EDITORIAL:

There are lots of thanks to spread around regarding the decision this past week by county officials to nix the idea of paving a small slice of paradise in Newport Beach to put in a parking lot.

The proposal we speak of would have consisted of building a parking structure on the existing Newport Beach Golf Course, a municipal 18-hole course on Irvine Avenue neighboring the edge of John Wayne Airport.

The parking structure would have eliminated nine of the course’s 18 holes.

Golfers, golf club officials and the nongolfing public cried foul.

However, with the assistance of Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle on the city side and Supervisor John Moorlach at the county, a stake was officially put in the heart of those plans.

We don’t need to point out that golf is extremely popular in these parts, and finding places to play comes at a premium.

Taking away even nine holes would definitely increase the pain of finding a place to tee off.

But the bigger issue here is stopping John Wayne Airport’s expansion and sending a message to the county that it is unacceptable to disrupt the quality of life for Newport-Mesa residents in order to make things easier for airport travelers.

If county officials are in need of more parking for the airport, then we have a suggestion maybe they need to make to admit that John Wayne is at its capacity. Maybe the airport is done expanding.

If that’s not a position they are ready to take, then here’s a warning of sorts.

Any future forays into Newport-Mesa community will continue to be met by fierce opposition from this community, bar none.

Newport-Mesa already shares a disproportionate amount of negative effects from John Wayne Airport’s very existence.

Airplane noise and traffic and pollution are just a way of life around here. We are looking for ways to eliminate that, not make it worse.

The county and airport officials need to understand that and quit looking to Newport-Mesa for any potential expansion needs.

If not, they will learn that listening to the screams of an angry public will just be par for the course.