IRVINE : Support Sought in Anti-Airport Effort

Mayor Michael Ward is calling upon elected officials in eight South County cities to join Irvine in battling to oust the county as official planning agency for the closure of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Ward is planning a meeting of officials from cities where opposition to a commercial airport at the Marine base is strong.

The County Board of Supervisors in February pulled out of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, formed last year to plan for the 1999 closure of the base. The planning authority gave decision-making powers to city and county officials, including Irvine and other South County cities.

Supervisors said their decision to take over the process was in response to the approval of Measure A in November, which calls for construction of a commercial airport at the base.

A delegation of South County city officials was assured support from federal officials for their efforts to preserve the planning organization, Ward said.

But on April 5, the Department of Defense recognized the Board of Supervisors as the official planning agency for the closure of the base.

“We’ve been stabbed in the back, lied to, cheated, and it’s time to get nasty,” Ward said.

Irvine City Council members say they hope to unite South County leaders in an effort to appeal the Defense Department ruling.

The city is also planning a lawsuit in concert with other cities to challenge a decision by the supervisors to amend the county’s General Plan to include Measure A. And an anti-airport group based in South County launched a signature drive this week to qualify a ballot initiative that would nullify Measure A.