January 30, 2003
Mr. Rich Macias, Manager
Aviation and Environmental Planning
Southern California Association of Governments
818 West Seventh Street, 12th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017-3435
Dear Mr. Macias:
Reference is made to the January 15, 2003 letter from Alan L. Murphy, John
Wayne Airport Director to you regarding aviation forecasts and plans in Orange
County. Mr. Murphy's letter makes an important omission.
Mr. Murphy writes, in his next to final paragraph, "We are not aware of any
countywide policies that deal with aviation planning. Individual airport
master plans and local jurisdiction general plans include aviation policies
applicable to the specific airport and for the surrounding area."
I participated in the drafting of Orange County Measure W, the Orange County
Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative, which was passed into law by
the voters on March 5, 2002. Therefore, I am familiar with its entire contents.
While most individuals focus on Measure W's mandate for park-compatible uses
of El Toro, many overlook or are unaware of its numerous other elements.
For example, the measure clearly established a countywide policy on aviation
planning when it amended the Orange County General Plan.
The "Policies" discussion under "General Public Services and Facilities Goals,
Objectives and Policies" in the "Public Services and Facilities Element of
the General Plan" was amended by Measure W to include the following language:
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.
This language should make clear that there is a legally established countywide
policy on aviation planning for Orange County. Measure W eliminates aviation
land use from the plan for El Toro. It provides for commercial air transportation
from only one airport, John Wayne, and supports ground transportation links
to other areas outside of the county where communities are generally supportive
of new or expanded airports. We trust that the Southern California Association
of Governments will give full consideration to the Orange County General
Plan.
Sincerely,
Leonard Kranser
Editor
CC: Alan Murphy, John Wayne Airport Director
Tom Wilson, Chairman of the Board of
Supervisors