AIRPORT DEBATE

El Toro base should remain open for future use

Regarding Joe Bell’s “An open letter to the El Toro Reuse Planning

Authority” on April 12.

It’s just common sense that if we don’t keep El Toro open for future

use as some kind of airport, the neighboring airports won’t have a choice

but to increase flights.

At one time, I lived under the flight path of John Wayne Airport. It

would get so loud that I was worried it would wake the baby. But I love

that area, and there wasn’t a lot of flights overhead at the time, which

was 18 years ago. I predict that if flights at John Wayne increase too

much, it will plummet some of the most desired and expensive real estate

in the county.

At the very least, keep El Toro as an open space for aviation. Use it

for cargo if need be, but keep it open for the future. Are we forgetting

that some of the loudest planes and helicopters flew in and out of there

when the military used it?

We all need to consider a little vision of the future. Imagine

airplanes that are 10 times quieter and need less runway. Population may

double, and there will be a need for increased flights. Sure, we might

not be here, but our children and grandchildren will be. Think of the

future and the generations to follow.

KAY ANDERSON

Newport Heights

Planning authority just trying to be defensive

Let’s see if I can help Joe Bell understand the change of tone of the

El Toro Reuse Planning Authority.

Measure F was designed, among other things, to protect against the

expansion of John Wayne Airport and had the full support of the planning

authority. Measure F passed by a whopping 67% of the voters. But that was

not good enough. When the supervisors sued to overrule the will of the

people and the measure was unfairly overturned, all bets were off.

When someone is kicked into a corner, they lash out in self-defense.

They might even go on the offensive, right?

ANN MERRITT

Corona del Mar

Would people actually use a park at El Toro?

Regarding the need for another regional park instead of an airport at

El Toro:

1. Have the park enthusiasts ever determined what the percentage of

utilization is for existing regional and community parks? If so, how do

these figures compare to forecast utilization for both regional parks and

airports in the years ahead?

2. Also, which people in Orange County would use this new park or

airport on a day-to-day basis?

3. Finally, if the need for another park is shown, does it have to be

on the same, rare, plot of land that was chosen, developed and used for

the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station?

JACK GORDON

Costa Mesa

El Toro airport supporters need ads too

I watch TV and get so upset when that El Toro park ad comes on. If

we’re ever going to get an airport in El Toro, we need just as much air

time as the anti-El Toro airport people have.

It must be pointed out that El Toro was an airport for the military

for many years. They have no restrictions on their noise levels; an

airport would be much quieter than what they had before. John Wayne is

too busy already. We don’t need to expand the flights or increase the

hours there.

JOHN M. ZINSMEYER

Lido Island

Where’s our congressman when we need him?

I think one of the crucial things is to get recognition by Rep.

Christopher Cox that Orange County really needs this airport in this area

and get him to start fighting for one instead of talking out of both

sides of his face.

I think his unposition, as well as the Irvine Co.’s unposition, are

really hurting the opportunity to get a great airport in here to share

some of the load with John Wayne Airport.

BILL THEOBALD

Newport Beach

El Toro airport will never be realized

Nothing is quite as toxic for Orange County as the debate over

airports. As someone who would live under the currently proposed approach

to a hypothetical international airport at El Toro, I can completely

sympathize with Newport Beach residents who want to close John Wayne and

send the airplanes elsewhere. If I lived on Balboa Island, I would also

want John Wayne closed.

But the cold, hard truth is that El Toro will never be built over the

violent objections of the majority of Orange County citizens. I was not

confident of that fact two years ago, but I am today. Thus, Newport Beach

is making an enormous all or nothing gamble in continuing to push for El

Toro.

By arguing that there is so much need for more capacity, they open the

door to an expanded John Wayne. I regret the decision by the planning

authority to support lifting the limits on John Wayne, but I must confess

that it is the logical conclusion if you feel that Orange County needs

more capacity.

I drove out to Ontario Airport earlier this month. It was a short,

easy, drive from South County. It is even closer from Newport Beach and

North County. The good people of Ontario want a bigger airport. Ontario

has the space. Ontario has the roads. Ontario has the runways (and they

don’t slope uphill). Ontario has no mountains at the end of the runways.

Ontario is even closer to the inland population boom. Someone in Newport

Beach will have to explain to me why we shouldn’t build our county’s

international airport in Ontario. Could it be because the good people of

Newport Beach don’t want to drive an extra 20 minutes when they’re flying

to London? Or could it be that Ontario is not dangerously close to John

Wayne, as El Toro would be, and thus would not require John Wayne to

close?

I urge Newport Beach residents to reconsider the wisdom of tilting at

windmills. To extend the limits on John Wayne, you will need unanimous

support of the county. You’ll never get it while the El Toro battle goes

on. Think hard. Give up on El Toro and throw your weight behind Ontario

before it is too late.

BRIAN P. SULLIVAN

Dana Point