El Toro airport advocates staying strong

LOLITA HARPER

Never say die. That is the battle cry of the Newport Beach-based

Airport Working Group.

Despite what could be considered lethal blows to their case to

build an international airport at the former Marine Corps base at El

Toro -- such as the land being rezoned for park use, the settlement

of lawsuits filed to negate those zoning changes and the federal

governments gift of the land to the city of Irvine -- members of the

group continue to fight. May the airport gods bless them.

At the middle of all this is Rick Taylor, a Newport Beach

attorney, activist and unsuccessful City Council candidate. You

remember Rick, right? He was the Greenlight candidate who was the

victim of the shrewd politics of Dave Ellis.

Taylor is consistently calling for “quality of life,” whether it

be accomplished by stopping the development of mega-hotels or halting

the expansion of John Wayne Airport -- which he once said “would

spread like a cancer” if an airport weren’t built at El Toro.

The eloquent attorney is a vocal member of Greenlight and the

Airport Working Group -- arguably two of the most persistent groups

in Newport Beach, known to continue the good fight, even after an

overwhelming number of folks have called for a cease and desist.

He should combine his pro-airport and anti-development tactics and

apply them in the fight for El Toro. While Newport Beach residents

are well versed in the subject of slow-growth, Taylor and company

should take that message to Irvine and warn them of the dangers of

overdevelopment, as in, the Great Park.

We are talking about Irvine here -- a city that has grown at an

unprecedented rate in the past couple of decades. This city could

stand to learn the meaning of “slow growth.”

Longtime residents have seen their routine drive to Stonecreek

Farmers’ Market for fresh slices of roast beef turn into a 30-minute

battle along Culver Drive to avoid the teen on her cellphone and get

over to the far left turn lane onto Barranca Parkway, while others

migrate right, on their way to the target.

This is a city where the horizon has turned a shade of burnt

sienna, as the sunlight reflects off the hundreds of Spanish-tiled

rooftops that extend as far as the eye can see.

What Taylor and the Airport Working Group need to do is spread the

slow-growth bug in Irvine. Tell them how much traffic will come with

an added 14,000 acres of development. Spread the word of the horrors

of over-development.

“Quality of life!” should be the resounding chant in Irvine. And

surely, that can’t be accomplished by building more homes with owners

who will each drive an average 2.5 cars on already overcrowded

streets, eroding the city’s infrastructure. And their mere presence

in the city will require more police and fire officials and drain the

city’s coffers.

“The Great Park development will be a cancer that will spread

across Irvine,” Rick Taylor should say.

Next thing you know, Irvine will have its own Measure S and

overwhelmingly balk at the idea of money-grubbing Great Park

developers, who look to increase the housing density, flood their

streets with traffic and eat away at their peaceful existence.

Perhaps the residents will go so far as to sue the city of Irvine.

And El Toro will remain -- undeveloped.... Waiting for a greater

purpose.

Go, Rick Taylor, and spread the good word. I’m sure Newport Beach

residents wouldn’t mind if Irvine stole Greenlight’s attention for

awhile.

* LOLITA HARPER is the Forum editor. She also writes columns

Wednesdays and Fridays. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by

e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.