Alternative takeoff plan for El Toro gets raves

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Supporters of the V-plan were buzzing with excitement

after a community meeting in Eastbluff where they said local residents

showed an increased level of interest in the concept.

The meeting, held at the North Bluffs clubhouse Wednesday evening,

drew a modest crowd of about 50 residents, according to those who

attended it.

“It was a full house, and people were very enthusiastic and wanted to

know why people don’t know more about it,” said Ann Watt, a supporter of

the plan.

The plan, crafted by retired aviation engineer and Newport Beach

resident Charles Griffin, would open the door for the county to relocate

the base’s east-west runway into a V-shaped pattern off the edge of the

north-south runway.

Watt and other members of the New Millennium Group, many of whom live

in Santa Ana Heights, have launched an initiative drive to pave the way

for their plan to realign the runways at the former El Toro Marine Corps

Air Station.

Members of the group have submitted the measure, known as the

Reasonable Alternative Airport Initiative, to Orange County for a title

and summary so they may begin collecting names.

The group must collect 71,206 valid names by Sept. 18 if they want it

put on the county ballot in March.

The group has been lobbying city officials and other groups for

support. Supporters said they are working to secure the support of those

who successfully launched the slow-growth Greenlight measure, which

passed overwhelmingly in Newport Beach in November.

Members of the group have also said they are hopeful the Board of

Supervisors will place their measure on the ballot if they cannot collect

enough names.

Supervisor Tom Wilson, who represents the unincorporated community of

Newport Coast, said that scenario isn’t likely to unfold.

“I think they’re really fighting an uphill battle,” Wilson said

Thursday. “I’d be highly skeptical that the Board of Supervisors would

put that on the ballot.”

While the plan has not enjoyed widespread support, several elected

officials in other North County cities have endorsed it. No member of the

Newport Beach council supports it.

City officials have steadfastly supported the county’s own plan for

the base -- a 28.8-million annual passenger facility -- though some have

said they’d favor a smaller airport supporting about 19 million

passengers. The county board is set to certify the final environmental

review on the project at its Sept. 17 meeting. After that, the county

will turn its attention toward Washington, D.C., to lobby the Department

of Defense to formally hand over the base.

The county analyzed the V-plan during its environmental review but

discarded it.

“I don’t know if there’s that much interest in it citywide,”

Councilman Dennis O’Neil said. “It’s an alternative plan, but it’s not on

the drawing board.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .