OC Central Park and Nature Preserve initiative

THE ORANGE COUNTY CENTRAL PARK AND NATURE
PRESERVE INITIATIVE

Unofficial copy as of May 1, 2001

The People of the County of Orange hereby ordain and
enact as follows:

Section One: Title.

This initiative shall be known and may be cited as “The
Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve
Initiative.”

Section Two: Purpose and Findings.

The People of the County of Orange find and declare the
following:

A. Effect of Measure. This Initiative amends the Orange
County General Plan to authorize the closed Marine Corps
Air Station El Toro (“El Toro”) to be used for non-aviation
uses, including a multi-purpose central park, open space,
nature preserve, universities and schools, cultural
facilities, and other interim and long-term uses described
herein.

B. Purpose. This Initiative will allow for the creation of one
of America’s greatest parks, with open space, sports and
recreation facilities, museums, libraries, arts and cultural
attractions, and a home for major universities and
research centers. It will also not generate the traffic
congestion, noise, and air pollution associated with the
development of a commercial airport.

C. A Better Plan for El Toro. Orange County residents
deserve a better plan than an airport for El Toro. The
Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve
Initiative will unify our communities and improve the
quality of life for every County resident by allowing El Toro
to be used as a central location for the County's civic life,
including public recreation, open space, education, cultural
facilities, and a nature preserve.

D. No New Taxes. This Initiative does not raise taxes. In
addition to seven square miles of land, the military
housing and commercial buildings on the site can produce
enough revenue to cover the cost of creating one of
America’s greatest parks.

E. The Need for a Central Park in Orange County.
Population growth in Orange County has caused the
County to become increasingly dense and congested. As a
result, there is wide recognition of the need to expand
essential recreational, park, open space, and cultural
facilities to create an oasis that will allow our residents to
engage in healthy family activities. The establishment of a
major central park in Orange County will help fulfill this
need.

F. Quality of Life is Important to the Economic Health of
the County. The quality of life in Orange County is a
significant asset to business and is a key element in
attracting and keeping high paying jobs and a quality
workforce in a competitive marketplace. This Initiative will
greatly enhance our quality of life here in Orange County.

G. Need for Educational Facilities. Orange County needs
additional educational facilities. Designating land for
educational institutions will help to relieve taxpayers of
the burden of acquiring sites for school facilities. The
California State University Fullerton has an identified need
for a 300-acre campus in the central County area, and El
Toro has room enough for that campus and a variety of
other educational facilities.

H. Advantages of the El Toro Site for Use as a Central
Park. The central location and accessibility of El Toro will
provide Orange County's three million residents with an
opportunity to enjoy a park on a par with Golden Gate
Park and The Presidio in San Francisco, Griffith Park in Los
Angeles, and Balboa Park in San Diego. The advantages of
the site for use as a central park include the following:

1. Size. El Toro consists of seven square miles of publicly
owned land in the heart of Orange County. The size of the
El Toro property makes it ideal for a multi-purpose central
park, including ample space for universities and schools,
museums, botanical gardens, sports and recreational
facilities, a memorial to Orange County veterans and
other compatible uses.

2. Availability for Public Uses at No Cost. Under the federal
base closure law, El Toro may be designated for public
uses at no cost to Orange County taxpayers.

3. Accessibility. El Toro can be reached easily via the I-5,
I-405 and S.R. 133 freeways, the Foothill and Eastern
Transportation Corridors and the Irvine Transportation
Center.

I. Balancing Regional Costs and Benefits. In a
rapidly-growing area such as Southern California, it is
inevitable that there is more than one important regional
need that could be met through the availability of a large
area of publicly-owned land. Any use is likely to have
regional benefits and costs, either directly (through
negative effects such as noise and pollution) or indirectly,
by foreclosing other uses. In determining that a
multi-purpose central park use on the El Toro site will
provide greater regional benefits than a commercial
airport, the following factors have been considered:

1. The creation of a multi-purpose central park is
dependent on three key factors: location, price, and size.
The El Toro site uniquely meets all of these requirements.
The park will generate regional and state-wide economic
benefits from tourism, education, and the attraction of
businesses to the area. In addition, the park will also
create less-tangible but equally important quality of life
benefits, while regional air transportation demand can be
satisfied through alternatives to the establishment of an
airport at El Toro.

2. A significant portion of the regional air transportation
need will be met through better utilization of the existing
six commercial airports in Southern California. In addition,
new airports are proposed for the former March Air Force
Base in Riverside County, the former Norton Air Force
Base in San Bernardino, and the former George Air Force
Base in Victorville. Another airport exists at Palmdale, and
the Ontario International Airport has recently been
expanded and has significant unused capacity. These
proposed airports and Ontario are well located to serve
the substantial projected population growth in Riverside,
San Bernardino Counties and northern Los Angeles
County. In contrast, El Toro is poorly located to serve
Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties. An
airport at El Toro is not needed to serve the limited
population increase projected for Orange County.

3. A new airport at El Toro would also impose enormous
regional costs far outweighing economic benefit, including
safety hazards, noise, excess traffic, pollution, and a loss
of the opportunity to establish a major new central park.

4. The Initiative provides for interim uses including
housing, and allows for housing and related services as
required by federal law.

J. Summary. This Initiative:

1. Amends the General Plan of the County of Orange by
repealing the aviation reuse designation for El Toro and
other provisions enacted by Measure A in 1994; and

2. Replaces the aviation use designation with non-aviation
designations to ensure that the property will become a
multi-use center for education, park, recreation, cultural
and other public-oriented uses. These designations permit
the development of El Toro over time, thus allowing future
generations to determine specific uses consistent with this
Initiative.

Section Three: Measure A Repealed.

The full text of the Orange County/El Toro Economic
Stimulus Initiative (Measure A), adopted by the voters of
Orange County on November 8, 1994, is hereby repealed.
The Purpose and Findings of Measure A are hereby deleted
as shown below:

ORANGE COUNTY/EL TORO ECONOMIC STIMULUS
INITIATIVE

The people of the County of Orange hereby ordain as
follows:

Section One - - Purpose and Findings.

A. Purpose. This initiative recognizes that the highest and
best civilian use for the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station
("MCAS") is as a civilian airport providing a substantial
portion of Orange County's air passenger and air cargo
needs in conjunction with other activities compatible with
such uses.

B. Limited Airport Capacity. The Board of Supervisors has
declared that Orange County's only commercial airport is
prevented by size and facility limitations from serving
more than 8.4 million passengers per year and this
limitation is reinforced by a federal court order. Orange
County already sends approximately four million
passengers, and their tax dollars, to airports outside the
County each year and this number is expected to grow
significantly. This airport capacity shortfall stifles economic
development in Orange County.

C. Jobs. Conversion of El Toro MCAS to a civilian airport
could create more than 21,000 new jobs in Orange County
and increase business revenues in the County by more
than $1.7 billion. On a regional basis, a civilian airport
would generate over 52,000 new jobs and business
revenues of more than $4.3 billion.

D. Tourism. Air travel accounts for the largest share of
travel and tourism expenditures in California. The lack of
adequate airport capacity in Orange County diverts these
expenditures to areas outside the County. Establishment
of a civilian airport at the El Toro MCAS will allow the
County to take full advantage of its tourism-related
industries, including the planned expansion of Disneyland.

E. A Clean Environment. An El Toro airport would save
Orange County commuters one million miles per day in
trips to Los Angeles International and Ontario airports.
This will result in cleaner air, less freeway congestion, and
a savings of at least two hours of driving time for El Toro
air passengers. Because civilian aircraft produce less noise
than military aircraft, an El Toro airport would reduce
overall noise levels in the surrounding communities.

F. Fairness. El Toro MCAS is a countywide resource. An
ill-conceived reuse policy will hurt residents and
businesses throughout the County. Immediate action to
develop a new airport, in contrast, will lead to jobs and
other economic benefits throughout the County. Reuse
affects us all. We all must be involved.

G. Regional Benefits. The California Commission on
Aviation and Airports has found that Orange County, "by
not meeting the needs of its own citizens, is forcing other
jurisdictions to meet the needs of Orange County
residents." The Southern California Association of
Governments, the Southern California Regional Airport
Authority, the Orange County Cities Airport Authority, and
the Federal Aviation Administration have all recognized
the potential of El Toro MCAS to accommodate commercial
aviation without adversely affecting the quality of life of
South Orange County residents.

H. Transportation Hub. Access to El Toro MCAS is provided
by five existing or planned freeways, tollways, and
transportation corridors, a planned monorail line, and by
the adjoining Amtrak railroad. El Toro MCAS itself provides
additional infrastructure in the form of runways and
related facilities that can accommodate a wide range of
commercial aircraft. Land uses surrounding the El Toro
MCAS are compatible with its use as a civilian airport.

