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El Toro Airport
Orange County continues to be deeply divided about the reuse plans for
the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. South County residents remain
strongly opposed to having an airport in their area. Four in 10 countywide
are in favor of turning the closing military base into an international
airport, while nearly half are opposed. About one in 10 is undecided.
The results are identical to last year, when residents were asked if
they favored or opposed having a "commercial" airport at the El Toro
site.
Graph: Favor or Oppose El Toro
Civilian Airport
North County residents favor an international airport by a seven-point
margin (47% vs. 40%), while South County residents oppose this base
reuse plan by a 47-point margin (71% vs. 24%). We asked residents to
choose between two base reuse plans now being discussed. One description
was similar to the county government's plan, including an airport, educational
and recreational facilities and open space. This plan had 40% support.
The other description was similar to the "Millennium Plan" from South
County cities, including residential, commercial, educational and recreational
facilities and open space, without an airport. The non-airport plan
had 51% support. Once again, there is no consensus about the best reuse
plan for the base.
Graph: Preference for Future
Use of El Toro Marine Base
North County residents are divided between the two competing plans (45%
vs. 45%), while two in three South County residents favor the non-airport
plan. John Wayne Airport continues to be viewed in a favorable light.
When asked how they think the county's air travel needs should be met,
half say they would like to have John Wayne Airport continue to be Orange
County's only commercial airport. One in three would like to develop
El Toro as an international airport and continue to use John Wayne as
a commercial airport. Only 13% want to close John Wayne and develop
El Toro as Orange County's only commercial airport. The results were
similar last year.
Graph: Preference for Meeting
OC's Air Travel Needs
North County residents are almost evenly divided between
preferring to meet Orange County's air travel needs with John Wayne
only and wanting two airports (41% vs. 37%), while two in three South
County residents favor continuing to use John Wayne as the only Orange
County airport. Fewer than three in 10 approve of the way county government
is handling the El Toro Marine base conversion issue, while more than
four in 10 disapprove. Three in 10 residents have no opinions. Compared
with a year ago, approval for county government's handling of the matter
has increased by six points, while disapproval ratings have remained
the same.
Graph: County Government Approval
Rating on El Toro Marine Base
In South County, where the airport proposal is strongly
opposed, assessments of county government's performance on this issue
are overwhelmingly negative (57% vs. 22%). Even in North County, where
the airport proposal has more than 40% support, only three in 10 approve
of the county government's efforts, and four in 10 say they disapprove.
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