Would Newport’s airport plan benefit Santa Ana Heights?

Russell Niewiarowski

Should the City of Newport Beach seek to control John Wayne Airport?

That is a good question and one that cannot be easily answered until

the city of Newport Beach first reveals their intentions, motives and

reasons behind the sudden interest.

It is interesting that such a notion comes at the same time the

city is finalizing their plans to annex the remaining portion of

Santa Ana Heights and possibly the Santa Ana Country Club.

Is there a connection between the Santa Ana Heights annexation and

controlling the airport?

As a resident of Santa Ana Heights, who lives less than a half

mile from the end of the runway, I see the airport and my community

of 84 homes, known as the Pegasus tract, (Sherwood Country Club

Estates) as being very closely connected to the airport. No other

community in Orange County is more negatively impacted or effected by

the airport as my community.

The Santa Ana Heights Redevelopment Area funds come directly from

the airport-generated revenues, so in that sense we are very much

connected. The future of Santa Ana Heights is also dependent on the

airport, specifically, controlling its growth and negative impacts.

If the city of Newport Beach is interested in maintaining the

survival of Santa Ana Heights by controlling the negative impacts

generated by the airport, then I would support the city negotiating

for a stake in the control of the airport.

I have approached the Orange County Board of Supervisors, our

county-appointed Santa Ana Heights Project Advisory Committee and the

cities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa regarding master plan

improvements for Santa Ana Heights and the Bristol Street slope on

the John Wayne Airport property.

While the Board of Supervisors -- under the chairmanship of

Cynthia Coad -- supported the plans presented to them, it was the

city of Newport Beach that showed the greatest interest in such

improvements.

I believe it is in Santa Ana Heights best interests to jointly

participate with the city of Newport Beach in a “visioning” process

to determine what improvements should be made to our community and to

insure the long-term survival and betterment of our community. And

that can only be achieved by controlling the negative impacts

generated by the John Wayne Airport.

Without a tight control on future airport growth, all other plans

and expenditures pertaining to Santa Ana Heights would be frivolous.

* RUSSELL NIEWIAROWSKI is a Santa Ana Heights resident.