I. General Plan Amendment. This initiative amends the
Orange County General Plan to provide that certain
unincorporated lands within the El Toro MCAS shall be
used for a publicly or privately owned and operated
airport serving a substantial portion of the County's
passenger and cargo air transportation needs. The
General Plan amendment establishes a framework for
reuse planning based upon the fundamental principle that
the impacts and benefits of closure and reuse will be felt
throughout the County. This initiative does not affect the
ability of the County to establish or approve an airport at
any other location in the County.

J. Airport Environs Land Use Plan. The Orange County
Airport Environs Land Use Plan has as its central objective
protecting the public from the adverse effects of aircraft
noise, ensuring that people and facilities are not
concentrated in areas susceptible to aircraft accidents, and
ensuring that no structures or activities adversely affect
navigable airspace. This initiative maintains consistency
between the Orange County General Plan and the Orange
County Airport Environs Land Use Plan by establishing
policies and procedures to require that El Toro MCAS lands
in the vicinity of a civilian airport established at the El Toro
MCAS be developed for uses and activities which are
compatible with civilian airport uses at El Toro MCAS.

K. Economic Development. As demonstrated with John
Wayne Airport, civilian use of El Toro MCAS would result in
less impacts and restrictions on economic development
and quality of life of the surrounding areas than continued
military use, and would stimulate expanded economic
development of those areas.

L. Federal and State Airport Policy. This initiative
establishes only land use policies for Orange County as the
local agency having land use authority with respect to
airport siting at the El Toro MCAS. This initiative has no
effect on the authority of federal and state agencies to
regulate airport development in accordance with other
applicable laws and regulations, except insofar as such
other laws may rely upon local land use policy.

M. Flexibility. Initiative measures, once adopted, may
generally be amended only by a vote of the people. In
recognition of the complexity of the airport siting and
development process, however, this initiative may be
amended by the Board of Supervisors based on the
recommendation of the El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory
Commission, a final federal or state agency decision
denying airport use, or under other specified
circumstances. The initiative may also be amended at any
time by a vote of the people.

N. No Effect on City Lands. Nothing in this initiative
imposes any land use restriction or other limitation on
lands within the incorporated area of any city.

Section Four: General Plan Amendment.

The County of Orange General Plan as amended through
the date this Initiative is submitted to the voters
(hereinafter "Orange County General Plan") is hereby
amended to read as described below.

General Plan Amendments. The Introduction, Background
for Planning, Land Use Element, Transportation Element,
Public Services and Facilities Element, Resources Element,
Recreation Element, Noise Element, Safety Element, and
Appendix IV, VII, and VIII of the Orange County General
Plan are hereby amended as set forth below. Text to be
inserted into the Orange County General Plan is indicated
in boldface type while text to be stricken is presented in
strikeout; text in standard type is existing text in the
Orange County General Plan.

1. Introduction Amendments.

a. The fourth paragraph of the "History of the Orange
County General Plan" discussion in the Introduction (pages
I-3 and I-4) is hereby deleted as shown below:

On November 8, 1994, the voters of Orange County
approved Measure A, an initiative that amended the
General Plan “to provide that certain unincorporated lands
within Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro shall be
used for a publicly or privately owned and operated
airport serving a substantial portion of the County’s
passenger and cargo air transportation needs”. This
amendment included changes to six of the nine General
Plan Elements: Land Use, Public Services and Facilities,
Noise, Safety, Recreation, and Resources.

2. Background for Planning Amendments.

a. The second, third and fourth paragraphs in the "Public
Services and Facilities" discussion under “Background for
Planning” (page II-12) are hereby amended to read as
follows:

· Pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment
Act of 1990 and subsequent congressional action, both the
El Toro Marine Corps Air Station ("El ToroMCAS") has been
closed and the Tustin Helicopter Facility must be closed by
mid-1999. The Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station and Los
Alamitos Reserve Air Station are expected to remain in
government ownership and use.

· A regional airport facility is expected to be developed at
the El Toro MCAS following its closure for military
purposes.

· John Wayne Airport will remain as the principal
commercial civilian airport in the County. It is recognized
that growth in passenger and cargo demand for air service
is expected to continue as the region’s population and
employment base grows. Expansion and development
plans are underway at LAX, Ontario, Palmdale, March, San
Bernardino International and Southern California Logistics
airports. Future capacity enhancements at these facilities
will contribute to satisfying the region’s capacity needs.
Development opportunities should be explored at these
facilities where such uses are compatible with other
regional needs and where potential exists for future
airport development which can be connected by ground
transportation systems to meet the region’s needs. until
an airport is established at the El Toro Marine Corps Air
Station following cessation of military uses at that facility
in the late 1990s. Thereafter, the two airports shall jointly
serve the County's air transportation needs.

b. Footnotes 1, 2 and 3 on page II-12 are hereby deleted
as shown below:

1 Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, “Amend
the Orange County General Plan to Designate Marine
Corps Air Station El Toro for Civil Aviation and Related
Uses,” approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

3. Land Use Element Amendments.

a. The first paragraph in the "Noise" discussion in the Land
Use Element (page III-3) is hereby amended to read as
follows:

The major sources of significant noise in Orange County
are aircraft and highway vehicles. While both can usually
be mitigated to acceptable levels indoors, aircraft noise
cannot be mitigated outdoors because of its overhead
source. State law and County policy prohibit residential
development and similar noise sensitive uses in high-noise
(+65 CNEL) areas near El Toro Marine Corps Air Station
and John Wayne Airport.

b. Map III-1 of the Land Use Element, entitled "Orange
County General Plan" (page III-11), is hereby amended to
show the land use designations adopted by this Initiative
depicted on Figure 1 “Orange County's Central Park.”

c. Map III-2 of the Land Use Element, entitled “Orange
County Cities Spheres of Influence” (page III-13), is
hereby amended by deleting runway and/or other military
configurations for El Toro.

d. The first paragraph of the "Public Facilities" discussion in
the Land Use Element (page III-17) is hereby amended as
follows:

The Public Facilities (4) land use category identifies major
facilities built and maintained for public use. Included are
civic buildings, airports, junior colleges, military
installations, correctional institutions, hospitals, solid
waste facilities, water facilities, and sewer facilities.
Childcare facilities will be permitted, if appropriate. This
category includes the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station
(“MCAS El Toro”) which Congress, in September 1993,
approved for closure pursuant to the Defense Base Closure
and Realignment Act of 1990. Closure is to be completed
by mid-1999.

e. Footnote 1 on page III-17 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, “Amend
the Orange County General Plan to designate Marine
Corps Air Station El Toro for Civil Aviation and Related
Uses,” approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

As used throughout this document, closure of MCAS El
Toro means operational closure, i.e., cessation of regular
air operations.

f. The "Open Space" discussion in the Land Use Element
(pages III-18 and III-19) is hereby amended to read as
follows:

This broad category includes the Open Space (5) land use
category, and the Open Space Reserve (OSR), Nature
Preserve (NP), and Education/Park Compatible (EPC) land
use overlays.

The Open Space (5) category indicates the current and
near-term use of the land, most of which is zoned
agricultural. It is not necessarily an indication of a
long-term commitment to specific open space uses.,
except where one of the three overlay categories applies.

The Open Space Reserve (OSR) overlay identifies lands of
scenic and natural attraction, and areas of ecological,
cultural, historical and recreational significance that are
permanently preserved as and restricted to open space
and open space compatible uses.

The Nature Preserve (NP) overlay applies to the northeast
portion of El Toro for the purpose of permanently
preserving natural habitat in accordance with the
Central/Coastal Natural Communities Conservation Plan.

The Education/Park Compatible (EPC) overlay allows
education and other land uses that are compatible with the
purpose of Orange County's Central Park.

The allowable uses within the Open Space (5), EPC, OSR
and NP designations are further defined in Table III-1.

This The Open Space (5) category provides for limited land
uses that do not require a commitment of significant urban
infrastructure. Examples of compatible uses include:

· Land containing non-renewable and renewable resource
areas, prime agricultural soils and water resource areas.

· Materials recovery/recycling facilities if the design of the
facility does not adversely impact its open space
surroundings, or if the facility is operated in conjunction
with other refuse-oriented facilities (i.e. landfills).

· Employment uses in conjunction with large open space
areas if they are consistent with the open space character
of the area. The intent is to create opportunities for
low-intensity, high technology, industrial, research and
development, office and educational uses and childcare
facilities which do not require a commitment of significant
urban infrastructure.

Generally, building sites within this category should be
large; the area covered by structures and parking should
not exceed 20% in order to blend development with the
natural surroundings. Innovative design solutions are
encouraged to incorporate buildings and parking into the
natural features of the site as well as to maximize the
efficient use of energy.

Areas identified Open Space (5) are not necessarily
committed to permanent open space uses. Certain
property within the Open Space category is committed,
through public or private ownership, to remain as open
space, but other property, due to market pressures to
serve a growing County population, may ultimately be
developed in other ways.

