Getting past the big ‘L’

A colorful rendering of an early design of Stephen R. Sutherland’s

Marinapark project hangs near a corner in a conference room in his

Newport Beach offices, SJI Concepts. It hangs with several other

renderings from his worldwide resort designs -- perhaps a reminder of

what could have been.

But life goes on for Sutherland, a principal at the design and

architectural firm.

“I can curl up and die, or move forward,” he said. “I choose to

move forward.”

Sutherland said he is moving on from an unsuccessful effort to

design and build a 110-room resort at the Marinapark site on the

Balboa Peninsula, where mobile homes, an American Legion post, a

public beach, a Girl Scout house and Las Arenas Park will remain as

they are, for now.

On Nov. 2, voters shot down Measure L, which would have changed

the city’s general plan to allow Sutherland’s proposed commercial

resort to be built.

The vote put to rest a divisive battle between Sutherland, known

for his beachfront villa and resort designs, and opponents --

residents and organizations such as Protect our Parks, led by Tom

Billings. Instead of revitalizing the Balboa Peninsula, as Sutherland

said, Billings and others argued that the resort would create traffic

congestion, block bay views and commercialize precious recreational

land.

It hasn’t been easy to get past the battle, which ultimately

coincided with a City Council election. To Sutherland, the campaign

to pass Measure L got personal -- more than he wants to publicly

share. It got particularly dicey in the few months leading up to the

vote, when the very agreement that allowed Sutherland negotiating

rights with the city was disputed by his critics.

Sutherland spoke with the Pilot’s Ryan Carter about life after

Measure L.

What’s next for you in the wake of the Nov. 2 election?

As you can see here at my office, my knowledge of architecture,

land planning and design is extensive. The firm has designed

world-class hotels and resorts, master-planned communities and

complete villages. This firm did the preliminary design for the 2002

World Cup stadium in Seoul, South Korea. We also have a residential

division that has created some of the most beautiful estates in

California.

One of my present goals is to grow the residential architecture

and interior design division of the firm here in Newport Beach.

In addition, I am in the process of developing a new division for

a major California real estate firm. A formal announcement will be

made in the first quarter of 2005 ... These agents will [at the firm]

will have extensive new training to even better market high-end

estates and we will market these agents as the creme de la creme of

the industry.

I am also looking into creating a conservancy that would acquire

private land and convert it into public open space. The land would be

paid for and maintained through the conservancy with resources from

private funds -- not state or federal money.

How much of the firm’s own architecture and interior design work

will be in Newport Beach?

I want to stay home. I love Newport Beach ... I don’t want to

travel as much. One of my big goals is to do more work in Newport

Beach and to do it on a residential level -- high-quality estates and

water-front homes.

That’s the division of this firm that I want to pursue.

What did you learn from the process of trying to get the general

plan amended for your project?

Too much to describe in a short interview. I will say that it was

a long, tiring and costly process that requires absolute dedication

and mental strength.

Do you regret it?

I regret certain aspects that I will not discuss at this time.

I believed the resort was a positive use to replace the 56-unit

mobile-home park that now sits on the site.

I designed the resort, and brought in Regent International to

manage it.

I created benefits from the resort to help veterans of the

American Legion Post 291 and the Girl Scouts.

The resort included measures and money to improve water quality in

the bay and other environmental improvements on the Balboa Peninsula.

I do regret letting down our veterans and the Girl Scouts as well

as the loss of the environmental improvements. I’ll never regret

following through with something I strongly believe in.

What do you think of some of the other plans for the Marinapark

spot?

Mike Whitehead, the Daily Pilot’s harbor columnist, has been

pushing for and writing about a boat launch ramp at Marinapark. He

has stated in his column that a boat launch ramp should be

constructed large enough to handle boats that are too large to get

under the Coast Highway Bay Bridge if launched from the Dunes

facility. Boat storage racks four or five stories high -- the same

racks that now destroy views along the Rhine Channel -- are being

suggested by a property owner for use at the Marinapark site. Won’t

that be nice for the view from Lido Isle, or the view from Balboa

Boulevard? In addition, a soccer field has support of some our City

Council. The traffic from these uses will be tremendous. Then there’s

the noise from all of the power boats, the increased water and air

pollution from the boat fuel, not to mention the chemical and

fertilizer runoff into the waters of Newport Bay from the soccer

field use. Also, will the soccer field be fenced in and lighted? What

will the hours of the boat launch ramp be, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.?

Residents need to know these uses are allowed under the existing

general plan. Residents will not be able to vote on these, because no

general amendment is required to put these things there. A small,

luxury resort versus a boat launch ramp? The saying, “Be careful what

you wish for,” may apply here.

Has your opinion changed on what should be developed there?

I firmly believe the resort was and is the very best use for the

Marinapark site -- best for the environment, best for the citizens of

Newport Beach and best for the residents that live close to the site.

Although voters turned down the project, with the resort residents

knew what they would get. Now, it’s anyone’s guess.

Talk about your relationship with the city.

First of all, keep in mind the city advertised for “request for

proposals” for the redevelopment of the Marinapark mobile-home park

site. Eight proposals were submitted and reviewed at a number of

public City Council meetings. In December of 2000, at a council

meeting, my [negotiating] agreement with the city was amended and

then approved by all seven members of the City Council. Then, during

the campaign, three of those council members that voted to approve my

agreement came out and opposed the project, and even allowed their

names to be used by the opposition in a campaign of personal attacks.

Even worse, just before the election, again at another televised City

Council meeting, the city announced that my agreement with them could

be invalid ....This means none of this should have happened. Why did

the city bill me a quarter of a million dollars -- which was paid --

for an environmental impact report when there was no agreement?

Do you have a financial stake right now in any of the property at

the Marinapark site?

I have a tremendous amount of money that’s been put into the

project over the last six years. But no, I don’t own any of the

property that’s there. It was going to a be a long-term lease with

the city.

Anything else you want to add?

Yes. I would like to thank my supporters and all of the residents

that voted in favor of the Marinapark resort. Thank you.