Coastal plan not good for a great...

Coastal plan not good for

a great small-boat harbor

I do not support the Newport Beach coastal plan as written because

it has not solved the lower bay dredging moratorium to foster the

growth of eel grass.

All one has to do is cruise the lower bay at low tide and see the

increasing number of docks that are on dry land, rendering them

unusable. One of the greatest small-boat harbors in the United States

is slowly being destroyed, and the city of Newport Beach has taken no

action to correct the situation. In fact, the Newport Beach local

coastal plan endorses the destruction of our wonderful boating harbor

through its eelgrass policy.

GUS CHABRE

Balboa

Church neighborhood should expand focus

I am so sick of the Cliffhaven and Newport Heights neighborhood

associations being so petty. I am one of the most impacted residents

in the area, as I live on St. Andrews Road and get traffic from

Horace, Ensign, Harbor High and St. Andrew’s Church.

There are so many issues they could be more prudent in trying to

correct or do something about. I can’t even get out of my driveway in

the morning when school is starting as well as when school lets out

in the afternoon, because the traffic is horrible.

There is another issue they could address if they really want to

impact our area, and that is street lighting. It is amazing to me

that we don’t have more crime in the area. We are just asking for it

in the darkness. They don’t wish to take up this cause, because it

would require bond issues and make their taxes higher with the

pretext that they like the cozy, country-like atmosphere. I wonder

how they are all creating this with the huge homes they are

constructing.

I am appalled by the lack of interest in their children and their

safety. The church is trying to make a safe place for the young

people to meet and have activities to increase their well-being. The

high school has also asked the church to assist it in creating these

areas and afford them a place to meet as well.

Finally, my last thought is that for many years, the church

congregants parked in front of my home and had to walk a block and a

half to the church, and in more recent years it has not been

necessary, as churchgoers have been able to park in the lot belonging

to the school as well as their own lot. If they would allow the

church to proceed, there would be even less parking in the

neighborhood, because they are trying to correct the problems at

issue with the community.

ENID HOFMANN

Newport Beach

What happened to grant money for Fairview Park?

Three years ago, the City of Costa Mesa received a $12-million

grant to spend on Fairview Park.

They made a lot of plans but most of them were canceled for

various reasons. I would like to know how much of the money is left.

They hired a planner and supervisor about two years ago. Since,

they have not done anything. Are they still on the payroll?

If we consolidate Fairview Park, Talbert Park and the Santa Ana

River area park, how will this benefit Fairview Park?

HAROLD LAUGHLIN

Costa Mesa

Protesters should deliver message in peaceful way

I was disgusted, but not surprised by the Pilot’s Aug. 25 headline

in the Daily Pilot, “Protesters held on suspicion of vandalism.” I

have worked on numerous controversial development projects and have

been the recipient of significant abuse. It never ceases to amaze me

how low the “environmentalists” will go to prove a point.

Personal attacks are just one of the arrows in their quiver. Lies

and breaking laws have become commonplace. These people often claim

that because their cause is “just,” they may operate above the law.

One need only look to tree spikes and recent SUV vandalism to see

that things are getting worse.

I encourage the district attorney’s office to prosecute these

people to the highest extent of the law. Because as protester Melissa

Rodriguez said, it is necessary to bring our message to them in a

peaceful way.

JILL KANZLER

Newport Beach

Please keep hands off the Orange County Fairgrounds

Regarding the proposed sale of the fairgrounds, I want them to

keep their hands off the fairgrounds. I think it gets enough use, and

they can always increase the use.

ELEANORE TRIGHER

Costa Mesa

Let Irvine’s Great Park

find its own venue site

I’ve been a resident of Costa Mesa for 40 years. I’ve always

enjoyed the fair and the fairgrounds. My opinion is, let Irvine’s

Great Park find its own venue and leave Costa Mesa’s fair and the

fairgrounds alone. I am sick of this.

ROSEMARIE NORRIS

Costa Mesa

Community, city, youth need St. Andrew’s project

Regarding the St. Andrew’s Church project, I don’t think it should

be scaled back any further. They’ve scaled it back 24% and offered to

add additional parking through the high school. I think that it’s a

meaningful project and should be done, as the church has agreed to

reduce it by the 24%. The community needs it, the city needs it, and

our youth needs it.

STEVE FRYER

Newport Beach