El Toro Conflict Intensifies

In retaliation for hiring former Orange County Supervisor Don Saltarelli as a consultant to Newport Beach, Irvine leaders said Wednesday they will try to block a plan to turn over 334 acres of land to that city.

Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea and a fellow councilman said they are taking the unusual action because they believe Saltarelli has been hired to thwart Irvine’s annexation of part of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Irvine wants to incorporate the base into the city to give it the power to halt plans to build a commercial airport on the retiring military base.

“It is inappropriate what they are doing,” Shea said of Newport Beach.

Though the two cities have worked closely on many issues over the years, they fall into opposing camps over the El Toro land use debate.

Irvine opposes the proposal to convert the base into a commercial airport. Newport Beach favors it because a second airport would ease traffic at John Wayne Airport.

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The cities’ conflicting views over El Toro are now jeopardizing issues that are seen as beneficial to both cities.

Irvine, Newport Beach, Irvine Unified School District and Newport-Mesa Unified School District reached an agreement in October that would turn the Bonita Canyon acreage over to Newport Beach.

Both cities agreed it would be easier for Newport Beach’s schools and law enforcement patrols to service that area.

Under the complex agreement, the Irvine Co., which is developing the canyon area, set aside 30 acres of land for parks and a school and promised to pay the Newport-Mesa school district $5.8 million.

“Annexing Bonita Canyon is as good for Irvine as it is for Newport,” said Newport Beach Councilman John W. Hedges.

But Irvine officials said there is a larger issue at stake.

“Giving them Bonita Village will be a big benefit to them,” said Shea, “and I will definitely have to rethink that because they are no longer dealing with us in good faith.”

Fellow council member Greg Smith said he will work with Shea to oppose the Bonita Canyon plan.

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“I regret it has come to this, but the actions of Newport Beach leave us no choice,” Smith said. “We will deal accordingly with anyone who actively opposes our efforts to annex an area that is within our sphere of influence.”

Irvine Councilman Dave Christensen has opposed signing the area over to Newport Beach since the beginning, meaning the Irvine City Council could have the majority it needs to halt the plan. They have ultimate control over it.

Newport Beach officials have downplayed Irvine’s reaction, saying they misunderstood the job Saltarelli was hired to do.

“We have retained him to advise the city on many county issues and El Toro is among them,” said Hedges. He denied that Saltarelli was hired to derail Irvine’s annexation of El Toro.

A possible reversal of the annexation agreement puts the Irvine Co. in a bind, said spokesman Larry Thomas, because they don’t know how to market the homes that are under construction.

“People want to know what city they are in and where their children will go to school,” he said.