Draft IS/MND identified potentially significant impacts to: (i) Cultural resources, (ii) Hazards and hazardous materials, (iii) Tribal cultural resources and (iv) Mandatory Findings of Significance. The draft IS/MND proposed mitigation measures that reduce these potentially significant impacts to less than significant. These mitigation measures are described in the IS/MND, attached.
Tribal consultation was also conducted per Public Resources Code section 21080.3.1. On April 2, 2025, letters were sent to all tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission as traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project area. On July 8, 2025, the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians -- Kizh Nation formally requested consultation and on July 17, 2025, requested certain mitigation measures to address potential impacts to tribal cultural resources. The City substantially incorporated these requested mitigation measures into the Draft IS/MND. The City contacted the Kizh Nation again on November 14, November 18, and November 21 requesting further consultation regarding the tribal cultural resources mitigation measures and to advise that the City was adding “cultural sensitivity training” as an additional mitigation measure. Such training was requested by the Kizh Nation in its July 17, 2025, letter. To date, the City has received no further response from the Kizh Nation and pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.2(b)(2), has determined the consultation concluded. No other tribes responded to the City’s April 2, 2025, letters.
The Final IS/MND concludes that no significant environmental impacts would result from the Project due to the incorporation of identified mitigation measures. A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), per CEQA Guidelines section 15097, is included in the Final IS/MND (Appendix G) and will be adopted with the IS/MND.
Before taking action on the building permit, the Building Director will consider all the public comments received on the IS/MND, the public comments received during this Council meeting, make the findings required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15074, and adopt the MND and MMRP. A draft version of the Building Director’s CEQA findings is attached.
At the time the project application was submitted, Hawthorne Airport LLC was party to the Ground Lease, dated January 3, 2005 (including four amendments thereto), for the Hawthorne Airport. Under the terms of this lease, Hawthorne Airport, LLC had the right and power to construct improvements, including improvements like those contemplated by the Project, provided Hawthorne Airport LLC meets certain requirements. On November 12, 2025, the City Council consented to the assignment of the Ground Lease to Archer Aviation, Inc. The assignment was effective on November 12, 2025. It is anticipated that Archer Aviation, LLC will assume the permit in the near future.
Pursuant to Hawthorne Municipal Code Section 17.06.10, the City’s zoning code does not apply to city-owned property, including the Hawthorne Airport where the Project is located. Therefore, the Project is not required to obtain any zoning permit. The Project is only required to obtain a building permit. Under the City’s Code, the Building Director has the decision-making authority to approve or deny the building permit. The Building Director has reviewed the building permit application and has made findings that the application meets the City’s requirements.
Although not required for a ministerial building permit, the City analyzed the Project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and prepared draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) to document the potential environmental effects of the proposed project and to mitigate any potentially significant impacts to less than significant levels with measures agreed to by the Project Applicant.
A Notice of Intent to Adopt an IS/MND was published on November 5, 2025, by the City of Hawthorne Public Works Department on behalf of the City of Hawthorne as Lead Agency, and the proposed IS/MND was available for public review during a 30-day comment period. The Draft IS/MND identified potentially significant impacts to: (i) Cultural resources, (ii) Hazards and hazardous materials, (iii) Tribal cultural resources and (iv) Mandatory Findings of Significance. The draft IS/MND proposed mitigation measures that reduce these potentially significant impacts to less than significant. These mitigation measures are described in the IS/MND, attached.
Tribal consultation was also conducted per Public Resources Code section 21080.3.1. On April 2, 2025, letters were sent to all tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission as traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project area. On July 8, 2025, the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians -- Kizh Nation formally requested consultation and on July 17, 2025, requested certain mitigation measures to address potential impacts to tribal cultural resources. The City substantially incorporated these requested mitigation measures into the Draft IS/MND. The City contacted the Kizh Nation again on November 14, November 18, and November 21 requesting further consultation regarding the tribal cultural resources mitigation measures and to advise that the City was adding “cultural sensitivity training” as an additional mitigation measure. Such training was requested by the Kizh Nation in its July 17, 2025, letter. To date, the City has received no further response from the Kizh Nation and pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.3.2(b)(2), has determined the consultation concluded. No other tribes responded to the City’s April 2, 2025, letters.
The Final IS/MND concludes that no significant environmental impacts would result from the Project due to the incorporation of identified mitigation measures. A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), per CEQA Guidelines section 15097, is included in the Final IS/MND (Appendix G) and will be adopted with the IS/MND.
Before taking action on the building permit, the Building Director will consider all the public comments received on the IS/MND, the public comments received during this Council meeting, make the findings required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15074, and adopt the MND and MMRP. A draft version of the Building Director’s CEQA findings is attached.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN:
The project will increase economic activity associated with the airport. All airport revenues are required by federal regulations to be expended by the airport for the capital or operating costs of the airport or other airport-related uses as set forth in the Federal Aviation Administration’s grant assurance No. 25, Airport Revenues.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None. The Project applicant will be responsible to implement all mitigation and cover all costs associated with the mitigation efforts.
NOTICING PROCEDURE:
72 hours posted notice pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Attachments
- Hawthorne Municipal Airport Hangars Project - CEQA Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) (including all appendices and the MMRP) (dated September 19, 2025, updated November 21, 2025)
- Draft MND Findings