Greenlight protests hotel vote

June Casagrande

The Greenlight Committee is protesting the city’s decision to send

the Marinapark hotel project to a general vote instead of a

Greenlight one, saying it sets a dangerous precedent for the city to

bypass the growth-control law in approving future hotel projects.

City Atty. Bob Burnham responded with surprise at the matter’s

coming up now, saying he believes that the city’s plan for

considering the project is appropriate.

“We don’t think it bypasses the [Greenlight] initiative,” Burnham

said. “What the council did was put the matter on the ballot

notwithstanding the fact that an argument can be made that it’s not

subject to Greenlight.”

In February, the City Council agreed to send to voters the

question of whether a 110-room luxury resort should be built on the

Balboa Peninsula at the site of the Marinapark mobile home park. They

did so saying that they did not believe that a Greenlight vote was

required on the matter, but they believed it was the best way to

determine whether the project should be built.

The Greenlight Initiative requires a vote on projects that exceed

the city’s general plan maximums for any specific area by more than

40,000 square feet of commercial space, 100 dwelling units or 100

peak-hour car trips.

Burnham said that, for hotels, the Greenlight Initiative is

triggered solely by the number of car trips a project would generate.

Greenlight spokesman Phil Arst disagreed, saying that he believes the

city is breaking the law by not holding a Greenlight election.

“The understanding of the voters at the time they passed that

charter amendment was that the [square footage] measure would apply

to hotels,” Arst said.

Unofficial studies by developer Stephen Sutherland suggest that

the resort will not generate 100 peak-hour car trips. An official

environmental study that is now underway will include traffic

projections.

The council’s February decision to send the matter to the voters

was also a way to ensure that an environmental report be done on the

project, council members said.

Arst also said that, under a Greenlight vote, more information for

the public would be required prior to the balloting, including on the

lease agreement for the property. The matter is scheduled to go

before voters in January.

“Greenlight is not taking a position pro or con on hotels, but

we’re defending the voter’s right to decide, Arst said.

Sutherland Talla Hospitality was selected by the council from

among eight developers who submitted proposals for the site.

Sutherland’s project would be built on what is now the site of the

Marinapark mobile home park and the tennis courts and playground area

on Balboa Boulevard between 15th and 18th streets.

The developer has agreed to provide new public tennis facilities,

a new Girl Scout house and playground and has committed money to

improve the American Legion post adjacent to the site.