Similarly, certain unincorporated territory identified as
Open Space (5) on the LUE Map is within city spheres of
influence for which cities have adopted plans with urban
uses. Long-range socioeconomic projections, therefore,
attempt to reflect anticipated urbanization consistent with
regional population and employment projections and
applicable city plans.

· OPEN SPACE RESERVE (OSR)

This The Open Space Reserve (OSR) overlay is intended to
reflect the Resources and Recreation Elements of the
General Plan. It identifies major parks, beaches, forests,
harbors and other territory that will always remain open
space.

· EDUCATION/PARK COMPATIBLE (EPC)

The Education/Park Compatible (EPC) overlay includes
portions of El Toro for low intensity development
compatible with adjacent Open Space Reserve (OSR) land
uses. The EPC overlay allows educational facilities and
supporting research and development and cultural and
recreational uses.

· NATURE PRESERVE (NP)

The Nature Preserve (NP) overlay applies to the area in
the northeast portion of El Toro, shown on Map III-1, to
remain in federal ownership, or subsequent local
ownership, for the purpose of preserving natural habitat in
accordance with the Central/Coastal Natural Communities
Conservation Plan.

g. The fourth paragraph of the "Typical
Characteristics/Uses" column of the Public Facilities (4)
category of Table III-1 of the Land Use Element, entitled
“Building Intensity/Population Density Standards” (page
III-23), is hereby deleted as shown below:

· Includes the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (“MCAS El
Toro”) which Congress, in September, 1993, approved for
closure pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Act of 1990

h. The Open Space Reserve (OSR) category of Table III-1
of the Land Use Element, entitled “Building
Intensity/Population Density Standards” (page III-24), is
hereby amended to read as follows:

CATEGORY TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS/USES
INTENSITY/DENSITY CHARACTERISTICS AND STANDARDS

Open Space Reserve (OSR) · Identifies major parks,
beaches, forests, harbors and other territory that will
always remain open space, including urban regional parks,
natural regional parks, wilderness regional parks, and
County wilderness areas· Includes substantial portions of
Orange County’s Central Park; a description of the
proposed recreational facilities within Orange County’s
Central Park is included in Appendix VII-8· An urban
regional park may include, but shall not be limited to, one
or more of the following recreational facilities: public and
private sport centers, play fields, golf courses, riding and
hiking trails, County bikeways, and swimming facilities, as
well as passive activities and other day uses, including
existing and expanded public facilities; the urban regional
park’s environmental resources are generally naturalized
and created through landform alteration and planting;
special funding mechanisms, such as concessionaire or
private sponsorship, may be available for construction and
ongoing maintenance of the facilities· Permits cultural and
recreational uses within Orange County’s Central Park
such as: sports parks, commercial recreation, stables, golf
courses, agriculture, wildlife corridors, museums,
libraries, amphitheaters, expositions and fairs, zoos,
theaters, botanical gardens, cultural fairs and attractions,
and entertainment facilities and concessions· Provides for
leasing opportunities at El Toro pending transition to
park-compatible development including but not limited to
leasing of El Toro facilities, agriculture, plant nurseries,
material recovery/recycling facilities, recreation, housing
and employment, except that no aviation related activities
are allowed· Permits housing at El Toro within existing
housing units to the extent required by federal law; also
permits uses to satisfy homeless assistance requirements
of federal law · Max. Bldg. Height: 18’, except for Orange
County’s Central Park, where the maximum building
height shall be 50’ (except that 10% of all structures at
ultimate development may be up to 100’)· Max. Site
Coverage:10%, except for Orange County’s Central Park,
where the maximum site coverage shall be 10%
calculated exclusive of parking lots

i. Table III-1 of the Land Use Element, entitled “Building
Intensity/Population Density Standards (page III-24) is
hereby amended by including a new overlay category
entitled “Nature Preserve (NP)” immediately following the
overlay category “Open Space Reserve (OSR)” as follows:

CATEGORY TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS/USES
INTENSITY/DENSITYCHARACTERISTICSAND STANDARDS
Nature Preserve(NP) · Includes only the northwest portion
(shown on Map III-1) of Orange County’s Central Park to
conserve natural resources and protect habitat consistent
with the Central/Coastal Orange County Natural
Communities Conservation Plan (“NCCP”)· Provides for the
continued preservation of threatened or endangered
species habitat, including habitat for the California
gnatcatcher, in a coastal chaparral and sage scrub setting,
to become part of the NCCP Preserve created in 1996
pursuant to California Fish and Game Code sections 2800
et seq. and 16 U.S.C. § 1539(a)(1)(B)· Permits only
passive recreational uses, such as organized, docent led
hiking, and nature study with affiliated scientific research,
and only structures associated with utility connections;
motorized or other vehicle access by permit only in
connection with these uses and/or emergency access ·
Max. Bldg. Height: 50’ for structures such as water tanks
and observation towers· Maximum Site Coverage: Not
stated; structures permitted only to support passive
recreational uses

j. Table III-1 of the Land Use Element, entitled “Building
Intensity/Population Density Standards” (page III-24), is
hereby amended by including a new overlay category
entitled "Education/Park Compatible (EPC)" immediately
following the overlay category "Nature Preserve (NP)" as
follows:

CATEGORY TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS/USES
INTENSITY/DENSITY CHARACTERISTICS AND STANDARDS

Education/ Park Compatible (EPC) · Indicates long term
uses for low intensity development compatible with
adjacent Open Space Reserve (OSR) land uses· Provides
for leasing opportunities at El Toro pending transition to
park-compatible development including but not limited to
leasing of El Toro facilities, agriculture, plant nurseries,
material recovery/recycling facilities, recreation, housing
and employment, except that no aviation related uses are
allowed· Provides for educational uses and supporting
research and development, including infrastructure
improvements, health care facilities, child care facilities,
transportation facilities, and housing, to support
educational uses· Permits cultural and recreational uses
such as: sports parks, commercial recreation, agriculture,
museums, libraries, amphitheaters, expositions and fairs,
theaters, cultural fairs and attractions, and entertainment
facilities and concessions· Permits facilities built and
maintained for public use, including rail, bus and transit
services· Permits housing at El Toro within existing
housing units to the extent required by federal law; also
permits uses to satisfy homeless assistance required by
federal law · Max. Bldg. Height: 50’, except that 10% of
all structures at ultimate development may be up to 100’·
Max. Site Coverage: The area covered by structures,
exclusive of parking lots, shall not exceed 20%· .40 FAR·
45 employees per acre

k. Table III-2 of the Land Use Element, entitled
“Aggregated Land Use Categories for Unincorporated
Areas” (page III-26), is hereby amended to show
appropriate land use category acreages as modified by
this Initiative.

l. The third paragraph of the “Objectives and Policies”
discussion in the Land Use Element (page III-27) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

This section describes thirteen twelve major land use
policies that guide implementation of the Land Use
Element. The intent of these policies is to articulate issues
which should be addressed when considering development
proposals.

m. The first paragraph of the "Major Land Use Element
Policies" discussion in the Land Use Element (page III-27)
is hereby amended to read as follows:

The thirteen twelve major land use policies set forth in this
section apply to all geographic areas of the unincorporated
portion of the County. They are adopted for the purpose of
guiding the planning and development of those areas for
both the short-term and long-term future.

n. The heading "13. MCAS EL TORO" and the ensuing
paragraphs, including policies 13.1 through 13.7 of the
"Major Land Use Element Policies" discussion in the Land
Use Element (pages III-32 through III-38), are hereby
deleted as shown below:

13. MCAS EL TORO

The following policies establish a framework for the reuse
planning process and for land use decisions following
closure of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro.

13.1 Civilian Airport Use

In light of its current use as a military airport supporting
operation of aircraft of varying sizes and weights, MCAS El
Toro presents an opportunity to develop an additional
airport in the County to respond to the need for increased
airport capacity identified in the Public Services and
Facilities Element of the Orange County General Plan.

13.2 Planning Area Designation

All unincorporated land which was a part of the MCAS El
Toro on March 1, 1994 and which lies within the area
bounded by Irvine Boulevard to the northeast, Alton
Parkway and the city limits of the City of Irvine to the
southeast, the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to
the southwest, and Sand Canyon Avenue to the northwest,
shall retain the “Public Facilities” designation and shall be
referred to more specifically hereinafter as “the El Toro
Airport Planning Area.” Figure III-3 illustrates the general
boundaries of the El Toro Airport Planning Area. Those
unincorporated lands within MCAS El Toro on March 1,
1994 and not included in the El Toro Airport Planning Area
may be redesignated.

Any redesignation or land use authorizations for MCAS El
Toro lands outside the El Toro Airport Planning Area shall
be approved only upon a finding by the Board of
Supervisors that the uses authorized are compatible with
the use of lands within the airport purposes consistent with
policy 13.4.

13.3 Revenue Sharing

Because the MCAS El Toro is a countywide resource, its
closure and reuse will have effects throughout the County.
The reuse process for MCAS El Toro may lead to the
generation of non-tax County revenues which are not
necessary or legally required to be used for airport
purposes, or otherwise lawfully dedicated to specific
purposes.

