El Toro Airport Plan Just Too Costly

* It does not surprise anyone to see or hear individuals in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach argue for conversion of El Toro to a commercial airport. Nor does it surprise anyone that individuals in Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Foothill Ranch are opposed.

But to hear or see in print that Bill Kogerman never mentions alternate uses and that John Wayne will soon be at its planned capacity is the same tired dogma that proponents used last year to promote Measure A.

Kogerman has stated that the county needs to look at all uses for the land and the impacts before deciding the best use of El Toro. A county-developed-and-owned commercial airport is the most expensive for the taxpayers. Bonds, “private” or otherwise, are bonds that the county taxpayers are ultimately responsible for. If the county looked to high technology, as did our counterparts in the Bay Area, we could build a high-paying job base, increase the value of our property and have private industry pay real wages and taxes.

In the case of “planned capacity,” the current level of air travelers at John Wayne is less than 7 million per year versus the artificial limit of 8.5 million set by the surrounding communities (Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, et al.). The actual capacity with the current facilities is over 13 million air passengers per year.

Constructing a commercial airport at El Toro that would be litigated against for decades to come, with as much zest as Newport Beach has contested the growth of John Wayne, would serve few in this county.

DEREK R. QUINN

Laguna Niguel

* In answer to (Irvin C.) Chapman’s letter (April 30) on an airport at El Toro: Don’t people’s lives count anymore?

When I lived in Santa Monica, oceanfront homes and businesses were condemned for low-cost housing; very expensive high-rise apartments were built instead.

A commercial airport at the Marine base would ruin thousands of lives with all that noise and pollution, day and night. And no one would be able to sell their home.

There is a government base just 30 minutes down the freeway where an airport could be built right on the ocean. Why doesn’t someone buy it? That would be progress.

VIRGINIA RANNEY

Laguna Hills