HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1982, 09/27) - B-2 - Amended - Another B-2 created (Limitations of John Wayne Airport and Promotion of a New Regional Airport)B -2
LIMITATIONS OF JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT AND
PROMOTION OF A NEW REGIONAL AIRPORT
The City of Newport Beach supports the recommendations of the SCAG
Executive Committee and the Orange County Blue Ribbon Regional Airport
Advisory Committee to locate a new regional airport. Newport Beach
encourages and offers to assist the Board of Supervisors and the SCAG
Executive Committee to follow up the site selection with airport Master
Plans.
All three sites recommended for consideration by the two Committees now
require a complete Master Plan effort.. Each Master Plan should consider
several alternatives including not only the largest, most environmentally
damaging design, but also smaller more attractive designs complete with
environmental impact mitigation measures. Selection of the best site
could, therefore, be coupled with the selection of the most attractive
and most practicable design.
John Wayne Airport cannot be expected to expand beyond very minimal levels.
The Southern California Association of Governments Aviation System Plan
calls for only 3.5 MAP at John Wayne Airport. A report by the 1980 -81
Orange County Grand Jury states "...John Wayne Airport will never totally
serve the air service needs of Orange County." And, "...there will
be over '12 million potential annual passengers who want short -haul air
service but.'will not be able to get it." The recent Blue Ribbon Regional
Airport Advisory Committee called for John Wayne Airport to remain at its
present livel of passenger service. All forecasts of the airport's
capability reveal that John Wayne Airport can serve only a small portion
of the Orange County air travel demands.
The work of these two Committees must not be ignored. Potential solutions
to the airport dilemma are fast disappearing. Newport Beach proposes that
SCAG and the Orange County Board of Supervisors immediately convene a
technical committee to formulate a scope of work for a Regional Airport
Comprehensive Master Plan Program and to identify sources of funding for
the program.
The City Council of Newport Beach offers its time and effort, the support
of City staff, and possibly funds to assist the County and /or other
appropriate agencies to locate and design a new airport for Orange County.
The City Council urges all Orange County cities, businesses, and residents
to join this effort.
Demand for air travel in Orange County far exceeds the capability of
John Wayne Airport. In 1990, 18 million air passengers (MAP) in Orange
County will need to be served. By 2000, nearly 30 MAP will demand service.
In contrast, John Wayne Airport currently serves only 2.6 MAP in extremely
crowded conditions.
John Wayne Airport cannot be expected to expand beyond very minimal levels.
The Southern California Association of Governments Aviation System Plan
calls for only 3.5 MAP at John Wayne Airport. A report by the 1980 -81
Orange County Grand Jury states "...John Wayne Airport will never totally
serve the air service needs of Orange County." And, "...there will
be over '12 million potential annual passengers who want short -haul air
service but.'will not be able to get it." The recent Blue Ribbon Regional
Airport Advisory Committee called for John Wayne Airport to remain at its
present livel of passenger service. All forecasts of the airport's
capability reveal that John Wayne Airport can serve only a small portion
of the Orange County air travel demands.
B -2
LIMITATIONS OF JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT AND
PROMOTION OF A NEW REGIONAL AIRPORT - Page Two
John Wayne Airport is too small, too congested, and too troublesome to
be expanded. Only 460 acres, the airport has little land available for
auto parking and terminal facilities. The relatively short runway re-
stricts medium -haul and long -haul flights. Crowded air traffic control
facilities limit the usefulness of the airspace. The access roads to
the airport are heavily congested and becoming more so each year. Nearby
residential neighborhoods suffer unbearable noise impacts and cannot be
expected to accept additional noise burdens. The physical limitations
imposed by inadequate land area, overcongested ground access routes,
overcrowded airspace, and heavily noise impacted nearby residential
neighborhoods guarantee that John Wayne Airport can never serve the air
travel needs of Orange County.
Adopted - September 27, 1982
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