Sutherland hoping for hospitality

Noaki Schwartz

BALBOA PENINSULA -- Stephen Sutherland, proponent of a proposed luxury

resort at Balboa Boulevard and 15th Street, doesn’t feel like a big

outside developer bulldozing into the sleepy city of Newport Beach.

Since he was a 10-year-old kid, the local resident has watched the

community change and grow -- in some ways good, in other ways bad -- over

the past 40 years.

He said he wants to be part of something right -- something good for the

community. He has tried to translate that feeling into his plan for a

152-room, five-star hotel and resort called the Regency Newport Beach.

“It’s special,” Sutherland said. “It’s very much a personal investment.”

The problem is that the 10.71-acre site he’s eyeing is already occupied

by an American Legion Post, a Girl Scouts house and a community of 58

mobile homes. And Sutherland is well aware that forcing a group of war

veterans, girl scouts and mobile home dwellers to relocate could be seen

as a rather mercenary act.

A month ago, Sutherland went to each of the three groups to show them the

plan. And although they conceded it was a beautiful project, they were

adamant against moving. After all, the Legion has occupied the same

building since 1940 and many of the Marina Park residents have lived in

the same mobile homes for decades.

“They’re good people,” Sutherland said. “They don’t like me a lot right

now, though. I hope they’ll work with me.”

Those most affected by the proposal have so far maintained a wait-and-see

attitude about it, but many city residents have already expressed their

concerns about the increased traffic and parking problems the project

could cause.

Artists’ renderings of the proposed resort reflect that Sutherland has

thought about the folks the project would uproot. The Neva B. Thomas

Scout House would be allowed to remain where it is, according to the

proposal. Moreover, Sutherland has offered to sandwich the building with

more tennis courts and a new playground.

The proposal has set aside $500,000 for American Legion Post 291 to

relocate and rebuild. Sutherland also has offered to let the organization

of war veterans move to the opposite end of the site, which would

maintain its waterfront view.

Marina Park residents, however, would be left to their own devices after

their leases expire in March.

City officials could renew the leases, but have yet to find out whether

the property is considered upland or tidelands.

Because tidelands require visitor-serving uses, the mobile homes could

only remain if the land was found to be upland. The city has been waiting

for the state Lands Commission to make a designation for more than two

years.

Sutherland also has proposed more visitor-friendly changes to the

existing site, he said. He plans to remove the gates presently blocking

the 18th Street entrance to the beach. In addition, the tennis courts,

spa and park would all be open to the public.

“Everyone that’s seen the plan has liked it but will fight it,” said

Sutherland, who is getting ready to face his first potential battle when

the City Council reviews the project at its study session on Monday.