South County wary of Newport airport stance

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Some South County leaders haven’t swallowed the news

that Newport Beach has left the field of battle over building an airport

at El Toro.

Mayor Tod Ridgeway, on March 21, said the city would not work to

overturn Measure W, which rezones the closed El Toro Marine base from

aviation use to a park, and that it would not spend any more money to

develop an airport there.

But with the city still a member of the Orange Count Regional Airport

Authority, a 14-city coalition of North County cities suing to overturn

the measure, initiative spokesman Len Kranser said he was skeptical

Newport Beach has changed its stance.

The authority voted on March 13, with Newport Beach representative

Gary Proctor absent, to sue to overturn Measure W. The authority followed

through on March 18 by filing the lawsuit.

The suit claims Measure W is deceptive and unconstitutional.

Kranser also pointed out that over the years the city has invested a

tremendous amount of taxpayer money in the pro-airport effort. Between

1994 and this year, Newport Beach spent $10.94 million.

“It’s hard to believe that a city that has fought for 20 years would

suddenly stop,” Kranser said. “It’s reasonable to be skeptical.”

On Wednesday, however, Ridgeway reiterated the city’s stance: The City

Council will focus on securing an extension of the flight caps at John

Wayne Airport.

“It’s in our best interests to remain a member,” Ridgeway said. “It’s

a regional airport organization. We’ve made it clear we are not a party

to the lawsuit.”

The city has also not embraced what has become known as the V-plan,

Ridgeway said.

Art Bloomer, the airport authority’s executive director, wrote a

letter to county supervisors urging them to consider the plan, which

would send planes southwest instead of north or east.

Under the V-plan, planes would head over some high-priced homes in the

Newport Coast area, Ridgeway said.

“That is something we have never supported,” Ridgeway said. “We are

not supporters of the V-plan.”

Newport Beach council members are working on a final agreement that

would extend flight restrictions at John Wayne Airport through 2015.

The board granted a tentative approval to the modest expansion of the

airport on Feb. 26.

Council members Norma Glover and Dennis O’Neil referred questions

about the city’s continued membership in the airport authority to

Ridgeway.

By continuing its membership in the group, Kranser said it appeared as

though Newport Beach is using North County cities “as its proxies” in the

airport fight.

Glover said she preferred not to respond to Kranser’s jab. She said

the city is working to build support with the Federal Aviation

Administration and other agencies that will play a role in the bid to

expand the John Wayne restrictions.

“We will be working to get regional support,” Glover said. “That’s how

we achieve support at the FAA. I don’t think strident remarks, threats of

lawsuits or vitriolic behavior gets you anything at the FAA.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment, John Wayne Airport and

politics. He may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .