The MCUS effort directly benefits March ARB and nearby communities by:

• Protecting the health, safety, and welfare of area residents and workers
• Promoting and preserving viable, long-term land and shared resource use between March ARB and nearby communities
• Sustaining the economic vitality of these jurisdictions

What Are the Goals and Objectives of this Study?

The primary goal of the MCUS is to identify challenges and opportunities in sustaining both the military mission and local economic growth and development. The following objectives guide this study.

What Will the Study Provide?

The MCUS is an important tool for enhancing communication and building partnerships between March ARB and neighboring communities. The study will provide a body of information for stakeholders to learn how military operations and local growth trends can impact each other and potentially undermine military readiness and vital economic growth. It will include the following elements:

• An assessment of existing resource usage, potential growth areas, economic development opportunities around March ARB, and areas in which collaborative planning can be enhanced.
• Information to help surrounding jurisdictions make informed decisions regarding the sustainable and compatible use of shared resources.
• Mitigation strategies for addressing compatibility challenges identified in the region and promoting collaborative planning around March ARB.

Why is it Important to Partner with March ARB?

Protecting the military mission of March ARB is critical to ensuring the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s continued role in our nation’s defense and as a major contributor to the local and regional economies. March ARB is the largest reserve base in the Air Force and provides strategic airlift and air refueling capability for the Department of Defense. It supports the transportation of people, equipment, and materials across the globe. March ARB further provides logistical support to other government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, and helps sustain March Inland Port activities and the regional economy by supporting joint use of its airfield. The installation is a significant driver of the local economies and provides $579 million in estimated annual economic impact, over 9,500 local jobs created, and $396 million in local payroll per year.

What Is Compatibility?

Compatibility, in relationship to military readiness, strives to balance community and military needs and interests. The goal of compatibility planning is to promote an environment in which military installations are sustained and communities continue to flourish. This is achieved by identifying ways to sustain resources that are or will be shared among the military and nearby jurisdictions. This study will assess a set of 29 compatibility, resiliency, resource, and social factors — or types of challenges — as the framework for exploring and identifying opportunities and solutions within the Study Area. Compatibility issues may or may not be identified for each of the 29 factors; conversely, several challenges or concerns of just one type could be identified. Issues will be identified and assessed throughout the duration of the study.

What Will the March ARB Compatible Use Study Recommend?

The MCUS will include recommendations that stakeholders can implement to address identified compatibility issues and to guide compatible development in the future. In recognizing a one-size-fits-all approach will not be appropriate for the entire Study Area, the recommendations will be developed by the project stakeholders to ensure tailored options that best meet each community’s needs. Once the MCUS is completed, it is critical stakeholders that move forward with implementing these recommendations.

Most compatibility issues can be addressed through nonregulatory strategies that promote enhanced communication, collaboration, and education, but some recommendations may involve amendments to community general and comprehensive plans and/or land use controls, such as zoning, subdivision regulations, and building codes.