Briefly

-- Paul Clinton

South County cities won’t back the extension of the flight caps at

John Wayne Airport, but they will get behind the airport’s nightly

curfew.

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, nine South County cities

fighting an airport at the closed El Toro Marine base, unanimously

approved a resolution Monday that opposes the curbs on passengers but

supports continuing the curfew.

The authority somewhat softened a stance taken at the March 26 meeting

when the group discussed possibly opposing the extension of both

restrictions.

The caps are set to expire in 2005, the end of the 20-year term of the

deal.

Flight and passenger limits were imposed on John Wayne in a 1985

settlement agreement. No more than 73 daily departures are allowed. Also,

the airport cannot exceed 8.4 million passengers annually.

Departures are allowed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday,

and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Arrivals are allowed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

The nightly curfew was imposed prior to the settlement agreement and

would not expire in 2005. It has since been written into law as a county

ordinance. It could only be overturned with a successful lawsuit.