Newport needs view and tree ordinance...

Newport needs view and tree ordinance

We are not just Tree City U.S.A., we are also View City U.S.A.

(“Peninsula will keep one ficus,” Dec. 13).

The City Council held numerous public meetings and waited for the

injunction to be lifted before removing the ficus trees that had

caused damage to the sewage system, sidewalks and building

foundations on the Balboa Peninsula. It is hard to understand why the

City Council felt compelled to reach a settlement agreement and pay

$56,000 of the taxpayers’ money to the Balboa Arbor Society for their

attorneys’ fees. The same money could have been spent to provide more

mature trees for Main Street on Balboa Peninsula and/or other needed

reforestation to improve our urban forest.

Additionally, an agreement to consider a tree ordinance without a

corresponding view ordinance could seriously impact the balanced

approach to view and tree protection under the city’s present tree

policy. This policy was established in 1998 after four years of

participation by homeowners’ associations and arborists with urban

forester John Conway, the city’s staff, the Parks, Beaches and

Recreation Commission and the City Council. This policy provides for

reforestation and trimming to protect the views of all our residents

while still preserving our urban forest.

In Districts 2, 3 and 7 (which now includes Newport Coast), view

preservation is one of the main issues residents have asked to be

addressed in the new updated city general plan.

If we are to have a tree ordinance, then we should have a view

ordinance, as well. Our surrounding view communities have view

ordinances, including Laguna Beach and Palos Verdes. We must continue

to have a balanced approach and protect all of Newport Beach’s

valuable assets.

YVONNE HOUSSELS

Corona del Mar

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Yvonne Houssels is a former president of the

Harbor View Hills South Homeowners Assn.

Bridge and Huscroft House deserve same fate

Really, with these bridges. Let’s forget them. I thought we’d done

away with those a long time ago. Maybe Robert Graham should find

another bone to pick instead of constantly on this.

And another thing about the Huscroft House: get rid of it. Don’t

waste taxpayers’ money on it.

ARDY HURST

Costa Mesa

Simple answer to future of 19th Street bridge

I do not want a bridge at 19th Street. No bridge.

JOAN McGRAPH

Costa Mesa