A Modest Proposal, Updated

Back in March in A Modest Proposal, we suggested that the Tustin blimp hangers and its surrounding 1,600 acres might be turned into the airport we couldn't build at El Toro due to fanatically self-absorbed south county NIMBY opposition.

Per this morning's Register, another and possibly even better opportunity arises from the potential closing of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station as reported in Los Alamitos, Seal Beach bases in line of fire.  There's nearly 4,400 acres of available land at this site, nearly the size of the El Toro property.  With an over ocean southwesterly take-off pattern similar to John Wayne's, or westerly like LAX, this site could be a winner.  Of course, the northern border of the site is the readily accessed 405 and 22 freeways, and north of the freeways is the integratable Joint Forces Training Base (Los Alamitos National Guard) also mentioned in the Register article.

Not included in the dark gray 4,400 acre figure above is light shaded area of 920 acres of "national wildlife refuge, protected from development.  Endangered birds and state Coastal Commission regulations could make it difficult..."  No kidding, but use of the property for worthy commercial purposes of significant benefit to our local economy should continue those guarantees. 

So, let the sliming begin...and lest anyone doubt my own interests in this, my home is a block off Edinger, right under one potential landing pattern.

Comments

[Len Kranser]

Anyone who has followed the Southern California airport debate closely knows that your "modest proposal" is not a new idea.

Three years ago, The El Toro Info Site http://www.eltoroairport.org - which does follow the debate -quoted this from the Newport Beach-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot of May 29, 2002:

"Russell Niewiarowski, president of the [Newport Beach]New Millennium Group, is floating the ideas of building an international airport at Seal Beach . . . "

Most recently, on May 1 the El Toro Info Site commented on a newspaper story about El Segundo's fears of losing the Los Angeles Air Force Base to the base closure process:

"In Orange County, neighbors are nervous about proposals for an airport at Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. In sharp contrast to the El Segundo facility, Seal Beach employs only about 800 civilians and military personnel. Local officials, speaking at a January 2005 hearing on closures, said the sprawling 5,256 acre base contributes $45 million to the local economy

"This is small when compared to the economic benefit of reusing the land for a major airport. In 2001, independent consultants working for the county’s Auditor-Controller - studying El Toro - estimated that a new OC airport would generate over $6 billion in annual economic activity by 2020. According to an April 8 article in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Long Beach Airport which serves only 3 million annual passengers, is estimated to generate $4 billion dollars for the region."

The fear of a commercial airport at Los Alamitos or Seal Beach is what has driven the pro-El Toro airport enthusiasm in those cities. Dare I say they want another county airport but "Not In My Back Yard"?

If either base comes up on the closure list it will fit nicely with the City of Newport Beach's official city aviation policy that calls for a second Orange County commercial airport as a way of preventing greater utilization of John Wayne.

The El Toro Info Site team does not advocate for a second county airport. We saw how this would impact local quality of life and don't wish it on anyone. We don't know anyone in South County who is pushing for more runways in an urban setting. However, based on their long-stated objectives, we expect many in Newport Beach to advocate for an aviation reuse of either Seal Beach or Los Al.

[Jim]

Isn't it too close to Long Beach airport? I thought the FAA required a bigger separation between commercial airports' takeoff and landing patterns.

[Rex Ricks in Huntington Beach]

First off, I believe Tustin only had a 3000 ft runway designed for helicopters. Perhaps it would have made a cute little general aviation airport, but not likely a workable commercial facility. Who knows? Also, I do wonder to what extent that operations would cause interference with SNA and LGB approaches though.

As for Seal Beach or Los Alamitos, there is only a 1/8 chance that either facility alone will make the closure list. (Rumsfeld recently stated that the DOD only expects to reduce infrastructure by 12.5% instead of 25%) Next, the odds of BOTH bases being closed simultaneously then becomes 1/64.

This would mean that the SB NWS would have to REPLACED by a comparable facility somewhere on the west coast. Since Concord is agressively lobbying to close their Naval Weapon Station, then that makes Seal Beach all the more necessary. Besides, what are we going to do? Load the Navy up with rotten food and beer bottles to use as "weapons"? But then again, there are some neocon pinheads who think nothing of sending troops into Iraq WITHOUT battle armor!

Next, we have Los Alamitos, which is one of two emergency logistic centers for the State of California. It has been used for the L.A. Riots, 1984 Olympics, and numerous other special occasions. Where would the 40th Infantry Division Headquarters ever relocate?

Even if they are somehow closed, there are numerous other logistical problems. 900 Acres of SB NWS is a National Wildlife Refuge. That's a lot of swampland to drain! Plus if a jet did takeoff in that direction, birds would get sucked into the engine. Then, on the inland portion of the base are hundreds, if not thousands of steel re-inforced concrete bunkers (designed to withstand a nuclear attack) that would need to be removed. So just to make SB NWS have a flat surface would be enormously expensive; that's before constructing any runways.

Then, there is College Park East in Seal Beach just north of the 405. Thousands of homeowners would have to be bought out to combine LA AFRC and SB NWS. Plus, there are communities that would likely need to have avigation rights such as Westminster to allow flyovers. This is not cheap either.

Finally, you claim to live by Edinger. Where? Edinger and Bristol? I am actually walking distance to the Weapons Station. I am a 92649er.

[Kathy]

It is time that you forget about any new airports in Orange County and move on. We struggled with the group who tried to push El Toro, even though it was voted down twice. We struggled with all of the politicians who had personal gain if El Toro became an airport. Still no one listened.

It is time that you all listen to the majority of people who live in Orange County. We voted "no". Doesn't anyone care what the average citizen wants?

[Rex Ricks]

Len,
you are partially correct to claim that "Russell Niewiarowski, president of the [Newport Beach]New Millennium Group, is floating the ideas of building an international airport at Seal Beach . . . " He would at least deserve credit for probably the first graphic artwork for Seal Beach International. But the real credit should go to former Irvine Councilman Greg Smith. He is the big daddy who first opined publically in favor of Seal Beach/Los Al International:

Paper: Los Angeles Times
Title: El Toro Options and Alternatives
Date: June 21, 1998
Section: Metro
Page: B-6

* Orange County's government has gotten itself into a real bind. Committed to building a commercial airport at a site unsuited for the purpose, county government wants to spend over $1 billion for a facility fraught with compromises and hazards.ns that the federal government doesn't like, such as curfews, artificially narrow flight corridors and altered safety rules to force airliners to take off into the mountains.

Because we deserve the best value for our precious tax dollars, constructing an installation that cannot properly function is money wasted.

A commercial airport at El Toro is simply bad regional planning. El Toro is uncomfortably close to the operations at John Wayne. Joint use would pack all air and ground traffic in one small corner of the county. It makes far better sense to spread the impact of two air facilities across a larger area.

If we really need a second airport, and that has yet to be proven, we should select a prime site, one providing flexibility and affording the highest potential usage. Fortunately, we have a better alternative to El Toro right here in Orange County: the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Building a commercial airport at Los Alamitos is the perfect answer to future air passenger and cargo needs. Geographically, it's ideally situated. The North County location would ensure wide separation from the air and ground traffic at John Wayne. Because Los Alamitos is near the ocean, with no mountains close by, flight operations could be optimized.

Takeoffs could be routed over the open spaces of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, minimizing noise and pollution. The runways are long enough to accommodate the larger aircraft necessary for cross-country and international flights without expensive reconstruction.

GREG SMITH

City councilman

Irvine