REBUTTAL -- Evelyn Hart

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

When writings are based upon incorrect information, great and

unwarranted damage can be done. Byron de Arakal’s column on Jan. 10,

“Random reflections on odd happenings in Newport-Mesa,” made statements

about Greenlight that were all wrong.

There is absolutely no substance for his statements that development

will nearly halt or there will be a large number of votes.

The general plan of the city of Newport Beach still has room for

approximately 20% more growth in the city without ever invoking

Greenlight.

Greenlight applies only to projects that require a change to that

general plan. Its idea is to let the voters decide on projects that would

change the nature of the city by asking for more than they are entitled

to under the present general plan.

It was specifically designed to provide voter oversight on major

projects such as the office towers proposed by the Irvine Co. and several

others. These projects bring heavy traffic loads and cost the city more

money than they provide in property taxes (see our Web site

https://www.newportgreenlight.com for a copy of an economic study).

Greenlight excluded small projects by setting minimum-size and

traffic-impact thresholds before a vote would be required. However, to

prevent a developer from splitting a large project into smaller pieces to

avoid the voter oversight election, the “look-back” provision was

incorporated.

To put it all into context, an official city study (see Web site)

showed that only 15 votes would have been required over the last 10 years

had Greenlight been in effect.

Of that number, only three would have resulted from the “look-back”

provisions.

There are arguments that the city’s study did not “look back” beyond

1990 itself and that the three could be somewhat higher. As these

arguments leave out other considerations, we believe the number is about

right.

Any way you look at it, over a thousand building permits are approved

every year without invoking Greenlight, a small number of general plan

changes per year are projected and the voters can still pass meritorious

projects.

There is no basis for the conclusions Arakal has published.

* EVELYN HART is a former Newport Beach mayor and councilwoman, and

one of several activists who worked to get the Greenlight Initiative

passed in November.