Too soon to assess resort, Greenlight says

June Casagrande

A Greenlight spokesman said that it’s too early to tell whether a new

resort planned around the Pelican Hill Golf Club will draw any

serious concerns.

Greenlight leader Phil Arst said that, on principle, the group

supports hotel projects, but he lamented a deal between the Irvine

Co. and the city that will allow the project to bypass a Greenlight

vote.

“We support hotels in the city as long as their traffic can be

accommodated and they do not sit on the edge of our precious bay

front,” Arst said. “I think the city has made the Irvine Co. a

sweetheart deal because the Irvine Co. can go through the county and

bypass the Greenlight law.”

In a deal the city, the county and the Irvine Co. struck several

years ago to annex Newport Coast, the developer agreed to support the

annexation of much of its property on the condition that new projects

on the land would continue to fall under county jurisdiction. As a

result, the company applies to the county for permits to build such

projects

The Coastal Commission approved the site for a hotel project of

about 450 rooms in the early 1990s. Irvine Co. officials believe that

those approvals bode well for their plans.

The city has no role in issuing permits for the project, but the

city’s Economic Development Committee is likely to review and comment

on environmental studies for the project, City Manager Homer Bludau

said. The City Council do the same, he said.

“We certainly are a concerned party and we certainly will be

looking at it,” Bludau said. “I think the Irvine Co. does pretty good

quality projects. I think this one will be given a lot of their

attention. I’m sure it will be well planned and well scrutinized by

the community and a welcome addition by the Newport Coast community.

The Irvine Co. on Friday unveiled the plans, which include 204

guest rooms, 52 vacation homes, 68 shared-ownership villas, a new

golf club house, a spa and other amenities. Officials would not

disclose the cost of the project.

Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau Executive Director

Marta Hayden lauded the project, which builds on the area’s rapidly

emerging image as a major resort destination.

“We’re just thrilled about the news about Pelican Hill. That’s

going to be a wonderful addition to the Newport area,” Hayden said.

“That gorgeous golf course, that hill watching the sunset. It doesn’t

get much better than that. It’s great news to us and the community,

and we expect great things from having a luxury property like that.”