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.”
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