IRVINE

Nearly 60% of Orange County’s business leaders are opposed to an international airport at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, according to a survey commissioned by Irvine.

The survey, which cost $35,000, found that 59% of those polled said that the county’s quality of life would deteriorate if the airport is built, making it more difficult to attract talented workers to the area.

About two-thirds of surveyed business leaders said that the airport also would drag down property values. About the same number said they would prefer to see Irvine’s plans for a large park be built instead.

Employee recruitment and ground transportation still were cited as the two biggest challenges for businesses in the county, with El Toro ranking 14th out of 16 listed concerns.