Non-politically correct

Noaki Schwartz

It seems the only office Balboa fixture Jack Callahan doesn’t hold is one

on the City Council.

He says he doesn’t like politics, but it is no simple task to lead three

different groups with agendas that at times conflict in the face of such

issues as the proposed Dunes resort and the Greenlight initiative.

Callahan heads the Balboa Island Business Assn., the Balboa Island

Improvement Assn. and the Environmental Equality Affairs Committee.

“It puts me in the hot seat,” Callahan said.

Callahan’s civic involvement is driven by his parents’ philosophy of

giving back to the community.

He was born in Brookline, Mass., and moved to California in 1959 when his

father transferred to Costa Mesa. He spent his high school years here

and, following his education, headed back East to work for a couple of

big New York advertising agencies.

However, childhood memories of sunshine proved too strong a temptation,

drawing Callahan back to the area. During the last four years, he’s

become more and more involved in the Balboa community.

“My parents instilled in me to give back,” Callahan said, adding that

even though his father worked for United Airlines for 42 years, he still

managed to find time to coach Little League Baseball.

Callahan said he gets involved but tries to stay open-minded and

evenhanded.

Finding that balance can be difficult with a project like the

$100-million Dunes resort, but Callahan said he tries to focus on

protecting the community’s quality of life.

The proposed resort is currently going through the Planning Commission’s

review process. While the city could use the estimated $1.3 million in

revenue the resort is expected to bring, resident activists are concerned

about what the mammoth development could do to the sensitive environment

of the Back Bay.

One such group, the Environmental Affairs Committee, decided to oppose

the Dunes environmental report, saying it was “very flawed.”

“The traffic and overall size of the project has people concerned,”

Callahan said, adding that though he’s not anti-business, he doesn’t

support rubber-stamping developments.

At the same time, however, Callahan says he does not support the upcoming

Protect From Traffic and Density slow-growth initiative -- which some

fear will lead to a blanket rejection of any proposed development. The

measure proposes to allow residents to vote on developments that would

require a “major” general plan amendment.

Opponents worry that it will call residents to the ballot box on any

minor development, scare away potential developers and reduce Newport’s

revenue source for city services. However, supporters argue that

development is out of control in the city and needs to be curbed.

“Greenlight is well-intended but it’s too complicated,” Callahan said. “A

lot of people don’t understand it.”

When asked if he will become more formally involved in city politics,

Callahan carefully weighed the question before answering.

“I would consider it,” he said. “It’s a real hard question, though. I’m

not sure about it.”