The County shall consider expenditure of such funds for
needed infrastructure to support airport operations and
adjacent economic development, and throughout the
County to mitigate the impacts of base closure or reuse,
with preference for jurisdictions adjoining MCAS El Toro.

13.4 Airport Land Uses

To the maximum extent feasible consistent with federal
and state law, all land uses in the El Toro Airport Planning
Area shall comply with the following policies:

13.41 Civilian Airport Policy

Lands within the El Toro Airport Planning Area shall be
used for airport purposes to serve a substantial portion of
the County’s air transportation needs, including air carrier
transportation of both passengers and cargo.

13.42 Interim Joint Use Policy

Pending closure of MCAS El Toro and to the extent
authorized under state and federal law, lands within the El
Toro Airport Planning Area should be used jointly by
military aircraft and commercial air cargo aircraft. The
County shall work with MCAS El Toro to develop a joint
use plan and seek approval for joint use operations as
soon as possible.

13.43 Air Cargo Policy

Upon establishment of a civilian airport at MCAS El Toro,
the County’s air cargo service needs should be met within
the El Toro Airport Planning Area.

13.5 Public Participation

13.51 Membership & Organization

The El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission shall
have thirteen members. Two members shall be appointed
by the Board of Supervisors. Five members, one from
each Supervisorial District, shall be appointed by the
Orange County League of Cities Selection Committee
(“City Selection Committee”).

Six members shall be appointed jointly by the members
appointed by the Board of Supervisors and the City
Selection Committee and shall include two aviation
experts, at least one of whom shall be from the air carrier
industry; two representatives of established community
groups concerned with airport issues; one representative
of the County business community; and one
representative from an established labor organization.

All members shall have terms of four years; provided,
however, that the thirteen members first appointed to the
El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission shall draw
lots to select six members who shall serve initial terms of
two years. No member shall service more than two
four-year terms.

The first members appointed by the Board of Supervisors
and the City Selection Committee shall be appointed no
later than May 15, 1995. All vacancies shall be filled within
three months. The El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory
Commission may adopt bylaws and other rules of
procedure not inconsistent with this policy.

13.52 Responsibilities

The El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission shall (i),
review all draft plans and statements of policy prepared
by or submitted to the County concerning land use within
the El Toro Planning Area and adjoining MCAS El Toro
land; (ii) make recommendations regarding such plans
and policies to the County Planning Commission and Board
of Supervisors; (iii) work with MCAS El Toro, other federal
agencies, state and local government agencies and
commissions, and the air cargo industry to facilitate and
promote joint use of MCAS El Toro by the military and
commercial air cargo carriers prior to closure of MCAS El
Toro; (iv) work with federal and state government
agencies and other local agencies and commissions in
connection with the planning and development of an
airport at El Toro; and (v) if requested by the Board of
Supervisors, prepare a study regarding adjustment of the
boundaries of the El Toro Airport Planning Area.

13.6 Policy Amendments

The boundaries of the El Toro Airport Planning Area and
the foregoing policies regarding land uses within the El
Toro Airport Planning Area may be amended as follows:

13.61 Conformity with Federal or State Decisions

If a federal or state agency with lawful jurisdiction (I)
imposes an airport approval condition requiring
adjustment of the El Toro Planning Area boundary or (II)
makes a final determination denying an approval required
for establishment or operation of any airport within the El
Toro Airport Planning Area, and that condition and
determination is not challenged in a judicial proceeding
within the applicable statute of limitations or, if
challenged, is upheld in a final judgment, the Board of
Supervisors may (i) amend the boundaries of the El Toro
Airport Planning Area and the policies above to the extent
necessary to conform to the federal or state agency
approval condition; or (ii) if the federal or state agency
determination precludes the operation of any airport
within the El Toro Airport Planning Area, repeal Policies
13.1, 13.2, 13.4, 13.5 and 13.6.

13.62 Recommendation of the El Toro Airport Citizens
Advisory Commission

If, at the request of the Board of Supervisors, the El Toro
Airport Citizens Advisory Commission conducts a thorough
evaluation of the boundaries of the El Toro Airport
Planning Area and determines that certain lands within the
El Toro Planning Area are not necessary for operation of a
viable airport, the Board of Supervisors shall review the
report of the Commission.

If the Board of Supervisors concludes, based on its review
of a final Commission report recommending boundary
adjustments and after at least one public hearing on the
report, that some or all of the lands identified in the report
for exclusion are not necessary for operation of a viable
airport, the Board of Supervisors may by a 4/5 vote
amend the boundaries of the El Toro Airport Planning Area
to exclude those lands that the Commission has found are
not necessary for operation of a viable airport.

Any boundary amendment report prepared by the El Toro
Airport Citizens Advisory Commission or other County
department shall be issued in draft form for public review
and comment for not less than thirty days; all final reports
shall include public comments and responses thereto.

Public review and hearings pursuant to this policy may be
conducted in conjunction with any review conducted
pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.

13.63 Interference with Property Rights

It is the intention of the Orange County/El Toro Economic
Stimulus Initiative that civilian air cargo and passenger
use of MCAS El Toro shall cause less adverse impacts to
adjoining private property owners and occupants than
impacts imposed by military flight operations.

If, after challenge by an affected landowner, the Board of
Supervisors finds that application of Policies 13.1 through
13.6 or any part thereof regarding reuse of MCAS El Toro
would constitute an unconstitutional taking of the
landowner’s property or would deprive the landowner of a
vested right pursuant to state law, the Board of
Supervisors may allow reasonable use of that landowner’s
property to the minimum extent necessary to satisfy
constitutional obligations.

13.64 Countywide Election

The boundaries of the El Toro Planning Area and related
general plan provisions enacted by the Orange County/El
Toro Economic Stimulus Initiative may be amended by a
majority vote of those voting in any countywide election.

13.7 Duration

Policies 13.1 through 13.7 of this Land Use Element, Figure
III-3 of this Land Use Element, and Policy 5 in Chapter V,
the Public Services and Facilities Element, regarding the
unincorporated lands included within MCAS El Toro were
adopted by the People of the County of Orange by the
Orange County/El Toro Economic Stimulus Initiative in
furtherance of meeting the County’s projected air
transportation needs and promoting economic
development.

The General Plan may be reorganized, and individual
provisions may be reorganized, and individual provisions
may be renumbered or reordered, in the course of
ongoing updates of the General Plan in accord with the
requirements of state law, but the provisions enumerated
in this paragraph shall continue to be included in the
General Plan until December 31, 2015, unless earlier
repealed or amended pursuant to the procedures set forth
or by the voters of the County.

o. Footnote 4 on page III-38 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, "Amend
the Orange County General Plan to Designate Marine
Corps Air Station El Toro for Civil Aviation and Related
Uses," approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

p. Figure III-3 of the Land Use Element, entitled
“Illustrative Depiction of the El Toro Airport Planning Area”
(page III-33), is hereby deleted.

4. Transportation Element Amendments.

a. Figure IV-1 of the Transportation Element, entitled
“Circulation Plan” (page IV-5), is hereby amended to show
the circulation components adopted by this Initiative
depicted on Figure 1, "Orange County's Central Park," to
show Trabuco as a 6-lane Major Arterial Highway,
Millennium Parkway as a 4-lane Primary Arterial Highway
and Marine Way as a 4-lane undivided Secondary Arterial
Highway. Figure IV-1 of the Transportation Element (page
IV-5) is further amended by deleting runway and/or other
military configurations for El Toro.

b. Figure IV-2 of the Transportation Element, entitled
“Bikeway Plan” (page IV-27), is hereby amended by
deleting runway and/or other military configurations for El
Toro.

c. Figure IV-3 of the Transportation Element, entitled
“Scenic Highway Plan” (page IV-35), is hereby amended
to show Millennium Parkway as a Landscape Corridor, and
by deleting runway and/or other military configurations for
El Toro.

d. The "Monitoring Report" paragraph in the "Road
Improvement Monitoring" discussion (page IV-23) is
hereby amended to read as follows:

This is a detailed analysis of traffic conditions at
intersections impacted by development in unincorporated
areas of the County. The analysis is done for horizons of
three and five years. The report also contains specific
mitigations that are necessary to ensure LOS consistent
with standards specified in the Growth Management Plan
Element. In addition to other applicable requirements of
the General Plan, the County shall prepare, or cause to be
prepared, an annual monitoring report regarding the
average number of daily vehicle trips generated by the
land uses at Orange County’s Central Park shown on Map
III-1. The County shall approve land uses within Orange
County’s Central Park consistent with the General Plan in a
manner to insure that the average number of daily vehicle
trips generated by the authorized land uses within Orange
County’s Central Park at build out shown on Map III-1 do
not exceed ninety-six thousand (96,000) vehicle trips per
day on average.

