EDITORIAL

When Marinapark residents signed the latest leases on their

bayfront mobile homes in 1985, they knew what they were getting into.

They knew that when those agreements expired in March of 2000, they

would have to move. And they knew that the reason was to make room for

more visitor-friendly uses on one of the city’s prime pieces of bayfront

real estate. They even agreed to waive relocation costs.

Now, less than four months before the leases expire, city leaders are

entertaining a serious hotel proposal. As was expected, it calls for

displacing the mobile home park and the American Legion Post 291, whose

lease for the city land was just extended to 2001.

It’s too early in the process for us to endorse or shut down this

particular hotel proposal. And we won’t even go so far as to say that an

upscale resort is the best use for that land.

But regardless of any hotel proposal, we think Marinapark residents

should move out when their leases are up next year.

The State Lands Commission has yet to determine whether the area is

tidelands, a designation that would prohibit residential use of the

property. But regardless, it is still city-owned property, which means it

belongs to everyone in the city, not just 60 residents.

Most importantly, the residents knowingly entered into this agreement

in 1985. Why do they now expect the city to scrap its desire for more

public uses and let them stay?

With economic development and traffic congestion being such hot-button

issues in Newport Beach right now, it may be easy for these residents to

jump on that bandwagon and convince the city to renew the leases. But we

hope this issue won’t get lumped in with the anti-development fervor

sweeping through the city.

Vacating Marinapark doesn’t mean there has to be a hotel on the site.

Those are separate issues and should be treated that way.

Still, it would be a nice gesture if someone from the city could

assist the mobile home owners and renters in finding a new place to live,

even if it’s just providing a comprehensive list of alternative locations

for themobile homes.

We don’t blame Marinapark residents for wanting to hold onto the

private bayfront enclave that they’ve enjoyed for so many years. But we

believe they have been able to make use of the public’s land for long

enough. It’s time for them to hold up their end of the bargain.