Newport OKs airport pact

The Newport Beach City Council unanimously voted to sign a pact with Orange County that gives the city the power to block expansion of John Wayne Airport.

The city has been working on the multi-faceted agreement for four years. It now goes to Orange County supervisors, who are set to consider the agreement Oct. 17.

“I think this is a red-letter day for the community. We need all the protection we can get from the airport,” Councilman Steve Rosansky said.

The “sphere issues” agreement — addressing issues in Newport’s sphere of influence — gives the city veto power if the county ever seeks to build a second commercial runway or extend the existing one at John Wayne Airport.

No such expansion plans are being explored, but Newport Beach officials wanted protection in case they arise.

Also in the agreement, the city and county agreed to study how best to manage the Upper Newport Bay and how services are provided in the lower bay; the city gets $500,000 to build a park on county land at Birch Street and Mesa Drive; and the county won’t object if the city wants to scrap plans for an equestrian and bike trail in Santa Ana Heights.

That last provision was the only one that raised objections. Several Santa Ana Heights residents criticized the way the trail issue was slipped into the agreement just weeks before it came to the council and at the request of some residents who say the trail is unnecessary.

Before this agreement, county supervisors had to approve any changes to Santa Ana Heights development plans, which include the trail.

Some residents are afraid the change will be “the first step in many steps that will ultimately dismember our trail system and get rid of the equestrian community,” said Barbara Venezia, who leads a committee that represents Santa Ana Heights residents.

But City Manager Homer Bludau stressed that the trail provision in the agreement doesn’t get rid of the trail and doesn’t commit the city to anything.

Facing a Friday deadline, the City Council also decided Tuesday to file a lawsuit to block two housing developments in Irvine.

Newport officials have argued that Irvine has not fully studied some residential projects planned for the Irvine Business Complex — including the 2323 Main St. development and Avalon Jamboree Village — and the projects could worsen traffic and crowd parks just over the border in Newport.

Newport had until Friday to file a lawsuit, hoping to work out its differences with Irvine before then.

But Newport’s council decided to go ahead with the suit because, Councilman Steve Rosansky said, “They just didn’t seem to be taking our concerns seriously.”

Tustin will join in the lawsuit, which will be filed by the end of the week.