5. Public Services and Facilities Element Amendments.

a. The second paragraph in the "Environmental
Opportunities" discussion of the Public Services and
Facilities Element (page V-8) is hereby amended to read
as follows:

Portions of undeveloped Orange County may be ideal sites
for certain public facilities because they are sparsely
populated, are within County unincorporated areas, and,
yet, are within service distance of those communities with
service needs. For example, the El Toro MCAS, when
converted to civilian use in the late 1990's, will provide an
ideal site for an additional airport due to its existing use as
an airport, compatibility with surrounding uses, and
accessibility via major transportation corridors.

b. Footnote 1, on page V-8, is hereby deleted as shown
below:

Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, “Amend
the Orange County General Plan to Designate Marine
Corps Air Station El Toro for Civil Aviation and Related
Uses,” approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

c. Policy 5 of the "Policies" in the "General Public Services
and Facilities Goals, Objectives and Policies" discussion in
the Public Services and Facilities Element (pages V-10 and
V-11) is hereby deleted as shown below:

5. REUSE OF EL TORO MCAS

To make maximum use of existing infrastructure
investments, encourage and support a cooperative effort
among all agencies towards development of an airport
serving a substantial portion of the County's air passenger
and air cargo transportation needs at the El Toro MCAS.

d. Footnote 2, on page V-11, is hereby deleted as shown
below:

Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, “Amend
the Orange County General Plan to Designate Marine
Corps Air Station at El Toro for Civil Aviation and Related
Uses,” approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

e. The eighth and ninth paragraphs of the "Air Travel –
John Wayne Airport" discussion in the Public Services and
Facilities Element (pages V-57 and V-58) are hereby
deleted as shown below:

The closure of the El Toro Marine Corp Air Station ("El Toro
MCAS") in the late 1990s provides the only opportunity to
develop a facility to better serve the air transportation
needs of the County's citizens. Thus, in the long term the
El Toro MCAS may be converted to civilian use as a
publicly or privately owned and operated airport providing
both passenger and cargo services. In the short term, the
El Toro Airport Citizens Advisory Commission and the
Board of Supervisors are working to promote joint military
and civilian use of the El Toro MCAS to allow commercial
air cargo. Solutions, or potential solutions, to this problem
are currently being studied under the guidance of the
Board of Supervisors.

The County's air capacity shortfall can be addressed
through conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station
from military use to use as a civilian airport.

f. Footnote 3, on page V-58, is hereby deleted as shown
below:

g. The "Air Transportation" discussion in the Public
Services and Facilities Element (page V-61) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

The future of air system service in Orange County may
benefit significantly from closure of the El Toro MCAS.
Reuse of that facility would help resolve the environmental
and demand/capacity problems present at the John Wayne
Airport.

The regional airport system in Southern California is
currently being examined by many communities and
agencies. The Southern California area has the largest
regional airport system in the world and is served by more
commercial airports than any other major metropolitan
area in the United States. Six commercial airports
currently serve the region’s aviation demand: Los Angeles
International (LAX), Ontario International (ONT), John
Wayne/Orange County (SNA),
Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena (BUR), Long Beach (LGB),
and Palm Springs (PSP).

The greatest population growth in the five county
Southern California region during the next two decades is
projected to occur in the Inland Empire Counties of
Riverside and San Bernardino and in northern Los Angeles
County. The Inland Empire also has a wealth of existing
and potential commercial aviation facilities. In addition to
the newly improved and expanded Ontario International
Airport, airports are proposed for the former March Air
Force Base in Riverside County (March GlobalPort), the
former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino (San
Bernardino International Airport), and the former George
Air Force Base in Victorville (Southern California Logistics
Airport). Planning for another major regional commercial
airport is underway for the existing Palmdale Regional
Airport by the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).

These proposed airports and Ontario are well located to
serve future Southern California aviation needs. The
Ontario Airport already serves a great number of
passengers from Orange County due to its location and
proximity to Orange County communities. The recently
expanded Ontario Airport offers improved air
transportation service to its market area and is expected
to address a much larger portion of the regional aviation
demand in the future. In addition to passengers, Inland
Empire airports are well positioned to absorb the regional
air cargo demand.

Because of the regional nature of air transportation
services, the County of Orange supports satisfying
regional demands at these other airports, as well as by
continuing operations at John Wayne Airport. The County
shall support and encourage regional planning agencies to
focus their efforts on establishing new and improving
existing transportation links between population centers in
the Southern California region and these other airports.

It is sound public policy, considering regional concerns and
regional public welfare, to direct Southern California’s
future growth in air traffic passenger and cargo services
for its existing and anticipated population to areas where
the greatest growth is expected to occur, and where
neighboring communities are generally supportive of new
or expanded airport facilities.

h. Footnote 4, on page V-61, is hereby deleted as shown
below:

Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, “Amend
the Orange County General Plan to Designate Marine
Corps Air Station El Toro for Civic Aviation and Related
Uses,” approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

6. Resources Element Amendments.

a. Figure VI-5 of the Resources Element, entitled “Open
Space/Conservation Program Map” (page VI-20), is
hereby amended by deleting runway and/or other military
configurations for MCAS El Toro. Figure VI-5 of the
Resources Element (page VI-20) is further amended to
show the open space designations adopted by this
Initiative depicted on Figure 1, "Orange County's Central
Park."

b. The second paragraph under the "Indirect Source:
Airport Ground Access" discussion in the Resources
Element (page VI-84) is hereby amended to read as
follows:

Discussion:

This measure seeks to reduce congestion around airports
by encouraging travelers to rideshare or use transit to
their departure airport and/or from their arrival airport,
and by improving ground airport access. physical features
to accommodate this, and by increasing the number of
airports available to Orange County residents. In the John
Wayne Airport Expansion, trip reduction methods were
examined, with the result that they committed to
increasing passenger load factors.

c. Footnote 1, on page VI-84, is hereby deleted as shown
below:

d. The fourth paragraph of the “Open Space/Conservation
Program Map” discussion in the Resources Element (page
VI-90) is hereby amended to read as follows:

The map depicts open space areas for regional recreation,
greenbelts, wildlife and vegetation habitats, major water
courses, agriculture, mineral resources, major watershed
and water recharge areas, tidelands, beaches, shoreline
areas in need of sand replenishment, stream valleys,
scenic and conservation corridors, and areas of
cultural-historic importance. Education/Park Compatible
(EPC) overlay areas may include open space-compatible
educational, research and development, cultural and
recreational uses. With the exception of existing regional
park facilities, open space areas illustrated on the Open
Space/Conservation Program Map (Figure VI-5) are
schematically mapped.

e. The last paragraph of the "Urbanized Areas" discussion
in the Resources Element (page VI-100) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

Though the opportunities for open space preservation are
limited, the urbanized areas do deserve high-priority
status because implementation efforts will require the
cooperative efforts and interaction of many organizations,
citizen groups, City and County governments, State
and/or Federal agencies, and/or private landowners. The
closure of El Toro provides a great opportunity to preserve
a large open space area as a central park and nature
preserve, creating regional recreation opportunities in
close proximity to all of Orange County.

f. The eighth paragraph of the “Open Space/Conservation
Implementation” discussion in the Resources Element
(page VI-101) is hereby amended to read as follows:

Inland, the opportunities are fewer; however, proposed
regional parks are identified for Carbon Canyon, Olinda
landfill site, Los Alamitos, and Seal Beach. The creation of
Orange County's Central Park at El Toro will also provide a
much-needed inland regional park.

g. Goal 4 under the "Goals, Objectives and Policies: Open
Space" discussion in the Resources Element (page VI-103)
is hereby amended by adding Policy 4.2 to read as
follows:

4.2 To significantly expand the urban regional park system
through the conversion of El Toro into Orange County's
Central Park.

7. Recreation Element Amendments.

a. The "Noise" discussion under "Environmental
Constraints" in the Recreation Element (page VII-2) is
hereby amended to read as follows:

The major sources of significant noise (65+ CNEL) in
Orange County are aircraft and highway vehicles. While
both can usually be mitigated to acceptable levels indoors,
acceptable mitigation of aircraft noise outdoors cannot be
fully accomplished because of its overhead source.

Noise does not preclude recreation activities but does
diminish the enjoyment of the overall experience. Through
proper site planning, recreational activities can and do
occur.

For example, Featherly Regional Park is adjacent to the
Riverside Freeway and is subject to roadway noise from
motor vehicles. and portions of O'Neill Regional Park are
subject to overflight by jet aircraft from Marine Corps Air
Station El Toro.

