Greenlight garners councilman’s support

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Councilman Tom Thomson drew a line between himself and

the rest of the City Council on Friday when he stepped out as the only

member to support the so-called Greenlight initiative.

Thomson, who is up for reelection in November, also was the sole

dissenter in a 5-1 vote Friday to deny the group’s request to be included

on the special school bond ballot in June.

“I’m sure many of us are tired of seeing every square inch being

developed to its maximum,” Thomson said. “There were 9,000 people that

signed a petition to do something about unbridled growth.”

Thomson’s and two other council seats -- those occupied by Jan Debay and

John Noyes -- will be up for grabs in November. Thomson’s Greenlight

support seems to foreshadow more slow-growth supporters vying for those

seats.

However, the touchy politics of the issue was evident later in the day

when the real estate broker received a call from Carol Hoffman, vice

president of communications at the Irvine Co.

Thomson reconsidered his position, at first saying he supported the

“idea” behind the measure, then settling on supporting Greenlight with

“further study.”

The “Protect From Traffic and Density Measure” proposes to give residents

the final say on proposed developments that require a “major” general

plan amendment. “Major” is defined as creating more than 100 peak-hour

car trips, more than 100 homes or more than 40,000 square feet of floor

area over what the city’s General Plan allows. However, because of the

wording of the initiative, residents could end up voting on many more

proposals than was originally intended by the group that drafted the

measure.

The measure has created a contentious rift between Greenlight and city

officials because it calls into question the city’s leadership.

Greenlight has accused both the Planning Commission and City Council of

rubber-stamping developments throughout the city. However, city officials

feel they have been conservative and say they recognize residents’

concerns -- but that the slow-growth measure is not the answer.

That is, everyone except Thomson.

He said he believes council members of the past decade are the people

responsible for the overdevelopment of the city.

“It’s not through their neglect or overzealousness,” he said. “It’s the

cumulative effect that is the problem.”

Following Friday morning’s special meeting, council members wandered out

of chambers, leaving Thomson to chat with Greenlight supporters.

While Greenlight member Tom Hyans said the group has not offered to put

its political weight behind Thomson, the councilman’s carefully

considered response was that he “welcomes the support of everyone.”