Anaheim Joins Cities Group Lobbying on El Toro : Land use: The alliance of North County governments favors converting the Marine base into a commerical airport after it is closed down.

After months of posturing, the city of Anaheim will officially join an alliance of North County cities trying to influence future development plans for the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, city officials said Monday.

The group, known as the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, supports building a commercial airport at the base after it closes, which is scheduled to occur by 1999.

The group is closely monitoring the actions of the county’s newly formed El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, which is taking the lead in determining the base reuse issue.

A number of North County cities, including Anaheim, are concerned that the county’s executive panel will not seriously consider an airport option for the base. Furthermore, they contend that the county panel is weighted in favor of cities that do not favor an airport proposal.

A majority of South County cities oppose putting an airport at the 4,700-acre base because they contend it will create too much noise, snarl traffic and affect their quality of life. They would like to see some other development at the base, such as residential or commercial projects.

Although Anaheim officials have participated in OCRAA meetings, the council is expected to make the city an official member of the group with a vote at tonight’s council meeting.

“We want to make sure we have a say in what’s going to become of the base,” said Councilman Irv Pickler. “We have to look out for our city’s interests.”

OCRAA was formed by the cities of Garden Grove, Stanton and Los Alamitos last summer. Anaheim had not joined the group because it was waiting to see who would be included in the county’s reuse committee.

Ken Bruner, aide to Supervisor Thomas F. Riley who is the designated chairman of the county’s El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, said Anaheim’s decision should not be considered a disruptive influence on the base conversion process.

Anaheim officials have also indicated they would join the executive council of the county’s planning group.

“Folks in every city in this county ought to take care of their interests in the best way they know how,” Bruner said. “We can’t tell people living in Anaheim, Orange or San Clemente what they ought to be doing. I would hope (Anaheim’s) participation in OCRAA would not be to the exclusion of any involvement (on the county authority).”

Ever since El Toro was slated for closure, the future development of the base has been a hotly debated issue among Orange County cities, which are divided on whether to build an airport on the property.

Allan B. Hughes, executive director of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, said he supports the city joining OCRAA.

“The way it is now, the non-airport people have a veto” in the county plan, he said. “We think that’s wrong.”

Hughes said a commercial or cargo airport at the base would greatly enhance the county’s tourism industry as well as its businesses.