READERS RESPOND -- Where should large development be built?

The Daily Pilot question, “Would you prefer that new large Newport

development occur closer to John Wayne Airport than elsewhere in the

city,” is not a fair question because no matter where such a large

development is located -- in the Koll case, a 250,000-square-foot office

building in the airport area -- it has the distinct potential to generate

unacceptable traffic problems.

In the proposed Koll development, and according to the city’s Planning

Department report, traffic generated by the Koll office building will

contribute to cumulative traffic degradation of the MacArthur

Boulevard-Jamboree Road intersection to an unacceptable level. Why should

we tolerate this anywhere in our city?

ADELE MANN

Newport Beach

Your question is loaded. It assumes that large development is OK.

There’s a lot of people in Newport and next to Newport who don’t think

large development is adequate any longer. And it’s no more time for large

development. So, your question is loaded.

ALAN REMINGTON

Costa Mesa

The citizens of Newport Beach spoke loudly and clearly in the last

election by overwhelmingly passing the Greenlight Initiative.

I prefer large development not happen at all. We have been conned into

believing that development is a positive action. These greedy developers

and equally greedy politicians had convinced our residents that further

development is good for our community. With claims that development

generates jobs, provides much needed office space or residential housing,

increases tax revenues, it’s easy to see how the uninformed or apathetic

public has been fooled.

At closer inspection of the outcome of development, we find the jobs

generated aren’t always local Newport Beach residents. Maybe, if we’re

lucky, they’ll spend their lunch money in one of our local eateries. You

can be guaranteed it will generate more auto traffic, pollution and

general competition for resources, which become more precious every day.

As for generating tax revenue, do these taxes cover the expense of

fire and police protection, wear on our highways and streets, schools and

myriad other public services? They -- developers and politicians -- would

have us believe so.

Out of control, behemoth developers have covered virtually all the

open space in our city, generated massive development of housing and

cities in South County, resulting in those same cities objecting to the

airport their development demands.

Does anyone doubt we wouldn’t need another airport if it weren’t for

the unbridled, unconscionable growth in South County? Do we believe these

residents benefit us? Have we been conned into believing they shop at

Fashion Island? Check out their new shopping malls and centers.

We should invite these developers to retire their companies to the

Tuscan Coast, with which they are so obviously enamored, and leave us an

opportunity for cleaner air, non-congested streets and sufficient

resources to support a healthy life. Congratulations, Allan Beek and

associates of the Greenlight Initiative. I salute you.

ROBERT V. BARNES JR.

Newport Beach

I prefer that new, large Newport developments -- such as Koll Center’s

250,000-square-foot project -- that require an amendment to the city’s

general plan be put to a vote of the citizens as provided by Greenlight.

Come on, Daily Pilot, quit asking us questions like “Do we want one egg

or two in our beer.”

STEVE TITUS

Newport Beach

Asking where one would prefer over development to occur is a bit like

asking if one would rather be shot or stabbed. I would prefer to live in

a city in which incessant development leading to traffic gridlock is

considered the least viable option. However, if total gridlock is

inevitable, I’d like it by the airport instead of in our residential

neighborhoods.

SUSAN SKINNER CAUSTIN

Newport Beach