Mailbag: Arguments in favor of controlled growth measure perplex

Costa Mesa First member Cynthia McDonald commentary claims the growth initiative on the November ballot would make city planning transparent.

McDonald uses words like “control” and “transparency” to sell the initiative (“Commentary: Initiative would make city planning more transparent,” April 18).

McDonald misleads readers to think the initiative will force developers to use “plain language.” First, this is hypocritical, since the initiative itself uses confusing language.

For example, section (k) “Significantly Increase” (ii) c. “would increase the V/C ratio to equal or greater to than 0.010 such that after implementation of the major change the LOS would be E or F or ICU of 0.9 or higher.”

No stakeholder who signed the initiative understood that confusing language. Where can residents find this “plain language” that McDonald says will occur if the initiative passes?

McDonald fails to say how a developer will dumb down an environmental impact report. An EIR uses terms found in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and that language can be complex and not subject to change.

How will developers know when they’re using “plain language?” Will the city planning staff review and return a project if it is not written in plain language?

McDonald claims the initiative will make Costa Mesa’s city website more responsive. The city of Costa Mesa’s website is great and one of the best.

McDonald tries to pad her argument by saying developers will put videos and illustrations on the city site. A developer is already fronting huge costs so then why would a video be made?

Nothing in the petition, which was circulated, mentioned the city’s website. Here is where the initiative supporters are attempting to change their sales tactics and alter, as they go, what the initiative is suppose to achieve.

The level of trust with the “smart growth” initiative is non-existent. Much like the California High Speed Rail, if another chance were given, at the ballot box, then it wouldn’t pass.

Signers of the growth initiative feel they were misled, and now that information is being presented then surely this “Alice in Wonderland” initiative will not pass in November.

Christopher S. Bunyan

Costa Mesa

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Peninsula development is too dense

Every day, as I drive by that high-density, monstrosity of a building between Woody’s Wharf and the Crab Cooker, I wonder, whoever approved it? Our old build-happy City Council, Planning Commission, Coastal commission? Who?

It is built right up to the sidewalk, three stories, and wraps around the crab cooker to the water. Doesn’t the Coastal Commission have a say on what is built on the water?

They seem to have no problem to put a stop or undue restrictions to any residential development on the water. We are in a drought, overpopulated already on the Peninsula, and they allow this to be built?

I am not sure what any of you were thinking, but maybe greed is what it is all about.

Mary Allyn Dexter

Newport Beach