The closure of El Toro and its non-aviation reuse will have
the positive benefit of reducing aircraft noise impacts on
County-wide recreation and open space resources. In
addition, the closure affords an unparalleled opportunity to
expand regional recreation facilities.

b. The first paragraph under the "Master Plan of Regional
Riding and Hiking Trails Component" discussion in the
Recreation Element (page VII-21) is hereby amended to
read as follows:

The Master Plan of Regional Riding and Hiking Trails
includes 348 miles of existing and proposed trails
throughout Orange County. (See Regional Riding and
Hiking Trails map.) These trails are located in areas that
are regulated by the Board of Supervisors (unincorporated
areas and County regional parks), city councils
(incorporated areas), State of California (state parks), and
the federal government (Cleveland National Forest). This
regional trail system provides linkages with many local
community trails throughout Orange County and trails
from surrounding counties. The closure of El Toro affords
the County an unparalleled opportunity to expand the
County's regional riding and hiking trails.

c. The "Goals" section under "Goals, Objectives and
Policies" of the Master Plan of Regional Riding and Hiking
Trails Component of the Recreation Element (page VII-23)
is hereby amended by adding Goal 6 to read as follows:

Goal 6: Expand regional riding and hiking trail
opportunities through the conversion of El Toro into
Orange County's Central Park.

d. The first paragraph under the “Introduction” section of
the “Regional Recreation Facilities Component” discussion
of the Recreation Element (page VII-34) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

Orange County’s regional recreation facilities encompass:
regional harbors, beaches, parks, and historic sites. They
comprise approximately 27,000 existing gross acres with
an estimated 24,000 additional gross acres proposed.
Much of this proposed acreage consists of proposed
additions to existing facilities, and, in some cases, is
already irrevocably offered (i.e., Limestone and Laguna
Coast Wilderness Parks). The creation of Orange County’s
Central Park at El Toro will also add significantly to the
acreage available for regional recreation facilities.

e. The "Urban Regional Parks" discussion under "Regional
Parks" in the Recreation Element (page VII-39) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

A regional park, generally located within an urbanized
area, which provides any one or number of intense
recreational facilities such as sport centers, playfields, golf
courses, riding and hiking trails, county bikeways, and
swimming, as well as the more passive activities of
picnicking and camping. The park's environmental
resources are generally man-made and domesticated and
the principal attractions are constructed by man.

· Orange County’s Central Park:

The closure of El Toro affords the County an unparalleled
opportunity to expand urban regional park facilities
through the creation of Orange County’s Central Park. This
special urban regional park is intended to include a wide
range of the typical active recreation uses of an urban
regional park. In addition, Orange County’s Central Park is
planned to have within it a nature preserve area, defined
by the NP overlay designation in the Land Use Element.
Orange County’s Central Park will also include a variety of
civic, educational and related research and development
and housing uses as defined by the EPC overlay
designation in the Land Use Element. Combining the
features of several land use categories, Orange County’s
Central Park is a unique civic resource at the geographic
heart of the County.

f. The reference to the "El Toro MCAS Regional Park" in
the "Proposed Regional Recreation Facilities" list of the
Recreation Element (page VII-43) is hereby deleted as
shown below:

· El Toro MCAS Regional Park

g. The "Proposed Regional Recreation Facilities" list of the
Recreation Element (page VII-43) is hereby amended by
inserting "Orange County's Central Park" after "Marine
Corps LTS Station Regional Park" and before "Potrero Los
Pinos Regional Park" as follows:

· Orange County's Central Park

h. Goal 1 of the "Goals, Objectives and Policies" section in
the Recreation Element (page VII-44) is hereby amended
by adding Objective 1.2 to read as follows:

1.2 To utilize the unparalleled opportunities afforded by
the closure of El Toro to create Orange County's Central
Park.

i. Figure VII-2 of the Recreation Element, entitled “Master
Plan of Regional Recreation Facilities” (page VII-61), is
hereby amended to show designation of Orange County's
Central Park as a proposed regional park, and by deleting
runway and/or other military configurations for El Toro.
Figure VII-2 is further amended by deleting the reference
to "El Toro MCAS Regional Park" and replacing it with
reference to "Orange County's Central Park."

8. Noise Element Amendments.

a. The fourth paragraph of the "Relationship to Federal,
State and Local Agency Plans and Programs" discussion in
the Noise Element (page VIII-4) is hereby amended to
read as follows:

The Department of Defense (DOD) is important with
respect to the Noise Element because it operates two
facilities in Orange County, the Marine Corps Air Station
(MCAS) at El Toro and the one at Tustin. These bases,
especially MCAS, El Toro, have a very significant noise
impact on surrounding areas. DOD sponsors a number of
programs to attempt to minimize negative impacts of each
of the bases’ operations. (DOD in conjunction with the
State of California National Guard Bureau also operates an
air installation at Los Alamitos. Noise effects from
operations at Los Alamitos are not significant on
unincorporated areas, however.) The El Toro MCAS and
Tustin MCAS are to be closed by mid-1999. The El Toro
MCAS may be converted to civilian airport uses which are
expected to result in a decrease in overall noise levels.

b. Footnote 1 on page VIII-4 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

c. The ninth paragraph of the "Relationship to Federal,
State and Local Agency Plans and Programs" discussion in
the Noise Element (page VIII-5) is hereby amended to
read as follows:

The County of Orange has an additional role in that it is
the owner/operator of John Wayne Airport. In this role,
the County can influence the noise environment, although
only insofar as its actions are in accord with federal and
state regulations. The County may play a similar role,
subject to federal and state laws and regulations, in
connection with a civilian airport developed at the El Toro
MCAS.

d. Footnote 2 on page VIII-5 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

e. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth paragraphs under "The
Existing Noise Environment" section of the Noise Element
(pages VIII-9 and VIII-10) are hereby deleted as shown
below:

Of the airports and air stations in Orange County, only two
have a significant impact on unincorporated areas – MCAS
El Toro and John Wayne Airport (JWA). Other facilities
have significant impacts only on incorporated areas, for
which the various cities have responsibility.

The primary focus of Noise Element Amendment 1979-2
was on the area surrounding MCAS, El Toro. As a result of
that action, a policy implementation line was Defined
which corresponded to the Community Noise Equivalent
Level (CNEL) contour 65 decibels. Other CNEL contours
were also plotted, but the key ones are the 65-decibel line
and the 60-decibel noise referral zone boundary. The basis
for the 65-decibel CNEL line is the Air Installation
Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) study

Noise contours tend to be very broad estimates of sound
levels. In actuality, contour lines float over a defined area.
Therefore, the use of zones provides a better method than
contour lines for reflecting the true varying nature of
sound. However, in order to promote equitable and
consistent noise/land use determinations, the policy
implementation line has been adopted around MCAS, El
Toro. The lines correspond to the CNEL contours in effect
at the time of their adoption (October 10, 1979).

These contours were projected based on an assumption of
72,000 annual operations. That number reflects an
increase over the actual 1979 level. Upon conversion of El
Toro MCAS to civilian airport uses, the area within the 60
and 65 CNEL lines is expected to decline. Nevertheless,
the policy implementation lines remain fixed as to location
until modified by a Noise Element Amendment.

f. Footnote 5 on page VIII-10 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

g. The eleventh paragraph of the discussion under "The
Existing Noise Environment" in the Noise Element (page
VIII-11) is hereby amended to read as follows:

Figure VIII-2 depicts the current noise contours which
surround John Wayne Airport and MCAS, El Toro, as well
as the policy implementation line for the facility. both
facilities. Figure VIII-2 also represents the future levels of
aircraft noise because of the assumption of 72,000
operations per year established as a part of the
amendment in 1979. (See the AICUZ study for MCAS, El
Toro for details.) This map also depicts the Project Case
Contour for John Wayne Airport as adopted by the Santa
Ana Heights Land Use Compatibility Program and the John
Wayne Airport Master Plan. Precise noise contour maps
are available from the Environmental Management Agency
(EMA) which depict this these two areas with the map
accuracy standards that are required for project-specific
evaluations.

h. Figure VIII-2 of the Noise Element, entitled
“Generalized Noise Equivalent Level Contours From Air
Facilities” (page VIII-12), is hereby amended by deleting
the noise contours around El Toro and by deleting the
reference to MCAS El Toro.

i. The first paragraph of the “Estimates of Affected
Population” discussion of the Noise Element (page VIII-18)
is hereby amended to read as follows:

Table VIII-1 contains the estimates (existing and future)
of population residing in the potential noise-impacted
areas. It must be stressed that these estimates are based
on unmitigated situations, so that the number of people
actually affected will be less dependent on mitigation
measures employed. The number of people affected by
noise from aircraft at El Toro will be reduced by the
establishment of Orange County’s Central Park, rather
than an airport, on the site.

j. The sixth paragraph of the “Analysis of Future
Conditions” discussion of the Noise Element (page VIII-20)
is hereby amended to read as follows:

While these changes would probably have a beneficial
effect on peak period traffic congestion, they could
increase Community Noise Equivalent Levels due to the
additional weight given to noise that occurs during the
evening and nighttime periods. It is also possible for the
level of activity at Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro to
increase significantly, in response to changes in the world
situation; however, this facility will be converted to civilian
uses in the late 1990s and is expected to be used as an
integral component of the County's air transportation
infrastructure. A conversion to civilian airport uses is
expected to result in a decrease in overall noise levels.

