Commentary: Has Newport forgotten its Greenlight development initiative?

The city entered a new era Tuesday as City Council members officially declared Greenlight’s victory. The slow-growth initiative — approved by 63.4% of the city’s voters in the Nov. 7 election — will require a citywide vote on any development that causes an increase of more than 100 peak-hour car trips or dwelling units, or 40,000 square feet more than the general plan allowance. — Daily Pilot, Dec. 13, 2000.

Newport Beach has entered a new era of increased development and high growth.

Examples include the Back Bay Landing project, Balboa Marine West, Lido House Hotel, Newport North planned community, 919 Bayside Drive project, AERIE residential project in Corona del Mar, Hyatt Regency expansion project, Meridian condo project, Beauchamp project, Newport Business Plaza project, Marina Park project, Gold Realty tennis club, Newport Beach Country Club, Old Newport GPA project, Koll mixed-use development, Plaza Corona del Mar, Mariner’s Point, MacArthur at Dolphin-Striker Way, Lido Villas, Explor-Ocean, Newport Place Residential and the Ebb Tide residential project.

The vast amount of development is occurring in the midst of a prolonged drought and despite antiquated infrastructure, the promise of increased traffic and the displacement of wildlife.

Now include the proposed development on an active earthquake fault and oil well site containing toxic soil: Banning Ranch. This is the very last large piece of open coastal land in Newport Beach.

Apparently, something has been lost in translation since the Greenlight Initiative was approved.

This Newport Beach landmark requires a citywide referendum on all major developments. Newport Beach is one of only a few local governments in the state to require such a vote.

The Greenlight Initiative was passed in 2000 because residents had lost confidence in the ability of municipal bodies to render reasoned and fair land-use decisions. Perhaps we need to change the verbiage to The Stop Light Initiative. Maybe the city will understand that concept.

PEGGY V. PALMER lives in Newport Beach.