READERS RESPOND -- Writers submit final Koll project comments

I just want to express my deep frustration and horror with the tactics

of the Greenlight Implementation Committee that has adopted the name of

the organization trying to minimize growth in our lovely city and have

even mimicked their signs with such deceptive advertising and political

tactics. I thought the Koll Co. could do better than this.

RENEE HARWICK

Newport Beach

I just loved Donald Ramsay’s comments on the Koll project (Readers

Respond, Nov. 8). Humor is good. It is the mechanism God gave us to

cleanse our mind and soul. We need more comments like Ramsay’s to help us

through these difficult times. Ramsay does not like the Greenlight people

because they stand in the way of growth, new taxes and more jobs. The

Koll project would bring many jobs, as well as additional revenue, to our

city. The now-defunct Dunes project would have given the city a major

income stream. Unlike the city planners, Ramsay at least admits these

projects would bring in additional traffic. What is so absurd is the

method he proposes to handle the increased traffic. “We can handle the

traffic problem by innovative creative traffic management such as

carpools, staggered work hours and improved public transportation.” Sure.

No problem. Maybe we can just paint the cars with invisible ink and they

will just go away. Accusing the Greenlight people of “backward head in

the sand thinking,” I don’t think so.

BILL SHAW

Balboa Island

Richard Luehrs’ guest editorial encourages us all to approve Koll’s

huge project and thus save Newport Beach’s economy.

As the Newport Beach Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce’s hired gun,

Luehrs’ comments are remarkably similar to the party line of the large

developers.

However, it is an acknowledged fact that office towers are financially

neutral for a city, with the cost of services (police, fireman, etc.)

matching revenue. Unemployment is really not a problem for Newport Beach,

so creating jobs is not a burning need. Clearly, Newport Beach’s economic

health is not dependent upon this project.

Quality of life is an urgent need for our residents. Building two

10-story office towers, a never-mentioned 500,000-square-foot parking

garage and adding 2,700 traffic trips per day will clearly degrade our

quality of life and bring more traffic through our streets.

The only vote that Measure G deserves is a “no” vote.

ROBERT CAUSTIN

Newport Beach

I was forewarned that the developer of the proposed 10-story building

at Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard would campaign for votes by

pretending to be a group of Greenlight supporters. As predicted, I

started to get expensive four-color brochures seeking my approval of this

project, from the purported Greenlight group. What a farce.

Greenlight totally opposes this project because it will further clog

traffic at that intersection, and Jamboree and MacArthur are two of the

three major arteries from inland Orange County into and out of Newport

Beach (the other one being the Costa Mesa Freeway/Newport Boulevard). The

Greenlight Initiative was passed to give us the choice in voting for or

against major new projects that would jam up our streets. This project

will jam up Jamboree big time, plus put an additional burden on John

Wayne Airport. Vote no.

TONY KNOX

Newport Beach

Seems to me that no matter what the groups call themselves, it is

clear that one is supporting the measure and one is opposing. How about

we vote this measure up or down on its merits and not because we know

Koll developer Tim Strader, Sr., or Greenlight supporter Phil Arst?

In my opinion, if this project is defeated, then those who sponsored

the Greenlight Initiative will have revealed their hidden agenda -- to

prevent virtually any more commercial development in Newport Beach. I

personally believe that this project deserves to be approved -- on its

merits.

And although I don’t have any visions of converting the hard-line

naysayers, I would suggest to those who are still truly undecided and who

want to do what is in the best interest of all of Newport Beach that they

drive the area. Look at what is in place now and decide if this isn’t the

proper place for the proposed development. Learn what the developer is

planning to do to mitigate the added traffic and then cast your educated

vote.

SCOTT F. CALDER

Newport Beach

I would like to voice my reaction to the the deceptive campaign

conducted around the Koll Center.

This does not belong to Newport Beach. I will continue to monitor the

situation.

MIKE KAZEEF

Newport Beach

We were shocked and very disappointed to see that Koll and its project

supporters had resorted to semantic deceit. Usurping the term Greenlight

for themselves appears to be a deliberate attempt to confuse the voters.

We hope that all the voters will recognize this and vote No on G.

DEANE and BETTY BOTTORF

Corona del Mar

I find it a little sickening that Koll would resort to tactics that

are so dirty and deceptive -- from the name of their committee to their

attempt to associate names with their cause. Do they think we are all so

old and stupid as to be fooled by such rank dishonesty? Shame on them and

they will lose.

BILL O’CONNOR

Linda Isle

The economic slowdown will not decrease the automobile traffic this

project creates. So consequently, I feel that our initial idea of this

election should be to vote against this project. The slowdown shouldn’t

have any bearing with people’s thoughts on the situation.

FRANK EISENDRATH

Newport Beach

The current economic slowdown has no effect on my decision on the Koll

Center general plan amendment. It’s the traffic, stupid. Our

developer-friendly council and Planning Commission approved this

slow-growth revenue source and fast-growth gain drain on the city’s

future service budgets.

They also approved the twice-as-large Conexant development next door

for a total of 834,000 square feet of unplanned office space. Let’s get

real here, folks. This new traffic will effect our northern route around

the bay. There is no cross-town route, remember. There is only the Coast

Highway as the alternative southern route.

TOM HYANS

Newport Beach