Locals react to Irvine Co. criticism of El Toro report

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Local reaction to the Irvine Co.’s strong criticism of

the county’s environmental report for the El Toro airport ran the gamut,

from accusations of self-interest to relief that the company raised

questions about potential problems.

Irvine Co. Senior Vice President Monica Florian wrote in a letter to the

county that strict noise limits must be created to protect residents in

the surrounding area “if the county is to pursue the airport.” The

statement goes on to list other concerns about runways, flight patterns

and traffic.

The county has proposed to build a $2.9-billion airport at the closed

Marine Corp base at El Toro. The El Toro report, released in December,

concluded that the airport would not create major environmental problems

for the area.

The county has received an avalanche of letters from people both opposed

to and in support of the project.

The Irvine Co.’s letter left Newport city officials and airport

proponents scratching their heads as to what the development company’s

political stance is.

The county’s largest developer is a major landowner around El Toro and

until the drafting of the letter, had not assumed a strong public voice

regarding the project.

Some, however, believe the company still hasn’t taken a position.

“A spokesperson for the Irvine Co. said they weren’t taking a position on

it,” said City Manager Homer Bludau. “At this point, it remains to be

seen. Their comments have to be addressed. That doesn’t mean those

concerns can’t be dealt with.”

Others say the company is simply being self-serving.

“I don’t think their position has changed one bit,” said former mayor and

airport activist Tom Edwards. “They’ve always been out to protect

whatever’s at stake for them. They’ve positioned themselves very

strategically.”

Clarence Turner, another former mayor and activist, said he was also

suspicious of the Irvine Co.’s motives.

“It seems strange handing assurances on El Toro,” Turner said. “They

didn’t provide the same assurances for John Wayne.”

Turner also said he thinks the Irvine Co. knows exactly what it wants and

has probably studied the project for years.

Still, others believe the Irvine Co.’s reservations about the airport are

unfounded.

Mayor John Noyes, part of the city’s airport committee, said he disagrees

with the Irvine Co. comments that the report doesn’t disclose all the

effects of the project. Councilwoman Norma Glover, also on the committee,

agreed.

“I don’t think the Irvine Co. has concentrated on this enough to

understand the noise impacts,” Glover said.

All is not lost for El Toro proponents, however. Some hope the comments

can be used constructively to bring proponents and opponents together for

a community-friendly airport.

Supervisor Cynthia Coad previously suggested limiting both airports as a

compromise.

“I think a lot of those [complaints] really line up with what the Airport

Working Group has come out with since the middle of last year,” said

Airport Working Group spokesman Tom Naughton, who has yet to see the

letter. “I’m very pleased that the Irvine Co. has gone to the point of

writing this to the county and making specific statements about noise and

runway safety.”

Regardless of North County interpretations of the letter, El Toro

opponents received the news with open arms.

“We were glad to see them weigh in so strongly on it,” said Meg Waters,

spokeswoman for the anti-airport El Toro Reuse Planning Authority.

“The county has been planing an airport that defies the laws of

aerodynamics. We were encouraged by the comments they made. Many of the

concerns they raised are concerns we have been raising for seven years.”