Measure W debate breaks form

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Members of each Measure W camp debated the merits of

the initiative Wednesday during an unusually polite exchange that broke

from the belligerent history of the years-long saga.

Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, a high-profile supporter of the initiative

to rezone the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station from aviation to open

space, joined opponent Bruce Nestande at the Orange County Coast Assn.’s

monthly luncheon at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort.

Agran, who opened the debate with a 10-minute statement, set the

noncombative tone by relaying some advice from some friends.

“A number of my friends suggested, ‘If you’re going to Newport Beach,

you better go with armed guards,”’ Agran joked.

A hush fell over the gathered crowd of about 70 city officials,

politicos, real estate agents and others.

Agran may not have elicited a laugh, but he urged the crowd to support

the initiative.

“Measure W is the true choice,” Agran said. “It would create the

framework for a great metropolitan park.”

The initiative is the fourth such countywide airport referendum.

Voters approved Measure A in 1994 on a slim margin to put aviation zoning

at the base.

South County-backed Measure S, in 1996, failed to overturn the

previous initiative. While voters approved Measure F in March 2000 on a

large margin, the initiative was thrown out by a judge as

unconstitutional.

The debate over the years has been notoriously contentious, a tone

notably lacking in the Measure W campaign.

Nestande, a former supervisor who once supported expanding John Wayne

Airport to accommodate future travel demand, said an El Toro airport is

now the only answer to the county’s airport needs.

“It’s not a park versus an airport issue,” Nestande said. “The

question is what do you do with the property at that location. It is my

contention that an airport is an economic catalyst for this county.”

Both men took handwritten questions from the crowd, which were read by

Jim de Boom, the group’s executive vice president and a columnist for the

Daily Pilot.

In his parting remarks, Agran needled airport supporters, who have

said the airport is a necessity to meet growing demand.

“If we’re going to deal with this together, that means being honest

with ourselves about the [future] air traffic in Orange County,” Agran

said. “Please vote and think long and hard about the future of the

county, because that’s what’s at stake.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .