HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1985, 12/09) - B-2 - AmendedB -2
LIMITATIONS OF JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT AND
PROMOTION OF A NEW REGIONAL AIRPORT
The City of Newport Beach supports the recommendation of Inter - County
Airport Authotity, the SCAG Executive Committee, and the Orange County
Blue Ribbon Re ional Airport Advisory Committee to locate a new
regional airpoA. Newport Beach encourages and offers to assist the
Board of Supervisors and the SCAG Executive Committee to follow up the
site selection wi'k.h airport Master Plans.
All three sites lockted in Orange County and recommended for
consideration by the three committees now require a complete Master
Plan effort. Each Matter Plan should consider several alternatives
including not only theklargest, most environmentally damaging design,
but also smaller more attractive designs complete with environmental
impact mitigation measurt's. Selection of the best site could,
therefore, be coupled with the selection of the most attractive and
most practicable design.
The work of these three 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 e kceeds 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
3.0 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 level 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.
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LIMITATIONS OF JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT AND
PROMOTION OF A NEW REGIONAL AIRPORT - Page 2
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
restricts 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 -
impacted nearby residential neighborhoods, guarantee that John Wayne
Airport can never serve the air travel needs of Orange County.
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Adopted - September 27, 1982
Amended - December 9, 1985
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