‘Apolitical’ Plan for El Toro Base Reuse Sought

A group opposed to a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station will seek participation from pro-airport groups in forging an alternative plan.

Board members of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority agreed Monday to try to involve airport proponents in creating an “apolitical” reuse plan that doesn’t include an airfield.

The South County group is trying to convince the Board of Supervisors, which has authority over the reuse of the Marine base, to delegate the responsibility for a non-aviation plan to them.

“To give a non-aviation plan credibility, you have to put a plan together from both sides,” said group Chairman Richard T. Dixon, a Lake Forest councilman. The group hopes to present an alternative plan to the supervisors by May 13.

But Randal J. Bressette, a Laguna Hills representative on the authority, expressed doubts that efforts to include pro-airport groups would be successful.

“I don’t believe that this process can be apolitical. . . . To believe you can bring the [Building Industry Assn.] in, are you kidding me?” he said to the group’s board.

The board also agreed to spend $95,000 to hire the nonpartisan Urban Land Institute, which provides research and technical assistance to the real estate industry.

In December, when county supervisors voted to pursue plans for a commercial airport, they also authorized the development of an alternative plan for the base as a concession to airport opponents and in case an airport is found to be unworkable.

The board has taken no official stance on whether they would turn to the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority for that alternate plan. But they have indicated they will look at the authority’s plan first before deciding whether to hire outside consultants.