Greenlight backs Hyatt’s renovation

Paul Clinton

Leaders of the Greenlight movement praised the Hyatt Newporter’s

restoration as an ideal example of restrained growth.

Hotel managers, during their process, won’t be required to seek a

public vote on the plan because it doesn’t significantly expand the

hotel.

“That’s the kind of development that Greenlight supports,” said

Phil Arst, the Greenlight spokesman, “upgrading older areas of the

city, rather than adding density.”

The Greenlight initiative, passed in 2000, requires a public vote

for large-scale development that either exceeds certain size

thresholds or needs an amendment to the city’s general plan.

The Hyatt Newporter project does not trigger any of those

thresholds, which include a project that adds more than 100

“peak-hour” vehicle trips, more than 100 new dwelling units or other

statistical criteria.

“As it stands today, to renovate the property we have no

responsibility to the Greenlight Initiative,” General Manager Bruce

Brainerd said. “It has no impact.”

The Hyatt Newporter’s new management, Sunstone Hotel Investors,

says it plans to spend $14 million to renovate the oldest hotel in

the city. Sunshine is managing for Westbrook Hotel Partners IV, which

bought the hotel in December from Wyndham International Inc.

The Newporter Inn, as it was once known, was built in 1962.

Sunstone has pledged a broad-brush renovation that would revamp

the hotel’s 403 guest rooms, meeting rooms, public areas, restaurant

and sports bar.

Hotel mangers say they need to upgrade the hotel to keep up with

the competition. The Balboa Bay Club is readying its new hotel, set

to open in May, and the Costa Mesa Hilton has completed a major

overhaul.

Work would begin in September and wrap up by next summer.