Recently, I received an invitation in the...

Recently, I received an invitation in the mail to attend a

“community” information meeting, one of several public forums to be

held at Newport Harbor High School. The notice was sent by St.

Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which is located directly across the

street from the high school.

According to the invitation, the purpose of these meetings, was to

seek “community input and support” on the proposal to pay for the

renovation and expansion of the school’s senior parking lot, located

directly across the street from the church, and which is also

frequently used by church parishioners.

Clearly stated in the invitation was “this parking renovation

proposal is not connected to our proposed expansion plan,” which is

currently in the city approval process with a “condition” on parking.

Realizing the growing concern about traffic and parking in and

around our neighborhood, my first impression was we would all

certainly benefit -- the church, the school and the surrounding

communities -- from their generous offer.

Their intent seemed neighborly and honorable.

However, in a separate meeting on the day of their first community

forum on Feb. 17, Councilman Tod Ridgeway publicly confirmed that the

St. Andrew’s parking proposal was in fact connected to their

“conditional” building expansion plan approval.

So now who should I believe?

If Councilman Ridgeway is telling the truth, how can a church that

professes the importance of moral character and integrity be so

publicly dishonest? Is their parking proposal just a deceptive means

to an end?

Believe me, the oversized building-expansion plan, adding over

20,000 square feet to their existing property is less than

neighborly, and, if approved, it will be a permanent detriment to our

communities.

St. Andrew’s says it is a “‘neighborly’ neighborhood church.” Who

are we to believe?

JOHN STURGESS

Newport Beach

In conditionally approving the construction now proposed by the

St. Andrew’s Church, the Newport Beach Planning Commission asked the

church to enter into an agreement with the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District to provide for additional parking at the Newport

Harbor High School lot on 15th Street.

This additional parking was requested in order to alleviate

concerns expressed by a number of neighbors in the church’s immediate

area that any increase in traffic resulting from the proposed

construction would unduly disrupt the full enjoyment of their

properties.

In response, St. Andrew’s is proposing to provide the school

district with $3.5 million to replace several existing maintenance

buildings at Newport Harbor High and to add 80 more parking spaces on

the 15th Street lot. The church will provide this funding

irrespective of whether the Newport Beach City Council affirms the

Planning Commission’s conclusion that the proposed construction is in

the public interest.

Acceptance by the district of the church’s offer will benefit the

area directly involved. The district will get new maintenance

buildings to replace the existing ones that are aging and in need of

repairs. The 80 new spaces will help to relieve pressure on parking

in the immediate area, and, as indicated, all these benefits will

accrue no matter what the City Council ultimately decides on the

construction.

The apprehension currently being expressed by many of the church’s

neighbors is certainly understandable. Hopefully, however, as time

passes, they also will recognize the benefits of the church’s

proposals.

DWIGHT B. MOORE

Newport Beach

The situation between the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

expansion and its unhappy neighbors has valid points on both sides of

the issue.

However, when it comes to the proposed enlargement of parking

facilities at Newport Harbor High School, it seems that it benefits

all involved. The neighbors get some of the parked cars off the

streets (one of their main complaints), the church gets to use some

much-needed parking spaces, and the school gets not only the

increased parking spaces but also any leftover “change,” which seems

to be a considerable amount.

Public schools are not often given the opportunity to receive

extra money, especially in these cash-starved years. It seems to me

that this is certainly one area where everyone ought to be able to

agree.

GAIL DUFOUR

Newport Beach

I attended planning commission meetings regarding church

expansion, so I know that church use of school parking is a condition

that must be met by the church in order to accomplish its expansion,

so I do not understand how church representatives can stand before us

and say they will finance school parking improvements, whether their

22,000-square-foot building project is approved.

We all know that school-church parking is step one, and the

building project is step two. Furthermore, according to church

representatives who spoke at the information meeting, the church

parking plan will provide only 80 additional spaces for students to

use.

Eighty new spaces will not solve neighborhood parking problems.

CAROLYN SLAYBACA

Newport Beach