Surprise, support for El Toro options

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT-MESA -- Officials here expressed everything from shock to support

for the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ decision to consider options

other than an airport for the closed El Toro Marine Corps air base.

“I’m shocked,” said Costa Mesa Councilwoman Heather Somers. “It kind of

puts me right over the edge.”

On Tuesday, the supervisors voted to examine alternative uses for the

4,700 acres at El Toro. The board will hold a workshop on May 3 to

discuss options, which may include the South County-engineered Millennium

Plan -- a mix of homes, museums and a central park.

The decision to step back from the airport planning process comes on the

heels of the landslide voter approval of Measure F, which gives residents

the final say on certain county projects, including commercial airports.

The measure is being contested in court, but it has already served to

halt further El Toro spending.

Some South County anti-airport groups see the supervisors’ decision as a

major victory in the ongoing war that has divided the county. But some

local airport advocates contend the supervisors are simply being

thorough.

Newport Beach Mayor John Noyes said county leaders should be looking at

other alternatives because “it’s a healthy thing to do.”

Former Newport Beach mayor Clarence Turner added that the county is

obliged to look at other potential uses for the site before making such

an important decision for the community.

However, another former mayor, Tom Edwards, said he sees the move as an

airport meltdown.

“I think we’re seeing a dissipation or melting down of the current El

Toro planning process, which bodes well for my proposal,” Edwards said.

Edwards, who helped author the 1985 John Wayne Airport settlement

agreement, shook up the community last month when he suggested ending

plans for an El Toro airport and instead focus on preventing any

expansion at John Wayne Airport.

In his “mutual defense agreement,” South County cities and those

surrounding John Wayne Airport would be legally bound to spend public

money defending any action to create an airport at El Toro or to expand

John Wayne beyond the terms of the 1985 settlement agreement.

Still, not all anti-airport activists are convinced the county will

actually consider other options.

“I’m skeptical,” said Leonard Kranser, who is the chairman of a coalition

of anti-airport groups and supports Edwards’ proposal. “We would hope for

a free and open discussion, but if it’s going to be the same cast of

characters, we might not get that.”

Kranser said South County is not likely to get an objective analysis of

alternatives if there is a pro-airport majority on the board.

“If the powers that be in Newport could agree that they’d like to pursue

[Edwards’ proposal] I’m sure it would be very easy to get South County

leadership to the table,” he said.