OC supervisor calls for downsizing El Toro project

Noaki Schwartz

SANTA ANA -- Orange County Supervisor Cynthia Coad, a member of the

board’s pro-airport majority, said Tuesday she would support a much

smaller El Toro airport that would also have operational restrictions

similar to those at John Wayne Airport.

Pro-airport forces also said that Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach)

has agreed to float the federal legislation necessary to allow noise and

nighttime restrictions at El Toro as well as extend the ones at John

Wayne that are set to expire in 2005. Cox could not be reached for

comment.

Under Coad’s plan, the county would build airport facilities only to

accommodate passenger projections for 2010. The existing proposal takes

into account capacity needs as far out as 2020. The change would reduce

El Toro’s proposed annual passenger load from 28 million to 18 million --

a 36% decrease.

“We’re extending an olive branch to those in South County who are

concerned about airport impact,” Coad said.

This limited plan would only be possible if John Wayne continued to

function, sharing the county’s air passenger demand with El Toro, Coad

said. Under the proposal, John Wayne’s capacity likely would have to

increase, although specific numbers were not given.

Coad also proposed that El Toro operate primarily as a domestic service

airport, until it becomes clear that international flights are necessary.

That is a major departure from the county’s stance the past two years,

when officials constantly stressed the need for international flights out

of Orange County.

Coad said the county should continue to plan the larger airport, but let

future supervisors and the community decide whether or not to provide

services and facilities beyond 2010.

Response from El Toro supporters to Coad’s proposal was positive.

“She’s talking about being reasonable to both sides,” said Rick Taylor of

the Airport Working Group that had a strong contingent of Newport Beach

residents at Tuesday night’s meeting to speak in favor of the idea.

“There would be reduced expectations but something both sides can live

with.”

But Susan Withrow, chair of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority board,

said the new plan doesn’t change her feelings.

“We believe El Toro is the wrong place for an airport,” she said. “The

fact that they want to drop it down to 18 million annual passengers

doesn’t matter.”

Withrow called the move “deceiving” and said it proves to her that South

County residents can’t trust county government.

“I think they are realizing [the larger airport] won’t pan out,” Withrow

said. “And this comes at a time when the opposition clearly has the upper

hand.”

Tom Naughton, president of the Airport Working Group, said Coad was

suggesting a viable plan to “get by the impasse of this constant

bickering” between North and South County residents. Naughton said that

he had spoken with Cox about creating legislation that would give El Toro

the same 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. curfew that John Wayne enjoys.

In order for that to happen, however, Cox will have to work around an

existing law -- the Airline Noise and Capacity Act -- that strips local

communities of the authority to control airport noise.

Naughton and the Airport Working Group would like this legislation in

order to increase South County support for El Toro.

Coad simply hopes her proposal will help bring a divided county together.

“The lack of communication can destroy friendships, marriages and even

international alliances,” Coad said. “The effects would be

counterproductive and may take generations to rectify.”

Downsized already?

Do you agree that downsizing the proposed El Toro airport -- and adding a

John Wayne-type curfew -- is the right compromise to bring North and

South County together? Let us know by calling our Readers Hotline at

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