O.C.’s All-Consuming Question: Will El Toro Fly?
Planning for the conversion of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to a commercial airport will dominate the attention of county government in 1998, as well as the military officials preparing to leave the base for good the following year.
The process has sparked intense debate at quarterly meetings of the Board of Supervisors, which sits as the Local Reuse Authority, charged with the federal government for handling reuse planning.
Led by South County Supervisors Thomas W. Wilson and Todd Spitzer, airport opponents disputed the county’s environmental report and a recent announcement to explore cargo flights at El Toro after military flights cease in spring 1999.
Their one victory came after supervisors agreed to let a coalition of South County cities prepare a non-aviation proposal for the base.
Amid the skirmishes, a recent UC Irvine survey of county residents found waning support for a commercial airport at El Toro.
A final decision on the base’s new look is expected in 1999.
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