k. Footnote 7 on page VIII-20 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

l. The ninth paragraph of the "Objectives, Assumptions,
and Definitions" discussion in the Noise Element (pages
VIII-23 and VIII-26) is hereby amended to read as
follows:

Residential land use is the most sensitive because of the
nature of activities which occur over a 24-hour period as
well as the generally accepted need for, and design
incorporating, outdoor living areas. An upper CNEL limit of
65 decibels was chosen above which noise is extremely
annoying. Previous policy decisions by the Board of
Supervisors have endorsed the 65-decibel CNEL as the
critical sound-level criterion in guiding planning decisions
for sensitive land uses. As a result of action by the County
Board of Supervisors on Noise Element Amendment
1979-2, a policy implementation line was defined which
corresponded to the 65-decibel CNEL contour projected
around MCAS, El Toro.

m. The twelfth paragraph of the "Objectives, Assumptions,
and Definitions" discussion in the Noise Element (pages
VIII-26 and VIII-27) is hereby amended to read as
follows:

All new residential uses, schools, places of worship, and
convalescent hospitals are generally incompatible within
the 65-decibel CNEL policy implementation line as defined
for MCAS, El Toro and within the 65-decibel CNEL contour
for any other airport or air station or for any other source
of noise. These uses normally require outdoor living areas
for functional or therapeutic purposes or, in the case of
nearly all residential projects, to afford the full life style
that is the goal of the County's General Plan. For these
reasons, the ability to mitigate the effects of noise on
these outdoor living areas is of paramount importance.
Since it is generally impracticable to mitigate
aircraft-induced noise in outdoor living areas, such uses
are normally incompatible.

n. Policy 2.4 under “Public Information and Notification” in
the "Major Noise Element Policies" discussion of the Noise
Element (pages VIII-29 and VIII-30) is hereby amended
to read as follows:

2.4 To require that prospective purchasers or end users of
property be notified of overflight, sight and sound of
routine aircraft operations by all effective means
including:

a) Requiring new residential subdivisions which are located
within the 60-decibel CNEL noise contour or are subject to
overflight, sight and sound of aircraft operating from
MCAS, El Toro (including any civilian airport at that site
following its closure for military purposes) or John Wayne
Airport to have such information included in the State of
California Final Subdivision Public Report.

b) Requiring that Declaration and Notification of Aircraft
Noise and Environmental Impacts be recorded and
available to prospective purchasers or end users of
property located within the 60-decibel CNEL noise contour
for any airport or air station or is subject to routine
aircraft overflight.

c) Requiring an Aviation Easement across property that is
within the 60-decibel CNEL noise contours for any airport
or air station or is subject to routine aircraft overflight.

d) Requiring the posting of noise impact notification signs
in all sales offices associated with new residential
development that is located within the 63-decibel CNEL
contour from any airport or air station.

e) Any other appropriate means as specifically directed by
the Board of Supervisors.

o. Footnote 10 on page VIII-29 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

9. Safety Element Amendments.

a. The first paragraph under the "Commercial Aviation"
discussion of the Safety Element (page IX-50) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

· John Wayne Airport (JWA) is the only commercial service
airport in Orange County. It is served by nine commercial
air carriers and five commuter airlines. In 1986, 4 million
passengers used the airport. It is estimated that the
current level of demand for service exceeds 7.0 million
persons; however, the Airline Access Plan limits the
maximum number of passengers through John Wayne
Airport. Those passengers not served at John Wayne
obtain air service from airports outside the County.
Estimates for the year 2000 indicate that almost 20.0
million total passengers will be generated by the
population of the County; however, 8.4 million annual
passengers is the maximum number of passengers until
2005. From January 1986 to December 1986, over
550,000 airplanes – large and small – landed at or left
John Wayne; this is an average of 1,500 planes per day.
Additional airport capacity within the County is expected
to be provided by conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps
Air Station to a civilian airport in the late 1990s.

b. Footnote 1 on page IX-50 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

Language inserted per the Measure A Initiative, “Amend
the Orange County General Plan Designate Marine Corps
Air Station El Toro for Civil Aviation and Related Uses,”
approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

c. The second paragraph under the "General Aviation"
discussion of the Safety Element (page IX-51) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

Within Orange County there are more than 2,600 aircraft
registered to personal and corporate owners; yet, there is
are only one other airport for these types of aircraft within
the County besides JWA – Fullerton Municipal, with 590
based aircraft. All other private aircraft flying to or
through Orange County are home based at airports
outside Orange County. An additional general aviation
facility in the County may be developed at the El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station following cessation of military
uses at that facility in the late 1990s.

d. Footnote 2 on page IX-51 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

e. The heading “MCAS El Toro” and the ensuing
paragraphs (pages IX-52 and IX-55) of the Safety Element
are hereby deleted as shown below:

· MCAS El Toro

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro operated as one
of two active Marine Corps master jet air stations in the
U.S. and the only one located on the west coast. The
installation is located in south central Orange County, 10
miles east of the City of Santa Ana and eight miles north
of the Pacific Ocean. The federal government, pursuant to
the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990,
closed El Toro MCAS for regular military operations on July
2, 1999.

A civilian airport is proposed to be developed at the El
Toro MCAS site. It remains a military airport.

MCAS El Toro served as a tactical base for the following
types of high performance jet aircraft: F-4 Phantom;
F/A-18 Hornet, A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder. The
installation also based KC-130 Hercules aircraft. These
four-engine turboprop aircraft were used primarily for
aerial refueling of fighter, attack and helicopter aircraft.
Other aircraft assigned to the base included T-39 and C-12
fixed wing aircraft and UH-1N helicopters.

The airspace surrounding MCAS El Toro is and was highly
utilized and consequently very congested. Several factors
contributed to this congestion. According to the Air
Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) study prepared
for MCAS El Toro (PRC Speas Associates, 1981), annual jet
operations averaged 72,000. Approximately 50,000
additional operations per year were generated by
helicopter, propeller, and general aviation aircraft.

Aircraft recently used MCAS El Toro to operate in a very
restricted environment for noise abatement purposes.
During normal conditions (wind permitting) approaches
were made to Runway 34R, and departures were made
from Runway 7. Aircraft operating on Runways 16 and 25
would have more favorable winds but would also have a
greater noise impact on surrounding residential areas.

According to the Southern California Aviation Study
Technical Report issued by SCAG in July 1980 and later
revised in the Supplement Technical Report of June 1982,
the El Toro landing approach to the north on Runway 34
does not conflict with other airport flight paths. It does
cross the busy V23 airway near the coastline, but
transiting aircraft are assigned to altitudes above the El
Toro approach. The El Toro missed approach for Runway
34 has been designed to avoid conflict with instrument
approaches to MCAS Tustin and JWA.

The 1981 Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ)
study defined and identified accident potential zones in the
vicinity of MCAS El Toro. These are based on specific
accident data for El Toro as well as guidelines developed
during a tri-service study effort. Nearly all accident
potential zones are contained within the 65 dB Community
Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) noise contours. Figure IX-5
depicts the current accident potential zones for MCAS, El
Toro.

Located at MCAS, El Toro is the FAA’s Coast Terminal
Radar Control (TRACON) with jurisdictional control for the
airspace between San Diego and Los Angeles. TRACON is
forecast to have military and civilian instrument flight rule
(IFR) traffic volumes greater than IFR control capacity in
the 1990s. While the TRACON would not exceed capacity
in practice, the large traffic volumes suggest extensive
aircraft delays, especially during peak periods and poor
weather.

MCAS, El Toro was the Marines' major tactical jet air base
on the West Coast. Its aircraft, therefore, were able to
become airborne as soon as possible in a national
emergency, as well as during practices for such
emergencies. Military aircraft using MCAS, El Toro often
carried live ordnance. A greater potential for ground
damage exists for these aircraft than for aircraft not
carrying ordnance. The probability and extent of future ad
hoc military operations is currently unknown. This section
of the General Plan will be amended based on EIR 573.

f. Map IX-1, entitled “Airport Safety Areas: MCAS El Toro,”
on page IX-53 is hereby deleted.

g. Reference to MCAS El Toro along with its “ARSA” and
"ATA" on Figure IX-5, entitled "Orange County Air Traffic
Control Areas" (page IX-54) are hereby deleted.

h. The second paragraph under the heading “Los Alamitos
Armed Forces Reserve Center” on page IX-56 is hereby
amended to read as follows:

In the event of an extraordinary emergency situation
requiring an unusual emergency response, the three
military air installations within Orange County may be
available to provide significant assistance. Marine Corps
Air Stations, El Toro and Tustin and Los Alamitos Army
Airfield each may provide additional communication
centers, medical facilities (Los Alamitos houses an
emergency field hospital), and evacuation equipment in
the forms of helicopters, aircraft, and vehicles. Military
personnel can also be mobilized to augment the ranks of
emergency personnel. Also, each military installation
maintains its own emergency response plan that
addresses on and off post emergency incidences which
could be drawn upon in a County disaster situation.

