Mailbag: Proposed development is responsible compromise

Proposed development is responsible compromise

I am writing to support Newport Banning Ranch in its effort to preserve the old Banning Ranch.

I think the developers have the right attitude. They have scaled back their plans to use less than 20% of the property for under 900 homes, 45,000 feet of retail space, a 75-room hotel and a 20-bed hostel of the 401-acre property overlooking West Coast Highway.

This is the type of responsible coastline development that everyone should support. Most people debating this issue have never seen the property. It’s a degraded, oil-derrick filled property that is fenced off to the public.

If the Newport Banning Ranch developers are allowed to move forward, it will be restored with public bike, hiking paths and environmental educational opportunities. That opportunity sure beats leaving it a degraded brownfield that will be shut off from the public in perpetuity.

Royanne Carrozza

Costa Mesa

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Keep an opening mind about Banning

When the Banning Ranch developers first proposed development at the Newport City Council, they proposed 1,375 homes, 75,000 feet of commercial retail and a hotel and hostel on about 95 acres of the ocean-side property.

Now they have scaled back their plans to use only about 20% of the 400 acres for 900 houses, a small hotel/hostel and a small commercial retail space. This seems like a good compromise in exchange for them cleaning up the property from oil waste and creating open space and paths for public access.

What troubles me is that the developer has been accommodating to public concerns and criticisms and has compromised. I don’t see any compromise from the “Save Banning Ranch” side.

Their only mantra is to say no to everything proposed. That doesn’t sound like they are open-minded and trying to serve the best interests of the coastline and its residents. Nor is it responsible to keep the property walled off the public.

I support responsible development and the Newport Banning Ranch for limited development and preservation is in the community’s best interest.

Parker Douglas

Newport Beach

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Solving developer’s math

Re. “Will two Newport Center projects pit developer against developer?” In Barbara Venezia’s column on May 13 about dueling developers, she quoted developer Ridgeway (seven-story 49 unit luxury residential development) as stating, “... his project reduces traffic by 75% ...”

I finally figured out the math. By adding more and more and more dwellings and development, existing residents become so frustrated with ever-increasing traffic and congestion that they are the ones who stop driving.

Karen Tringali

Corona del Mar