Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS : Newport Beach OKs Irvine Center Expansion : CITIES

Here we grow again?

Newport Beach is split on the issue, but the City Council last week approved a plan to allow the Irvine Company to expand the business-commercial hub known as Irvine Center. The council’s vote was 5 to 2.

The plan calls for several new office buildings, hundreds of new shops, town houses and road improvements.

“We believe the plan represents a fair balance between public interests and our private interests,” said Irvine Co. President Thomas H. Nielsen. But some residents protested, including Dick Nicholl, who said: “It would just destroy our community.”