Irvine Co. Isn’t Neutral on Future of El Toro

Planning goes a long way, if it serves the interests of the Irvine Co. The entire El Toro land use issue is being controlled by one and only one entity--the Irvine Co.

El Toro and acreage surrounding it represent billions of dollars to the company. If anyone thinks the landowner and developer is neutral on El Toro, think again. Politicians and developers line up to support the Irvine Co. because it is in their interest to do so.

Some public officials have not yet caught on to the fact that the Irvine Co. wants title to transfer to the county soon, and not as an operating airport. Once the property transfers to the county, the Irvine Co. will sue the state for title back to the Irvine Co. Then you’ll see development like you’ve never seen before.

Ann Watt

Santa Ana Heights

As many may know, the anti-El Toro forces have had a couple of false starts in the latest petition drive to stop an international airport.

The latest petition revolves around rezoning the El Toro Marine base from its current zoning as a commercial airport (established by the earlier Measure A) to nonaviation uses, the Orange County Central Park idea. Seventy-six thousand signatures are needed to place this measure on the ballot next March. This will allow the people of Orange County the opportunity to vote directly on whether we want an airport to be built at the site, with no extraneous issues, such as jails and/or landfills, clouding the issue.

Putting this measure on the ballot is in the best interest of all the people of Orange County. This issue has dominated civic discussion and divided this county for far too long. In March we can put this issue to rest by rezoning the land so it cannot be used as an airport. This would amount to a directive by the citizens of Orange County that the pro-airport supervisors would not be able to ignore.

Bob McCarter

Aliso Viejo

I do not support the El Toro airport.

I also do not support the Great Park that people want to put at the El Toro Marine base.

What I do support is bringing back all the Marines and restoring El Toro to the base it was. It never should have been closed.

The government has stripped this country of enough military might. People feel less and less safe all the time, as our military has been reduced to a fraction of what it was.

God forbid we should ever get into a major conflict or have a few minor conflicts in various locations. I’m afraid we wouldn’t be properly equipped.

John S. Evans

Huntington Beach

I am really amused by the current crop of commercials running against the park plans for El Toro. The Airport Working Group tries so hard to convince viewers that a park would be too expensive, would cause tax increases and would be “pork.”

I wonder where they think the money is going to come from for an airport? Are the terminal buildings, parking facilities, towers and roads going to be provided by the good fairy? Do they really think we are that stupid?

After the initiatives, voting and everything else that has gone on, will this never die? I, for one, am sick of it.

Gene deRuelle

Santa Ana

Instead of allowing ourselves to concentrate on an El Toro airport and its design, it is important to look at the results of not having the airport.

There may be unintended consequences of rejecting this gift from the Navy Department.

One would be the great enlargement of John Wayne Airport, destroying a large residential and business area and inflicting grave damage on the residents of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Santa Ana Heights and other cities in John Wayne Airport’s path.

The Great Park is promised with a no-new-taxes guarantee. Nevertheless, to finance the park, federal, state and local funds will be sought. These funds, of course, come from taxes.

These deceptions are concealed by such safety issues as runway configuration and other diversions. The real motive behind the anti-airport campaign is profit from the development of wall-to-wall housing and other urbanization of all remaining open space.

This anti-El Toro campaign, while pretending to offer a Great Park, is designed to fill all of Orange County with urban development.

Shirley Conger

Corona del Mar