Irvine seeks accord with Newport on El Toro issue
Kristiane M. Ridgway
NEWPORT BEACH -- Renewing its promise to push for permanent flight limits
at John Wayne Airport, Irvine City Council members Tuesday invited the
city to join them in battling the proposed El Toro international airport.
“For six years, this issue has divided neighbor against neighbor,
community against community,” said Mayor Christina Shea. “It’s time for a
new direction.”
Newport Beach and Irvine have been at odds for years over the reuse of El
Toro. Newport Beach city officials believe an airport at the former El
Toro Marine Corps Air Station will spare its residents added flights at
John Wayne Airport. Irvine wants neither the El Toro airport nor an
expanded John Wayne, since both facilities sit on Irvine’s borders.
Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau indicated that there could be
room for an accord.
“The City Council is interested in protecting John Wayne long-term,” he
said. “I think anything that moves us in that direction would be
welcome.”
But Newport Beach Mayor John Noyes, who was unaware Wednesday of Irvine’s
gesture, was more circumspect, refraining from comment until he hears
from city officials personally.
“I will debate it with them,” he said. “Not through the newspaper.”
Irvine’s public invitation to Newport Beach, described by Shea as an
“olive branch,” came a week after voters overwhelming approved an
initiative aimed at preventing an airport at El Toro. The measure calls
for a two-thirds majority approval in a countywide vote before any
expansion or construction of an airport, toxic landfill or jail near
homes.
Newport Beach and Costa Mesa were the only two Orange County cities with
a majority of voters opposed to the ballot initiative. Newport has
already joined two pro-airport groups in challenging the measure in
court.
But Irvine officials, in trying to recruit Newport to their anti-airport
cause, point out that Measure F is also designed to safeguard against any
expansion of John Wayne Airport -- physical or operational.
Under an agreement set to expire in 2005, John Wayne Airport is subject
to time and noise restrictions and may not serve more than 8.4 million
annual passengers per year.
Irvine has funneled more than $5 million into its El Toro war chest. City
officials are hoping to annex the former base and replace the county’s
airport plan with their own Millennium Plan, which calls for parks, homes
and businesses.
A heated public discussion at Tuesday’s meeting proved that the animosity
between the two sides of the airport debate is still alive.
A Santa Ana Heights resident Tuesday berated Irvine council members for
not embracing his alternate El Toro runway design, which would send
planes over largely undeveloped land.
In a brochure, Russell Niewiarowski singled out Irvine Mayor Shea,
accusing her of “pride, deceit and hypocrisy” for squandering money on
“her self-centered Millennium Plan and campaign to kill El Toro.”
Council members reacted angrily, pointing out what they called fallacies
with his argument and denying the charges.
Niewiarowski continued to spar with Shea, but dismissed himself from the
council chambers as the mayor called for the Sergeant of Arms to remove
him.
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