A new independent poll has revealed a significant shift in public opinion on Santa Monica Airport's future, with nearly 67% of voters supporting keeping the facility open in some capacity, contradicting years of planning centered on the airport's scheduled 2028 closure and conversion to parkland.
The survey, conducted by FM3 Research and commissioned by the non-profit Spirit of Santa Monica, found that only 25% of Santa Monica voters favor closing the airport as soon as possible and converting the site to a 200-acre park, while 8% remain undecided. The results represent nearly a three-to-one margin in favor of continued airport operations.
"Santa Monica is at a pivotal moment, facing one of the most consequential decisions about the city's future, and we believed it was critical to pause and ask voters directly what they think about the airport," said Ben Marcus, co-founder and chairman of Spirit of Santa Monica. "The results are clear and consistent. Sixty-seven percent of Santa Monica voters want to keep the airport open in a limited way, compared to just 25% who want it closed. That support holds across every part of the city and every demographic group, including among voters who live within a mile of the airport. As the city continues conversations about the airport's future, it's essential to recognize how strongly voters value the airport as part of Santa Monica."
The poll findings contrast sharply with the city's current trajectory. Santa Monica voters overwhelmingly passed Measure LC in 2014, a charter amendment requiring the 192-acre airport property be used only for parks or recreational space once closed, unless voters approve other uses. Voters also rejected Measure D at that time that would have required a public vote to allow the airport to close or change uses.
The city had long debated the future of the property but a 2017 consent decree with the Federal Aviation Administration official gave City Hall the ability to close the airport on Dec. 31, 2028.
The survey revealed broad support for keeping the airport open across all geographic areas and demographic groups. More than six in 10 voters expressed favorable opinions of the airport, with favorability highest among those living closest to the facility. Support for continued operations held strong among voters living within two miles of the airport, across all Santa Monica zip codes, among all major demographic groups including age, gender, race, ethnicity and party affiliation, and among both homeowners and renters.
Notably, no geography or demographic group showed majority support for immediate closure.
The poll also found majority opposition to a park-only requirement for the site. When asked about a hypothetical new version of Measure LC that would mandate airport land be used exclusively as a park, 51% of voters said they would oppose such a measure, compared to 32% who would support it and 17% undecided. Opposition proved more intense than support, with 41% saying they would "definitely" vote no compared to 26% who would "definitely" vote yes.
FM3 Research, a public opinion research firm that regularly conducts surveys for governments, nonprofits and advocacy organizations across California including Santa Monica, completed 632 interviews between Sept. 18-25, 2025. The survey used a combination of online and telephone interviewing with registered voters in Santa Monica and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence interval.
Spirit of Santa Monica commissioned the survey to better understand current public opinion on the airport because no recent scientific, citywide survey had asked voters directly about the facility's future. The organization emphasized the survey was not conducted with a ballot measure in mind but rather to inform fact-based discussion about what is best for Santa Monica.
The airport's future has been a contentious issue in Santa Monica for years. Aircraft noise and pollution have been a concern for neighborhoods around the facility, and its location amid dense residential areas has raised safety concerns. In January 2023, the City Council launched a formal Airport Conversion Project to solicit community input and develop a plan focused on open space and recreation on the site.
Grassroots groups including the Airport2Park Foundation and Santa Monica Great Park Coalition have mobilized residents around a "Great Park" concept, envisioning sports fields, community gardens, arts facilities and natural habitats where runways currently exist. At a July 2025 council meeting, after receiving testimony from over 140 public speakers and more than 1,000 emailed comments, the City Council voted 6-1 to endorse a park-centric plan for the airport's future.
The chosen scenario emphasizes ecological restoration and adaptive reuse of existing structures while avoiding new commercial or residential construction, complying with Measure LC's mandate for exclusively public, open-space uses.
Throughout 2024-2025, city planners conducted extensive public outreach including surveys, workshops and hearings to explore options for the site's future. Initial drafts included three scenarios ranging from an all-park vision to mixed-use plans with development. One December 2024 workshop drew an estimated 800 participants, making it the largest planning event in local memory.
The airport closure has faced persistent opposition from aviation groups. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has characterized moves to shutter small airports as "an oppressive assault against a national treasure," arguing that once an airport is gone, it's gone forever. Business aviation advocates warn that eliminating Santa Monica Airport could strain the region's air traffic network and erase a vital emergency landing site.
Legal challenges have continued. In late 2025, an FAA director's determination found the city violated federal law by diverting airport revenues for non-aviation uses in anticipation of closure. The case, prompted by a complaint from a pilot and the National Business Aviation Association, ordered Santa Monica to adjust its fee policies.
A ballot measure has also been put forward for this November’s election that would require 3,000 units of housing on the property.