Dunes foes begin to organize campaign

Alex Coolman

NEWPORT BEACH--A group opposing the Newport Dunes hotel development filed

papers Friday to organize as a political action committee, a move its

members characterize as the first step toward sponsoring a referendum on

the project.

Activist Susan Caustin said the group, Stop the Dunes Hotel, was formed

by her and Bert Ohlig “in anticipation of filing a referendum” to bring

the proposed 470-room hotel and 31,000-square foot conference center

project to a vote if the City Council approves it in the weeks ahead.

The project, which was approved last month by the Planning Commission,

could come up for a council vote as soon as late June, said City Clerk

LaVonne Harkless.

If the council approves the development, opponents would have 30 days to

collect 4,600 valid signatures to bring a referendum before voters.

Caustin said about 30% to 40% more signatures would be needed in order to

ensure enough are valid.

Friday’s move to form the committee means the group can begin raising

funds that would be used in the signature-gathering effort, Caustin said.

Robert Gleason, chief financial officer for Evans Hotels, the company

that hopes to build the Dunes project, said he was “disappointed but not

all surprised” by the group’s action.

“There are still a handful of individuals who obviously don’t trust the

public review process,” he said.

Planning Commissioner Mike Kranzley said the move didn’t surprise him,

either.

If preventing any development at the Dunes is the ultimate goal, he said,

“I just wish they were filing a referendum to purchase the land and keep

it open space.”

Caustin said she hopes to have a referendum on the November ballot if the

council approves the Dunes project.

Time will be very tight, however. The deadline for any referendum on the

fall ballot is Aug. 11, Harkless said. County officials can take up to 30

working days to verify the validity of signatures.

If there is a referendum on the ballot, it would be rubbing elbows not

only with the Greenlight Initiative, which Caustin and Ohlig are also

backing, but a competing measure sponsored by the Newport Harbor Area

Chamber of Commerce.

Greenlight would require developments that necessitate a “major” general

plan amendment to be approved by voters.

The other measure would require a public vote before any changes could be

made to the city’s traffic phasing ordinance, a strict law governing

traffic from new developments.

Caustin said the fact that Greenlight is on the ballot won’t deter her

from also pushing for the referendum.