Foes of Joint Use of El Toro Air Base Raise War Chest

A homeowners coalition said Wednesday that it has raised nearly $60,000 and recruited individuals and organizations representing a total of 3,700 people in a campaign against proposed joint civilian-military use of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

“This idea (joint use) rises from the ashes on a periodic basis, and we want to put it to bed once and for all,” said Irvine City Councilwoman Sally Anne Miller, president of the Coalition for a Responsible Airport Solution.

Miller acknowledged that there is no imminent threat of commercial airline operations at the El Toro base. But she said residents of Irvine and the Saddleback Valley are concerned by recent efforts of the Federal Aviation Administration and the city of Newport Beach to promote joint use. There also is concern, she said, over a county airport site selection committee’s inclusion of El Toro in its review of potential locations for a new commercial aviation facility.

An FAA study earlier this year concluded that joint use would face serious obstacles but is technically feasible.

The Pentagon has insisted that joint use is not possible because of problems involving both air and ground safety, potential interference with the facility’s military mission and national security.

Still, the Airport Site Coalition appointed by the county to study future airport locations has said it must include all possible sites, including El Toro, in its initial review.

The search for a new airport site is a result of an out-of-court settlement that ended years of litigation between the city of Newport Beach and groups opposed to expansion of John Wayne Airport. The settlement also placed an annual cap on the number of passengers that can use John Wayne, even after a new passenger terminal opens in 1990.

“Proponents of joint use have attempted to convince people that the impacts would not be that significant,” Miller said. “We strongly disagree. Commercial use of the base would be a disaster for the area.”

Miller’s group released copies of letters from Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.), Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) and several other lawmakers opposing joint use, as well as resolutions from homeowners associations.