Editorial

It was a mixed week for developers in Newport-Mesa.

In Costa Mesa, the long-debated, three times-proposed Home Ranch

project, a mixed-use development of homes, industrial and office space

and an Ikea furniture store, gained a resounding 4-1 approval from the

City Council.

In Newport Beach, the City Council had the first word and the voters

had what may be the last on the expansion of the Koll Center. In July,

the City Council approved a 250,000-square-foot expansion with a 4-3

vote, but on Tuesday, the voters -- in this case, just 22% of the city’s

registered voters -- downed the development by a 6-to-4 margin.

This week’s votes made something clear in both Costa Mesa and Newport

Beach. In Costa Mesa, developers still have a chance to build great

projects in a city that hosts one of the finest shopping destinations in

the area, if not the country and world.

In Newport Beach, despite the council’s approvals on projects that

require an amendment to the general plan, it appears developers will fall

short of conquering the mountain better known as Greenlight.

And unless Greenlight is challenged and overturned in court, it will

be impossible to blame developers for bypassing Newport Beach and looking

to build elsewhere -- perhaps in Costa Mesa.

After all, Greenlight challenges developers with the daunting task of

convincing voters to stop by the polls in a special election to vote for

a construction project. Unless that project offers residents special

incentives, there’s little reason to bother voting. But if you’re

strongly against something -- such as a large project that will add some

cars to your already-busy commute -- you may be a bit more adamant about

voting -- and voting no.

The Koll expansion would have been in practically the best location

for a large project in Newport Beach -- on the outskirts of the city near

the airport and away from the majority of residents. And that leads to a

logical conclusion: If a project can’t win a Greenlight vote there, what

reason is there to think that voters would OK development in the heart of

the city or along the water?

Just as they did last year when they approved Greenlight, Newport

Beach voters have spoken loudly and clearly. They don’t want large

developments. They don’t want more traffic.

The community wants Greenlight and it’s now time that everyone,

developers most of all, accept it.