Navy's Plans to Sell El Toro End Regional Expansion Plans
The Navy's decision last month to unload a closed Marine air base in Orange County, Calif., apparently ends hope for a $3-billion commercial airport on the site and further clouds the airport planning picture in fast-growing Southern California.
The Navy disclosed April 23 that it will sell the 4,700-acre former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station or turn it over to a local government. The news was expected after Orange County voters on March 5 passed an anti-airport measure and defeated a pro-airport county supervisor. The two votes "basically killed the airport," says Gary Simon, El Toro Local Redevelopment Authority executive director.