HomeMy WebLinkAbout96-67 - EIR for El Toro Marine Corps Air StationRESOLUTION NO. 96- 67
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
OPPOSING ANY EXTENSION OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT REPORT FOR THE EL TORO MARINE
CORPS AIR STATION REUSE PLAN
• WHEREAS, the Office of Economic Adjustment has designated the County of
Orange as the Local Redevelopment Agency (LRA) for MCAS El Toro (El Toro); and
WHEREAS, the LRA is responsible for the preparation of a Community Reuse
Plan for El Toro and is required to prepare an environmental analysis consistent with the
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and
WHEREAS, the LRA has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR
563) and Draft Community Reuse Plan for El Toro; and
WHEREAS, the Notice of Completion for DEIR 563 was issued on August 9, 1996
and the LRA has established a forty -five (45) day public comment period pursuant to the
provisions of CEQA; and
WHEREAS, CEQA and NEPA encourage public agencies to "tier' environmental
documents such that EIRs on general plans or policy statements evaluate broad
environmental issues with subsequent EIRs providing more detailed examination of
speck impacts of development projects which are consistent with, or implement, the
adopted plan or policy; and
WHEREAS, DEIR 563 is the "first tier' environmental document evaluating the
broad environmental issues related to aviation reuse and non - aviation reuse of El Toro
and, accordingly, the environmental analysis of potential impacts associated with various
project alternatives is relatively straightforward and easily evaluated for accuracy; and
• WHEREAS, public and private entities opposed to a commercial aviation reuse of
El Toro have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars evaluating various reuse alternatives
in an effort to identify a "fatal flaw" with a commercial aviation reuse plan; and
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Res. 96 -67
WHEREAS, responses to the Notice of Preparation for DEIR 563 submitted by
persons and entities opposed to commercial aviation at El Toro evidence a thorough
understanding of all environmental issues associated with the Draft Community Reuse
Plan; and
• WHEREAS, public and private entities opposed to a commercial aviation reuse of
El Toro have retained experts in all relevant fields of study to analyze DEIR 563 and the
Draft Community Reuse Plan; and
WHEREAS, the analysis of DEIR 563 and the Draft Community Reuse Plan by
well financed public and private entities will ensure a thorough evaluation such that the
interests of all residents of Orange County, including those residing in unincorporated
areas, will be fully protected; and
WHEREAS, the LRA has engaged in a comprehensive public information and
public participation program that will fully inform all interested parties and individuals of
the various impacts associated with reuse alternatives and will assist in the evaluation of
DEIR 563 and the Draft Community Reuse Plan; and
WHEREAS, public officials and private individuals opposed to a commercial
aviation reuse of El Toro have repeatedly and publicly expressed their intention to delay
the LRA's decision to adopt a Community Reuse Plan; and
WHEREAS, public officials and private individuals requesting an extension of the
public comment period for DEIR 563 have failed to produce any evidence to support an
extension of the public comment period and have failed to provide the LRA with written
documents and reports prepared by consultants that could establish the current level of
knowledge on the part of those requesting an extension of the public comment period;
and
WHEREAS, the LRA will conduct numerous public hearings subsequent to the
• close of the public comment period to receive additional input regarding the Draft
Community Reuse Plan and DEIR 563;
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Res. 96 -67
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach hereby
resolves:
1. To oppose any extension of the forty -five (45) day public comment period
for DEIR 563;
• 2. To encourage the LRA to require any parry requesting an extension of the
public comment period to produce all documents, reports and studies prepared by, or
available to, the requester that relate to potential impacts associated with an aviation or
nonaviation reuse of El Toro; and
3. That the City Manager prepare appropriate correspondence for distribution
to Supervisor Marion Bergeson and other members of the Board of Supervisors,
expressing the City Council's position on any extension of the public comment period for
DEIR 563, encouraging submittal of the Community Reuse Plan to the Department of
Defense on or before December 15, 1996, and indicating that the LRA as presently
constituted (current board members) is in the best position to evaluate and adopt the
Community Reuse Plan.
Adopted this 26th day of August , 1996
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
F: catldelresolutV ElR563.doc
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MAYOR