An association representing aircraft owners and pilots is urging Dublin to make sure a proposed residential high-rise project on the citys east side wouldnt present a hazard to pilots using the Livermore Municipal Airport.

While the airport may not be within the Dublin City limits or planning areas, nonetheless, the city has a legal and moral responsibility -- both in federal and state law -- to ensure that any construction project contemplated is not a hazard to the air navigation in the area or would pose a risk to your citizens, Bill Dunn, vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association wrote in a letter to Dublin Mayor Janet Lockhart.

The Maryland-based pilots group is referring to the Grafton Plaza project, four residential towers ranging from 16 to 21 stories at the corner of Dublin Boulevard and Grafton Street.

The project also has plans for a 100-room boutique hotel, condominiums, live-work units and a luxury gym and spa. The project, if approved as is, would have the largest tower in the East Bay outside of Oakland and Emeryville, dwarfing Dublins tallest buildings -- the two six-story Sybase buildings.

The organization of more than 4,000 members is not against the project if a FAA study determines there is no hazard to planes using the airport

2.3 miles away, said Chris Dancy, the groups spokesman.

We want to be sure that he city of Dublin is aware that there is an obstruction evaluation process when you do a building in the vicinity of an airport, Dancy said.