Other Possibilities for Air Base Reuse

* Re your editorial, “Newly Unveiled Options Take El Toro to New Realm” (April 21):

Much of the debate concerning the conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station has surrounded the issue of whether to convert it into an airport or not. Now it seems as if the question has been rephrased to say, “What kind of airport should we have, a cargo facility or a commercial airport?” The third option of building a university campus has been less emphasized. It needs to be explored.

Having another university in Orange County is a win-win situation. Not only would it create jobs and boost the economy, but it will also increase the availability of higher education to minors who need an option other than crime and gangs. The concerns about noise, pollution and decreases in property values would also be settled.

TRI NGUYEN

Laguna Hills

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* Yes, the airport has a place, but it isn’t here in Orange County! March Field in Riverside County is perfect for an international airport, since one runway was built long and strong enough for the old B-36 to land on.

We don’t need more noise and congestion in south Orange County. The air show noise was horrible here in north San Clemente. So, listen up Board of Supervisors, before you ruin South County!

RUTH S. WILSON

San Clemente

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* The Times report “South County Cities Want Representation on El Toro Board” (May 1) concludes with a summary of three reuse proposals by the county, two of which require continued use of the base as an airport facility.

Enmeshed in the proposals is the idea that still another study of the base is needed, when in fact there have been at least four such studies at considerable cost to the taxpayers of Orange County.

It is important to recognize that all of these studies come to the conclusion that there is considerable pollution on the base and indications are that such pollution cannot be cleaned up until the year 2010!

Let’s examine those studies more carefully before jumping to conclusions that involve heavy costs to the people of this area.

H. ROGIE ROGOSIN

Laguna Hills

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* The solution to the El Toro airport problem is as plain as the map in front of your face. While there are many reasons to object to an airport in your backyard, the main issue is the jet noise, and especially the noise on takeoffs.

Contrary to the baloney that the pro-airport lobby continues to spread, the runways at El Toro all point at communities that are terrified of the oppression that comes with jet noise every two minutes, 24 hours a day. The solution is to build a runway that doesn’t immediately fly over homes. There exists a vast uninhabited green-belt between Leisure World in Laguna Hills and Sand Canyon Road in Irvine. If the county would build a new runway that aims at this large void, it could greatly lessen the burden placed on South County’s affected citizens.

This takeoff pattern coupled with noise abatement procedures and curfews will make the noise impact of a new airport minimal. The fact is, at least one of the county’s new airport plans call for the construction of at least one new runway. But it’s talking about runways that are parallel to existing runways that aim at homes. The new strip could sit at an angle to the existing north-south runway. Landings would be from the north on the existing runway. This configuration has two added advantages--takeoffs and landings would be into the wind, and it would eliminate the dangerous crisscross runway pattern that the county is proposing. A third advantage is that it won’t cost the taxpayers a dime.

George Argyros assured us that airports pay for themselves through revenue bonds. The airlines and travelers will pay for it. If the county intends to build this airport, it should do whatever it takes to preserve the quality of life, property values and community peace and quiet. The current proposal will torment the residents who live near the base 24 hours a day.

Why not spend the money that will be wasted on court battles on a new runway instead?

PHIL JANKOWSKI

Rancho Santa Margarita