READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: The Newport Beach City Council is scheduled to vote June 27 on

the proposed Dunes resort. Readers say they doubt environmentalists and

the developers can strike an agreement.

My vote is that it is too late for a compromise to be reached, because

the developers of the proposed Dunes resort have gone too far. It is

astronomical.

I am so disappointed in the City Council and the rest of the officials

who have worked so hard to do this ghastly thing.

MICHELE RAFFONI

Balboa Island

The only way now for a reasonable discussion with Evans Hotels is to

decline the request. When hotel officials state, “We’ve made so many

compromises ... ,” you know the city has already given the ship away.

Newport Beach people must think more like Laguna Beach leaders, where

they put the quality of life above making the dollars for the city. Once

declined, Evans Hotels may decide the existing entitlements are not so

bad.

JEFF GWIN

Corona del Mar

The Back Bay is a unique nature preserve surrounded by suitable

residential areas. The 470-room hotel and 31,000 square feet of

convention space may create a threat to our beautiful and rare water fowl

population, like an elephant in a porcelain shop.

A project of even half the size of what is now planned would be too

large. If Evans Hotels is seriously prepared to scale down the plans, let

the public see what is proposed; or let’s have a referendum and let the

citizens of Newport Beach decide whether they want this elephant or not.

DAGMAR M RIOS

Newport Beach

Can a compromise be reached about the Dunes project? Probably not.

Treasure Island is privately owned land. The Dunes project site is

state-tied lands granted to the county and is under long-term lease. The

entire project site lies within the coastal zone and is therefore under

the jurisdiction of the state Coastal Commission.

The land-use designation of the project site contained in the certified

land-use plan is “recreation and environmental open space.”

The state Coastal Act states, in part: “lower cost visitor and

recreational facility shall be protected, encouraged and, where feasible,

provided. Developments providing recreational opportunities are

preferred.”

An amendment to the certified land-use plan must be obtained from the

Coastal Commission for the Dunes project’s change of use. Anyone can

obtain copies of the California commission’s communication through the

city Planning Department.

PAT GREENBAUM

Newport Beach