El Toro Airport Foes Seek Rivals’ Help in Forging Backup Plan

Opponents of a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station have launched a diplomatic initiative to work side-by-side with airport proponents to craft an alternative for the retiring military base.

Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea said South County representatives spent much of Thursday afternoon briefing Orange County Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Thomas W. Wilson about a proposal to bring all sides to the table to develop a backup plan in case an airport at the retiring military base is deemed unworkable.

“Pro-airport or no-airport, that baggage gets left at the door,” Shea said. “We want this to be a real effort to put the infighting aside and come up with a shining example of what works.”

South County officials who are already fighting an airport on several fronts--including in the courts--say it’s now time to take the reins to come up with an alternative if an airport fails to take flight.

Wilson was among the first to endorse such a tactic and said Thursday he was pleased with the progress.

“I’ve said for a long time that it would not damage the process if everyone could be involved,” Wilson said. “I’m encouraged.”

Privately, many airport opponents also said they hope an alternative plan will generate enough support to kill airport plans. But Wilson, who opposes an airport at El Toro, stressed that the plan should not be seen as a way to prevent commercial flights when the base is retired in mid-1999.

“I wouldn’t call it an effort to stop an airport. I think it’s always good to look at two alternatives,” Wilson said.

A divided Orange County Board of Supervisors in December voted to move forward with plans to convert the base into an airport, but also ordered an alternative proposal in case an airport is deemed unworkable.

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority stepped forward to draft that plan. The group, made up of leaders of South County cities including Irvine and Lake Forest, has no authority over the fate of the base but has been determined to play a role in the base reuse planning process.

Shea said she is especially eager to have pro-airport supporters like the Orange County Business Council involved in the effort, even though the powerful group has been a leading voice in favor of an airport as a way to create jobs and help the economy.

“The idea is that if an airport doesn’t work at El Toro, they’ll need a fallback plan and we believe this will be it,” Shea said.

The Business Council is cautious but willing, spokeswoman Julie Puentes said.

“We believe it’s important to have a good backup plan that we can all agree upon in case an airport is not viable,” Puentes said. “We’re certainly willing to sit down and talk with them and find out what they have in mind.”

Shea envisions the previously warring factions working in harmony to hammer out an option. Perhaps it would involve a sports and entertainment center, shopping, homes, parks--or a variety of other ventures, she said.

South County residents are largely opposed to the airport, arguing that commercial flights will deflate home values and bring unwanted noise, traffic and other woes.

Local representatives hope the county will help pay for the cost of the planning. South County cities also plan to help foot the bill and hope others such as the Irvine Co. will help with donations of time, planning expertise and other assistance, Shea said.

Puentes and others are worried, however, that their potential involvement may be used against the pro-airport movement. They want assurances that the proposal will be a backup plan and not shopped around as a better alternative for the retiring base.