i. The heading “MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin” and the
ensuing paragraph on page IX-56 are hereby deleted as
shown below:

· MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin

The federal government, pursuant to the Defense Base
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, has declared that El
Toro MCAS will be closed as a military facility by
mid-1999. A civilian airport may be developed at the El
Toro MCAS site following its closure as a military facility.

j. Footnote 3 on page IX-56 is hereby deleted as shown
below:

Language inserted per Measure A Initiative, “Amend the
Orange County General Plan to designate Marine Corps Air
Station El Toro for Civil Aviation and Related Uses,”
approved by voters on November 8, 1994.

k. The second paragraph under the heading “Aircraft
Accident Potential” on page IX-57 is hereby amended to
read as follows:

In addition to Long Beach and John Wayne Airports, and El
Toro Marine Corps Air Station, commercial traffic coming
and going from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
adds to the aerial congestion above Orange County (40
percent of departing LAX passenger jets are routed south
over Seal Beach and then east over Lake Forest or further
south to San Diego). However, many of the flights are
flying at altitudes in excess of 10,000 feet.

l. The heading “3) Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro” and
the ensuing paragraph on pages IX-57 and IX-58 are
hereby deleted as shown below. In addition, the heading
“4) Marine Corps Air Station, Tustin” is renumbered to “3)
Marine Corps Air Station, Tustin” and the heading "5) Los
Alamitos Army Air Field" is renumbered to "4) Los
Alamitos Army Air Field."

3) Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro:
Accident records for this facility have been maintained in
compliance with Department of Defense (DOD) criteria. In
accordance with the DOD criteria, there have been 33
accidents involving Marine Corps aircraft within the
five-mile airport traffic area since 1964. Nine of the
accidents involved helicopters and fifteen of the aircraft
accidents were confined to the base. Since the adoption of
AICUZ in 1981 the base has conducted approximately
72,000 jet aircraft flight operations and an additional
50,000 non-jet aircraft operations. Total flight operations
for the base since 1964 is approximately 2.9 million. The
accident rate for El Toro given the annual operations and
number of accidents for this period is approximately .9
accidents per 100,000 operations.

m. The fifth paragraph of the “Air Traffic Control Areas and
Designated Authorities” discussion in the Safety Element
(page IX-59) is hereby amended to read as follows:

An Airport Radar Service Area (ARSA) consists of
controlled airspace extending upward iron from the
surface or higher elevation to specified altitudes, within
which all aircraft are subject to the operating rules and
pilot and equipment requirement specified by Federal
Aviation Regulations (FAR Part 91). An ARSA exists in
Orange County for the airspace surrounding MCAS El Toro.

n. Paragraph 1 under the heading “Policies” on page IX-60
is hereby amended to read as follows:

1. To utilize the most recent adopted Air Installations
Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) studies for military air
installations (i.e., MCAS, El Toro, MCAS, Tustin, and Los
Alamitos Army Airfield) as the basis for safety
compatibility planning in the vicinity of the facility.

o. The paragraph under the “Discussion” section of the
“Public Information and Community Liason” discussion in
the Safety Element (page IX-61) is hereby amended to
read as follows:

This program promotes community awareness of aviation
operations and safety. As an example, open houses are
held annually by the three military air installations (MCAS,
El Toro; MCAS, Tustin; and at the Los Alamitos Army
Airfield to enhance community liaison. Public information
and public involvement in the planning and operation of
the County air installations are is also promoted through
the Airport Land Use Commission, Airport Commission,
and liaison services to local jurisdictions’ councils.

10. Appendix IV-4 Amendments.

a. The Landscape Corridors list under "Landscape
Corridors" in Appendix IV-4 (General Plan Appendix, page
44) is hereby amended by inserting Millennium Parkway
after La Paz Rd. and before Moulton Pkwy. as follows:

Millennium Pkwy. From Bake To Portola Pkwy.

11. Appendix VII-8 Amendments.

a. The discussion currently entitled "El Toro M.C.A.S."
under "Proposed Recreation Facilities" in Appendix VII-8
(General Plan Appendix, page 127) is hereby amended to
read as follows:

4. Orange County’s Central Park El Toro M.C.A.S.

The County is scheduled to take control of the base in July,
1999. An 800± acre The entire site is designated either
Education/Park Compatible (EPC) overlay, Open Space
Reserve (OSR) overlay, or Nature Preserve (NP) overlay;
to be developed as an urban regional park with a habitat
preserve component, surrounded by a compatible setting
of institutional, open space, open space compatible, and
recreational uses. is being planned to include two golf
courses and typical urban regional park facilities with
some focus on aviation and veteran history. The urban
regional park may contain cultural and recreational uses
including: sports parks, commercial recreation, stables,
golf courses, agriculture, wildlife corridors, museums,
libraries, amphitheaters, expositions and fairs, zoos,
theaters, botanical gardens, cultural fairs and attractions,
and entertainment facilities and concessions. Veterans'
memorials and cemeteries shall also be considered
appropriate.

12. Appendix VIII-1 Amendments.

a. The "AICUZ" definition and acronym under "Noise
Element Definitions and Acronyms" in Appendix VIII-1
(General Plan Appendix, p. 137) is hereby amended to
read as follows:

AICUZ – Air Installation Compatible Use Zone – Acronym
for a study conducted to determine zones in which land
uses around aircraft facilities operated by branches of the
Department of Defense will be compatible with the
long-term average sound levels produced by the various
types of aircraft operated from the facility. For MCAS El
Toro, the AICUZ study was conducted for the Department
of the Navy and yielded contours of community noise
equivalent level around the air base.

Section Five: Effective Date.

As provided in Elections Code section 9122, this Initiative
shall go into effect ten days after the date on which the
election results are declared by the board of supervisors.
Upon the effective date of this Initiative, the amendments
made in Section Four of this Initiative are hereby inserted
into the Orange County General Plan as amendments
thereof; provided, however, that if the four amendments
permitted by state law for any given calendar year have
already been utilized prior to the effective date of this
Initiative, the General Plan amendment shall be the first
inserted into the Orange County General Plan on January
1 of the following year.

This Initiative is expressly made retroactive to April 30,
2001, and shall vitiate any activity or any approval of any
project or activity taken after April 30, 2001 that is
inconsistent with the Initiative.

Section Six: Interim Amendments.

The Orange County General Plan in effect at the time the
Notice of Intention to propose this Initiative measure
(“Notice of Intention”) was submitted to the Orange
County Clerk, and the General Plan as amended by this
Initiative measure comprise an integrated, internally
consistent and compatible statement of policies for the
County. In order to ensure that the Orange County
General Plan remains an integrated, internally consistent
and compatible statement of policies for the County, the
General Plan provisions adopted by this Initiative shall
prevail over any conflicting revisions to the Orange County
General Plan adopted between the date of the Notice of
Intention and the date the amendments adopted by this
Initiative measure were inserted into the General Plan. To
this end, any conflicting revisions to the Orange County
General Plan adopted between the date of the Notice of
Intention and the date the amendments adopted by this
Initiative measure were inserted into the General Plan
shall be null and void in their entirety and without any
legal effect whatsoever.

Section Seven: Construction.

To the maximum extent authorized by law, this Initiative
shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the right
of initiative reserved to the people by the California
Constitution. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, nothing in this Initiative is intended to diminish
or otherwise alter applicable requirements of any state or
federal law. Nothing in this Initiative shall be interpreted
to impose any land use restriction or other limitation on
any lands within the incorporated area of any city, or to
restrict the authority of the Orange County Local Agency
Formation Commission.

Section Eight: Severability.

If any portion of this Initiative is declared invalid by a
court, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
application of the Initiative which can be given effect
without the invalid provision, and to this end the
provisions of the Initiative are severable.

If a conflict exists between this Initiative and any other
measure, which the voters at the same election approve,
the provisions of this Initiative shall take effect except to
the extent they are in direct conflict with the provisions of
such other measure and the other measure receives a
greater number of votes.

Section Nine: Amendment.

This Initiative may be amended only by a vote of the
people at a regular election held in accordance with the
requirements of the California Elections Code.

Section Ten: Technical Corrections.

The Clerk of the County of Orange is hereby directed to
reprint the General Plan of the County of Orange to reflect
the adoption of this Initiative. The Clerk is hereby
authorized and directed to make any technical corrections
in the pagination and paragraph numbering and other
similar technical and ministerial aspects of the General
Plan as may be necessary to insure that the General Plan,
as amended by this Initiative, accurately and completely
reflects the amendments to the General Plan adopted by
this Initiative

The notice of intent to circulate petition was signed by the following proponents:
Allan Songstad, Laguna Hills
Debbie Cook, Huntington Beach
Bill Campbell, Villa Park
Mike Alvarez, Orange
Pat Bates, Laguna Niguel

Q & A ELECTIONS SECTION