NEWPORT BEACH : Group Wants to Buy Land for Open Space

Officials of the Newport Conservancy say their group wants to buy two parcels of Irvine Co. land overlooking Lower Newport Bay to conserve them as open space.

Acquiring the Newporter North and Upper Castaways areas could cost as much as $80 million, say members of the nonprofit environmental organization, but they have vowed to try because they don’t want to see the properties developed.

“It can be done,” said Bob Harrigan, a Conservancy board member. “I think it’s realistic. This is not just an exercise in wishful thinking.”

The City Council gave the Irvine Co. the green light to develop the areas last month, but the company agreed to negotiate a price for the sale of the land to the Conservancy.

The cost has not yet been established. Last year, a City Council-appointed appraiser determined that the Upper Castaways site was worth between $37 million and $45 million and Newporter North was valued at between $44 million and $54 million.

Another appraisal is currently being conducted.

So far, the Conservancy has raised $250,000--$100,000 of which is a matching grant from the Irvine Co.

“The cold, hard fact is the Irvine Co. has permission to develop,” Harrigan told about 150 Conservancy members at a meeting last week.

“This conveys a sense of urgency, and the importance of broad grass-roots support can’t be overemphasized.”

He urged members to “make sure your voice is heard” by telling their neighbors about the plan to buy the land, opening their homes for presentations and contacting City Council members.

“I think everything should be done to make it happen,” said Renee Hubert, a 25-year resident. “We need free, open spaces here in Newport. The overcrowded spaces are the ones that create unhealthful atmospheres.”

Once a price for the land is negotiated, the Conservancy will survey residents to see if they want the city to help acquire the land by selling bonds or adopting a special tax for that purpose, Harrigan said.

If so, the proposal would appear on a ballot by April, he said.

“I’m very confident that somehow we will manage to protect this land from being developed,” said Helmut Weiss, a 34-year resident of Newport Beach.