El Toro Chronology

CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR OVER EL TORO AIRPORT

From the book  Internet for Activists
Updated

1993 - Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Orange County, California is placed on the Navy’s base closure list.

1994 - November — Orange County voters pass Measure A, designating the property for commercial aviation use in the County General Plan. The airport's size, cost, and impacts are yet to be determined.

1996 -  March — Anti-airport ballot Measure S fails in an attempt to overturn Measure A.

1996 - August — County releases first environmental impact report recommending a 38 million annual passenger airport at El Toro and the closure of John Wayne Airport to commercial traffic.

1996 - October — El Toro Airport website launches the first Internet site devoted to the reuse debate.

1998 - March — The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), a coalition of South County cities, presents the “Millennium Plan” to compete with the airport for public consideration. It calls for a mix of commercial, residential and open space uses. County planners bow to political pressure and change proposed departure flight paths so that aircraft take off directly over mountains rather than impacting politically important North County cities. Commercial pilots object.

1998 - April — County supervisors officially drop the unpopular idea of closing John Wayne Airport and propose to link the two airports with a “People Mover”.

1998 - August — County supervisors drop their high-density “Global Gateway” concept for El Toro in response to complaints over traffic generation. $4 million of planning work is scrapped. The County unveils a “Green Plan” for the airport to be surrounded by parks, picnic areas and a golf course.

1999 - March — The “People Mover” idea is scrapped as infeasible.

1999 - June — A county organized two-day flight demonstration using rented commercial airliners backfires into a public relations nightmare when the noise raises residents’ ire.

1999 - July — The last Marines leave El Toro and the base is closed. A few civilian activities remain open such as a golf course, stables, a school, and a recreational vehicle storage lot.

1999 - December — A new “community friendly” airport environmental impact report is released to the public by the County. John Wayne and El Toro will both operate seven miles apart. Proposed flight paths are changed again, to bypass a North County city. The reported cost of the airport is doubled.

2000 - The City of Irvine, which includes part of the base within its boundaries, steps up efforts to annex the entire property and proposes turning it into a “Great Park” to rival New York’s Central Park or San Diego’s Balboa Park.

2000 - March — County voters pass Measure F by a 67.3 to 32.7 percent margin after thousands of volunteers collect a record setting 192,000 signatures on petitions to qualify the initiative for the ballot. Measure F requires that the County get approval from two-thirds of voters before constructing or expanding any commercial airport, toxic waste dump, or large jail within one-half mile of homes.

2000 - December — A judge rules that Measure F unconstitutionally interferes with the authority of the Board of Supervisors. The initiative fails on subsequent judicial appeals.

2001 - July — The county kicks off a $3 million “Just the Facts” public relations blitz for the airport with mailers to every residence, public forums and a new website.

2001 - October — The county approves a new environmental impact report for a 29 million annual passenger airport, but supervisors say they will build only two phases for 19 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of freight.

2002 - March —Voters pass Measure W after it is placed on the ballot by another major petition drive. The new initiative is designed to accommodate the court’s objections to Measure F. Measure W changes the County General Plan and designates the land to be used for park and education compatible purposes. Congressman Christopher Cox whose district includes El Toro and the Navy announce that the federal government will sell the land for non-aviation uses in accordance with Measure W.

2002 - April — County Supervisors vote, 3-2, to support Irvine’s annexation of the base for land use planning purposes and for Irvine to begin negotiations with the Navy regarding the disposal. Supervisor Coad later retracts her pro-annexation vote but her action has little effect.

2002 - July — Last ditch efforts are made to rescue El Toro airport. A new pro-airport initiative, intended to overturn Measure W, fails to collect the signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot.

2002  - August — Supervisor Chuck Smith fails in an attempt to add another El Toro vote to the November ballot. Cal State Fullerton opens its new El Toro branch at the former base.

2002 - September — Measure W is upheld by the Superior Court. The Nakano bill to penalize Orange County for not picking up more of the regional airport load passes the Legislature but is vetoed by the Governor. An FAA grant to the Southern California Association of Governments stipulates that the money can not be spent on plans that include El Toro.

2003 - January — Tom Wilson becomes Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chris Norby is sworn in and Bill Campbell is elected to provide the first ever anti-airport majority on the Board.

2003 - February — Board of Supervisors rescinds El Toro Airport System Master Plan.