POL POSITION:Turn anti-expansion rhetoric into reality

When I ran for City Council in 2004, I promised to work hard to stop the expansion of John Wayne Airport. I joined AirFair then and support them now in their grass-roots mission for permanent caps at JWA. On Tuesday night, we will continue the fight.

The Costa Mesa City Council will consider an anti-airport expansion resolution that I am sponsoring. The Daily Pilot recently reported that the airport is seeking more parking and was considering two sites on Bristol Street: the back nine of the Newport Beach Golf Course and another county-owned parcel in Costa Mesa to the north.

On Tuesday, I will ask my colleagues on the council to adopt a resolution communicating to the Orange County Board of Supervisors that Costa Mesa opposes any change in land use of the Newport Beach Golf Course, and supports the development of active recreational facilities on the county’s flood control property at 1100 Bristol St.

Our Newport-Mesa community has objected loudly to any scheme to bulldoze the golf course and build rental car storage/parking. I agree.

While much discussion has ensued about the obvious need to protect the golf course, little attention has been given to the Bristol Street parcel.

Costa Mesa has been actively negotiating with the county during the last few years so that we could build lighted sports fields. Fields in this area are greatly needed by AYSO 97 and others, including adults.

Losing the golf course or the opportunity for more lighted fields diminishes the value of our two communities by reducing low-cost, enjoyable recreational resources for our families. Loss of the golf course will also further reduce beautiful, green open space.

But my concerns reach beyond just recreation. I join AirFair along with many residents of both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach who object to any southern expansion of airport operations across Bristol and the 73 Freeway.

Allowing such an encroachment ensures expansion of the airport when the settlement agreement expires.

This potential precedent and push southward of the airport support facilities will only increase the JWA footprint. An increase in the footprint equals increased air noise, pollution, and negative impacts on our surrounding communities and the families living near, or worse, under the flight plan.

We hear a lot of rhetoric about local control — let’s turn rhetoric into reality by controlling any airport expansion plans. You can read the resolution at www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us. The meeting starts at 6 p.m., but if you can’t make it, tune in to Channel 24 in Costa Mesa, or online from Costa Mesa TV on the city’s website and watch local control in action.

For more information about AirFair and how you can help “lock the gate at 10.8” million passengers, visit www.jwairfair.com. Visit my website at www.katrinafoley.com for updates on this topic and more.