COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:

It may surprise you to see our names on the same opinion piece.

In fact, over the years, although we have held a healthy respect for one another, we have rarely seen eye-to-eye on key issues.

Until now.

The recently proposed Newport Center mixed-use plan and development agreement presented by The Irvine Co. to the community, City Council and Planning Commission achieves many key goals that will benefit our entire city:

 Continues the renaissance of Newport Center and provides the opportunities it needs to remain the economic engine of Newport Beach;

 Provides $27 million of non-taxpayer money to build a new City Hall, regardless of final location, including keeping it at its current location on the Peninsula.

 Provides significant funding for the rebuilding of the Oasis Senior Center.

 Complements civic and community uses already found in Newport Center.

 Is the most environmentally-friendly site compared to the proposed location behind the central library.

It will be up to our elected officials and the community to decide which makes the best sense for a city hall, and their decision should be guided by the facts about which site is the most beneficial to the city.

We decided to come together to support the Newport Center mixed-use plan and development agreement because we believe that this proposal provides the unique and right opportunity for the future of our community — and more specifically, Newport Center — while providing significant funding for important community infrastructure, including a city hall in which we can all take great pride.

RICHARD LUEHRS is president and CEO of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. JAN D. VANDERSLOOT is a community activist. JEAN WATT is a former Newport Beach City Council member.