GILLESPIE FIELD – NEW AVIATION LEASE WITH SKYVISIONX, INC. AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICT: 2)
Summary
SCH Number
2025081225
Public Agency
San Diego County
Document Title
GILLESPIE FIELD – NEW AVIATION LEASE WITH SKYVISIONX, INC. AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICT: 2)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/27/2025
Document Description
The proposed action is the approval of a new 50-year aviation lease with SkyVisionX, Inc. (lessee). Under the new lease, the lessee will pay the County a total of $1.4M for the hangar structures already built on the property, as well as a monthly base rent through the duration of their lease. The company has also agreed to invest $9.3M in capital improvements over a five-year period, adding additional value to the leasehold and far exceeding the $2.7M minimum required capital improvements. Future capital
improvements that would be subsequently proposed by the lessee and approved by the Director of Airports would be subject to the CEQA review, as applicable. This new aviation lease would commence on September 1, 2025, and terminate on August 31, 2075.
Contact Information
Name
Jamie Abbott
Agency Name
County of San Diego
Job Title
Director of Airports
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
El Cajon
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The project is located at Gillespie Field Airport in the City of El Cajon within San Diego County, California.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section G 15301
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines exempts from CEQA review actions related to the “operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.” The key consideration in applying this exemption is whether the proposed action involves any expansion of the existing use. The proposed action involves a new ground lease with SkyVisionX, Inc.
(SkyVisionX) to operate and manage existing aircraft storage hangars. While SkyVisionX’s proposal expresses a desire for future capital improvements, today’s
action only involves approval and authorization for the Director of Airports to execute an aviation lease, which governs the existing facilities. Any future improvements that are subject to the Director of Airports’ approval, as identified in the lease and Request for Proposals, would be required to undergo subsequent environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. Therefore, today’s action would only authorize the leasing of existing private structures and facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of existing use. Accordingly, the project is categorically exempt from CEQA review pursuant to Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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