L.A. jump-starts El Toro battle

June Casagrande

After months of ear-splitting silence, the debate over an El Toro

airport has suddenly roared back into the spotlight.

Local leaders and airport activists were abuzz on Friday with the

news that Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn has secretly asked the federal

government for a green light to open a commercial airport at the

closed El Toro Marine Air Base.

“I’m quite pleased with the leadership Mayor Hahn has shown on

this regional issue,” said Tom Naughton, president of the Airport

Working Group. “I think it’s long overdue. ... AWG supports it 100%.”

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which sides with South

County residents who would be subject to the noise and other

downsides of El Toro, spoke out to oppose Hahn’s move.

“We are outraged that Los Angeles leaders have the effrontery to

try to usurp the will of the voters and the elected officials of

neighboring jurisdictions,” authority Chairwoman Mimi Walters said in

a statement.

The push to create a commercial airport at El Toro to accommodate

future air travel demand was effectively halted after voters approved

Measure W by a 2-1 margin in March 2002. In that ballot, voters

approved what some called the “Great Park” concept to designate the

land for a use other than as an airport.

Some saw the vote as the final word in the El Toro debate. Newport

Beach and Costa Mesa activists anxious to keep the idea of an El Toro

airport alive have had trouble finding an audience -- until now.

“Absolutely we support that, but I don’t think there’s anything

for us to do,” said Newport Beach City Councilman Tod Ridgeway, who

also sits on the influential Southern California Assn. of

Governments. “In Newport Beach, we have always said that we’re not in

the airport development business. This is a regional and national

growth issue and it’s not best addressed by cities or initiatives or

referendums.”

Neither the city nor the working group has any action planned in

the wake of Friday’s news, but Naughton predicted that it could mean

new momentum for the pro-El Toro movement.

“The reason I believe it could result in something tangible is

because Secretary [Norman] Mineta at the Department of Transportation

and the [Federal Aviation Administration] have been talking for many

years back in Washington about the need in the entire nation for

additional airports and runways,” Naughton said.

There was notable opposition to the idea among some of

Newport-Mesa’s elected officials.

Rep. Chris Cox met with federal officials on Friday and later

announced that there didn’t seem to be any movement in the federal

agencies toward the El Toro proposal.

“After speaking with officials at the Department of Transportation

and the Navy, it is clear that the federal government is committed to

creation of the second largest municipal park in the nation,” Newport

Beach’s Congressman said in a statement. “Today, the Department of

Transportation and the Department of the Navy stated definitively

that the federal government is not considering using the El Toro

property as a commercial airport.”

And Supervisor Tom Wilson, who represents Newport Coast along with

large swatches of anti-airport South County, released a copy of a

letter he sent to Mineta outlining opposition to Los Angeles taking

control of the airport.

“The Orange County Board of Supervisors will not tolerate any

attempt by the city of Los Angeles to overturn a local land use

decision made by the voters of Orange County and endorsed by its

political leadership,” Wilson wrote.

“Orange County’s decision is firm and final -- El Toro will be

transferred to private ownership and developed according to the

wishes of our citizens for non-aviation uses,” Wilson added.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.