A huge project sneaks under residents’ noses...

A huge project sneaks

under residents’ noses

My head is spinning from one of the latest City Council decisions

-- the one about the big condominium project at 1901 Newport. It happened so fast, before most Costa Mesans even got a whiff of what

was proposed. What bothers me personally about this project is that

most people in this city have no idea what is about to happen.

This is a mammoth project with mammoth implications for the future

direction of Costa Mesa. Our general plan was developed in 1992 with

real community input. It limits residential development south of the

freeway to three stories or less and no more than 20 units per acre,

but this property isn’t even zoned for residential. The commercial

complex on it now is at the highest density allowed.

Suddenly, here comes a proposal for four-story condos to cover the

parking lot, 161 units at a density of 45 units per acre. There would

be a five-story parking garage smack in the middle of the project.

The little houses on Bernard Street will literally be in the shadow

of these behemoths for part of the winter. There isn’t enough

parking, there will be scores of new U-turns on 19th Street, and the

intersections of Harbor and Newport at 19th Street go from really bad

to even worse.

Whoa. Most people in Costa Mesa have no idea what is about to hit

us. At the Planning Commission hearing, several commissioners said

they just loved this project and could envision more just like it

along 19th Street and on the Westside. I left that hearing with

whiplash from the radical turn this city seemed to be taking. Full

speed ahead into a high-density, highly urbanized future. Most of the

people I know want Costa Mesa to retain a low-density, suburban

character. When did the community weigh in on this debate?

When other big projects were proposed, developers were encouraged

to reach out to the community first. This project was approved before

the community was even aware of what might happen. The City Council

met one night (not the usual City Council meeting night) as the

Redevelopment Agency and bam!

Some of those promoting this project say we need more housing, and

whatever problems this project has, it’s worth it to overlook them.

That is a shortsighted way to think. This project has some problems;

furthermore, piecemeal changes to the general plan are bad policy and

bad precedent. Costa Mesa needs to have a debate about whether this

is the future we want, and if so, formulate a new general plan. If

there is consensus about that, then I know for sure a little redesign

would make this project a lot better.

But let’s have the debate first.

ROBIN LEFFLER

Costa Mesa

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Robin Leffler is vice president of Costa Mesa

Citizens for Responsible Growth, which has opposed several large

developments, such as Home Ranch, in Costa Mesa in recent years.

However, this letter represents his opinion and not that of the

group.

Leaving something

out in this explanation

Newport Beach General Services Director Dave Niederhaus’

conclusion that neither the city of Newport Beach nor the contractor

were at fault for this tree trimming fiasco, but that it must be some

“folks” in Sea View who went out there with a little cash and bribed

the tree trimmers to “go beyond city limits,” is a beaut.

You win the award this week, hands down. This award can be

returned by simply offering an apology to the residents of Sea View.

I’ll be checking the Daily Pilot for your response.

By the way, would you like some hot sauce to go with the “crow?”

DON OLSEN

Newport Beach

Sea View committee chairman