SEAL BEACH : City May Seek Voice in Base Conversion

Seal Beach, which has remained neutral for most of the year, is poised to enter the fray over what to do with the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Councilman Frank Laszlo has asked city officials to look into whether the city should join with other North and West County cities in pushing for the conversion of El Toro into a commercial airport.

“It really is the most logical site for such an airport,” Laszlo said. “I think it’s now time to start seeking solutions.”

The City Council is expected to further discuss the issue at an upcoming council meeting.

Laszlo wants the city to work with Anaheim, Stanton, Los Alamitos, Garden Grove and other cities in seeking a strong voice in charting El Toro’s future. Many North and West County officials support turning El Toro into an air cargo facility, arguing it will provide a boost to the economy.

But some South County leaders oppose the airport plan. They said it would cause traffic, noise and pollution problems.

“The fact is that there has to be another airport besides John Wayne,” Laszlo said. El Toro “seems the logical choice.”

Earlier this year, supervisors Gaddi H. Vasquez and Thomas F. Riley struck a deal with South County cities to form a 17-member panel that would craft a redevelopment plan for the base. Under the Vasquez-Riley plan, South County cities would have veto power over any proposal.

A second plan by supervisors William G. Steiner and Roger R. Stanton would create a nine-member redevelopment panel. All five county supervisors would be members of the proposed panel.