A Real Choice for a Better Future:
Project 99’s Citizen Task Force Report on the
Non-Aviation Reuse of the Marine Corps Base at El Toro

Executive Summary

This report is a culmination of a year-long process of stimulating thought, generating ideas, discussing options, and then compiling suggestions from thousands of Orange County citizens interested in a non-aviation reuse of MCAS El Toro. Project 99 is proud of our role in this process and of our contribution to the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) partnership. We thank everyone who participated for their time and their intellectual efforts. We believe that these efforts are indeed helping to create a real choice for a better future for all Orange County citizens.

The document first presents a brief history of the base and the citizens participation process, then reviews both general and specific ideas discussed by participants, and ends with a suggested road map: Getting From Here to There: A Possible Pathway for Implementing a Non-Aviation Reuse Plan, which warrants special attention. This road map offers a practical plan to begin the prompt implementation of non-aviation uses at El Toro that both the county and local cities—represented by ETRPA—can agree on today.

Listed below are examples cited by participants of some of the best models for specific uses, including:

Central park
Balboa park, approximately 1000 acres. The 1935-1936 world Expo brought $37.7 million (more than $500,000 million in today’s dollars) to the city of San Diego. Golden Gate Park, approximately 1100 acres, has an annual economic impact of $4 billion on the city of San Francisco. Grant park, approximately 300 acres, hosts special events during the year. One of them---a 10-day “Taste of Chicago”—had an economic impact, in 1996, of $100 million on the city of Chicago.

Colleges
The University of California, Irvine, employs 10,000 people and contributes $1 billion, annually, to the local economy.

Movie and TV Studios
In 1992, the economic impact of the motion picture, television and commercial production industry on Orange County was $216 million, employing close to 2,000 individuals.

High-Tech Industry
The Irvine Spectrum is a home for more than 2,000 companies, employing more than 44,000 people and has an annual economic impact of $4 billion.

For copies of the full report, please e-mail us Project99@aol.com or contact us at the address below.

For more information contact:

Project 99, PMB # 147, 5319 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612-2935
Telephone: 714-554-5410