Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a military airport located near Irvine, California. It was decommissioned in 1999 and slated to be turned over to the state and local governments. The site contains four large, intersecting runways and many wanted a civilian international airport constructed on the site. The battle between pro-airport and anti-airport groups dominated Orange County politics for much of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Those favoring the new airport tended to come from northern Orange County, desiring the convenience of a closer airport, and from areas in Newport Beach within the arrival and departure noise zones surrounding existing John Wayne Airport, hoping to close that airport in favor of the new one. Those against the new airport tended to come from surrounding cities such as Irvine, Lake Forest, and Mission Viejo, alarmed at the impending aircraft noise and lobbying for other uses.
Airport proposals were defeated in two hotly-contested ballot initiatives, and further challenges took place in the courts. Eventually the opponents prevailed, and in March 2002 the military announced it would sell the land to private owners to be made into a development called the Orange County Great Park.
MCASElToro was a master jet air station supporting the operations and combat readiness of Pacific Fleet Maine Forces.
MCASElToro is located in a semiurban agricultural area in Southern California.
In 1950 MCASElToro was selected for development as a Master Jet Air Station and the permanent center of Marine aviation on the west coast of the United States.
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