Public Involvement Program for Los Angeles International Airport Master Plan
LAX is a driving force behind the economic success of Southern California. In 1993, a growing demand for international passenger and cargo services required that the airport plan its growth carefully to maximize economic benefits to the region while also mitigating environmental impacts and improving operational efficiency. LAWA initiated a Master Planning process for LAX in which the surrounding communities and various stakeholders opposed aspects of the project. Following a settlement agreement with project opponents, Consensus Inc. was asked to facilitate a Community Advisory Committee comprised of local jurisdictions, elected officials and LAWA staff.
Public Involvement Program for Los Angeles International Airport Master Plan
Through the planning and environmental phases, Consensus Inc. has provided strategic counsel to LAWA executives, implemented and facilitated scores of community meetings, public workshops, required CEQA and NEPA meetings, as well as prepared the documentation reports required by CEQA and NEPA.
To convey a set of complex projects and educate the public on the CEQA process, Consensus Inc. created a full-color 16-page informational brochure for the public scoping meetings. This brochure conveyed the project options and the CEQA process in a comprehensive yet simple manner and it earned an Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America – Los Angeles Chapter.
Consensus Inc. remains a part of the LAWA Specific Plan Amendment Studies team in the renewed environmental process. In this phase of work, Consensus Inc. will implement a newly developed public involvement program and focus on expanding the audience to the Los Angeles metropolitan area and Southern California region through the use of social media and peer-to-peer communications. This new phase of the environmental process is expected to continue through Fall 2011, when the Draft EIR will be released for public review and comment.
