Future of Newport Beach has arrived

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- Anyone who has ever had an opinion on Greenlight,

anyone who has ever thought “something should be done about this

traffic,” anyone who has ever worried where the neighborhood is headed in

the coming years -- now’s your chance.

A festival to kick off the city’s general plan update process will

take place Saturday. And though that may sound like a snooze, this is the

process that developer Tim Strader hopes will make his Koll Center

expansion possible. It’s the process that business leaders and

slow-growth advocates alike consider a crucial moment to secure their

vision for the city.

And it’s the process that local officials are touting as every

resident’s big chance to have a real influence on the city for decades to

come.

“This is about the future of Newport Beach,” Mayor Tod Ridgeway said.

“Everyone should participate.”

Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, residents can come to Hoag Hospital not

just to learn about the process, but to actually register their opinions

on just about any and every aspect of city planning and government.

“This is not just sitting there and listening to a presentation,”

Assistant City Manager Sharon Wood said. “We want people to participate.”

For example, she said, one interactive display will allow residents to

post on a neighborhood map ideas for what should be done in their

community. Other booths will be set up for residents to answer questions

on a broad range of subjects pertaining to issues as diverse as tourism,

beach access, John Wayne Airport expansion and plans for the West Newport

industrial area near Hoag Hospital. And to make the event even more

user-friendly, officials have included refreshments and children’s

activities.

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce has called on members to get

involved in the hopes of mapping a future favorable to business. Allan

Beek and other activists are also involved, working to assure that

business interests don’t bulldoze -- literally or figuratively --

community interests.

The general plan hasn’t been updated since 1988. The far-reaching

document is a blueprint for the city that is expected to govern and guide

decisions for the next 20 years. The city’s Greenlight Initiative, passed

in 2000, makes the general plan update process even more relevant and

tricky because the initiative’s restrictions on development are based on

the general plan.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .

FYI

* WHAT: Visioning Festival, to kick off Newport Beach’s general plan

update process

* WHEN: Saturday. There will be two sessions -- one from 10:30 a.m. to

noon, and the other from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Residents unable to attend a full

presentation may browse booths, register opinions with city officials,

and use interactive displays and exhibits from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m..

* WHERE: Hoag Hospital Conference Center, 1 Hoag Drive

* COST: Free

* INFORMATION: (949) 644-3200 or o7 www.nbvision2025.comf7