Airport Foes File Papers for Open-Space Initiative

Opponents of an airport planned for the closed El Toro Marine base submitted a proposed anti-airport ballot measure Tuesday to the registrar of voters.

The submission triggers a 15-day legal review before volunteers can begin collecting signatures to qualify the measure for the March 2002 ballot.

The Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative would rescind the 1994 voter approval of the airport and replace it with open-space, nature preserve and educational zoning at the 4,700-acre base.

The initiative was signed by five officials: Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Debbie Cook, Orange Councilman Michael Alvarez, Laguna Hills Mayor Pro Tem L. Allan Songstad Jr., Assemblywoman Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park).

Songstad signed as chairman of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a nine-city, anti-airport coalition.

Anti-airport activist Bill Kogerman said he wanted to swiftly file the measure, which was unveiled Monday in Irvine.

Public funds cannot be spent to advocate either for or against an initiative once it is submitted for circulation.

“We’re doing something positive by giving voters a chance to decide what their quality of life would be,” Kogerman said.

A kickoff event for the signature-gathering effort will be May 18 in Mission Viejo.