(San Diego) Voters reject Miramar site

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Last modified Wednesday, November 8, 2006 9:42 PM PST

Voters reject Miramar site, Airport Authority to revisit issue in January

By: North County Times wire services -

SAN DIEGO - San Diego County voters rejected a nonbinding, advisory measure that would have kept alive an effort to develop a commercial airport at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Wednesday's returns showed. With all precincts reporting, about 62 percent of voters cast their ballots against Proposition A, while 38 percent were in favor, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

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The nine-member Regional Airport Authority will revisit the issue of finding a new airport site in January but, before then, the terms of five commissioners will end. Some may not be reappointed, Craver said.

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Despite strident opposition from the military, the Regional Airport Authority agreed in May to put Proposition A on the ballot as an advisory measure, meaning it would not be legally binding. It asked voters whether the Airport Authority and other government officials should work to acquire about 3,000 acres at the 23,000-acre base for a joint-use international airport serving the military and commercial airlines. The measure outlined certain conditions that included necessary traffic improvements, maintenance of military readiness, no use of local taxes and improvements at Lindbergh Field.

Military brass argued that a commercial airport at Miramar would harm Navy and Marine readiness and could pose a safety risk because Marine and civilian aircraft would have to use the same airspace. The Defense Department has also said it has no plans to close the base.

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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11/09/news/sandiego/16_18_3411_8_06.txt