Mailbag - July 11, 2002

Council shouldn’t cut OCC swap meet days

I’m becoming increasingly disenchanted with the Costa Mesa City

Council.

It is hard to understand why Mayor Linda Dixon wants to cut from two

days to one for the Orange Coast College Swap Meet. First of all, we have

to accept the fact that there is traffic in Costa Mesa. If she thinks all

the cars going to the swap meet will help traffic if pushed into one day,

then all I can say is “Well, duh.”

Why doesn’t the city address issues that need fixing instead of issues

that are working and endorsed by the people?

Besides, the revenue the swap meet brings to OCC, it is truly one of

the most colorful affairs in Orange County. A little traffic at certain

times shouldn’t keep the swap meet from existing two days.

JULIE STURDEVANT

Costa Mesa

Newport leaders must respect zoning laws

If the city of Newport Beach approves the proposed 12-story steeple atop a planned Mormon Temple on Bonita Canyon Road (in an area with

two-story height limits/zonning), I would propose that much more than a

single-site zoning issue will be raised. Namely, other steeples and

proposed steeples all over our town should get an uplift.

It would be the only fair thing for the city to do.

For example, there is a new Episcopal church across the street from

the Mormon Temple site. No doubt they should want a steeple of

competitive height and, in fairness, and in their opinion I would guess,

they would believe their steeple should be at least as high as that of

the Mormons. And since their site is a few more feet removed from the

Corona del Mar Freeway, and their steeple could be partially obscured by

the Mormon steeple, one could make the case for a 15- or 16-story steeple for that particular site.

Now it also seems to me that the churches in Corona del Mar, on Balboa

Island and on the Peninsula, and some of those in the Lido Peninsula area

also, need to be given a chance to reach higher. Some of these churches

and houses of worship cannot even be seen from a major highway or the bay

or flying out of John Wayne Airport. Strategically placed steeples 12 to

20 stories in height in the Lido Peninsula area with dramatic flood

lighting could become visible from the bay and on outbound flights.

Tourists dining in restaurants on Coast Highway would be attracted to

these visual icons. Come to think of it, the churches of the East Bluff

area also should get some more height and visual presence.

At some point I suppose, there should be a limit to the height of the

steeples. Who will decide? The city? What houses of worship do they favor

with unlimited height restrictions?

Maybe we should just consider respecting the existing zoning laws and

height limits and the character of the neighboring residential areas.

Houses of worship that feel they need high-rise buildings/steeples should

find areas of the city where these heights are allowed.

JOHN FRANSEN

Newport Beach

Costa Mesa must adopt Eastside uniformity

I would like to thank Lori McDonald for her letter on May 16

(“Preserve the residential zone within Costa Mesa”). For quite some time

now, I have wondered what plan, if any, the city has for the Eastside.

Eastside Costa Mesa has a lot of large lots with little houses on

them. One of two things seems to happen to these large lots when the

property comes up for sale. Either an individual buys a lot and builds a

nice custom home or a developer buys it and builds multiple “homes” with

no green space.

Currently these two types of redevelopment are being approved

side-by-side. The approval of multiple home redevelopments creates more

traffic on our Eastside streets. (We already have unacceptable traffic

levels for a residential neighborhood.) It also creates a higher burden

on our sewers, water reserves, waste management, schools and other

services.

If the city continues to approve this high-density housing, it will

have to invest substantial resources to improve an infrastructure

designed to serve a fraction of the eventual population.

Continued approval of multiple home redevelopments decreases the

desirability of custom home redevelopment.

Continued approval of multiple home redevelopments destroys virtually

all green space, as McDonald pointed out in her letter.

The city needs to decide which path it wants to take with respect to

the Eastside. It can plan to have a nice residential neighborhood or it

can plan to have a future slum. I urge the Planning Commission and the

City Council to adopt a plan to encourage the development of a nice

residential neighborhood. Please stop splitting lots and approving

multiple home redevelopments in what is currently zoned R1.

JEANNE TARAZEVITS

Eastside

Columnist should have kept message to himself

Steve Smith really had me hoping for a minute there (Family Time,

“Mixed messages hurt our kids,” June 8). I was hoping that someone, like

Smith, was willing to impart some wisdom to parents who claim to be

looking for answers on how to raise self-respecting, respectable kids,

but who refuse to look beyond their own comfort level.

Was that cigar really worth the concern that it brought to Smith’s

children? They love you and no matter what words you use to justify an

occasional cigar, it isn’t going to convince them.

They know better. I am 44 now, but as a child, I remember having a

nightmare about my father dying of cancer because he smoked an occasional

cigarette. I woke up crying and ran in to plead with him to stop so that

my nightmare wouldn’t come true. I recall it vividly, him sitting on the

edge of the bed trying to comfort me but saying nothing. At least he

didn’t take me for a fool and try to tell me that a cigarette here and

there doesn’t really matter. That dream still haunts me even after his

death from cancer 11 years ago.

Smith’s message to his children is so mixed that I can’t believe he

felt compelled to write a column about it. Just as there is no such thing

as truly responsible sex, there is also no such thing as responsible

drinking or smoking. Doing either, even in moderation cannot be

considered responsible in any way. Responsible would be realizing that we

only get one go-round in life. That our bodies are more valuable than any

other possession we could own and that the self respect that comes from

maintaining a clear head and clean lungs can’t possibly be replaced by

any brief and foolish desire.

My husband and I don’t drink, smoke or take drugs ever. We have five

children, two are grown, two are in high school and one in elementary

school. Our children have never felt compelled to do any of these things

for any reason. They actually find great satisfaction in standing tall

against the crowd and setting a better example -- one that never occurred

to their peers.

How does one raise the best kids? By knowing what the best is and

leading by example. If you love your kids as much as you should, you’ll

toss your cigars and anything else that doesn’t bring out the best in

you. And when you have wisdom to impart, they’ll trust that you you have

some. That’s no mixed message.

JAIMIE DAY

Newport Beach