Newport Parcels: Selling the Voters : Conservation: Supporters think they have crafted a plan that will persuade property owners to underwrite the $55.8-million deal.

Now that the Irvine Co. has agreed to sell some of its land for $55.8 million, local conservationists must sell the idea of a special tax to a conservative community that has rejected similar efforts in the past.

“We have to convince people to tax themselves,” said Councilwoman Jean H. Watt, who is also president of the Newport Conservancy. “I see this as one of our better bargains. This is for something where you (as a taxpayer) can see what you are getting.”

Supporters think they have crafted a plan that will win over the community.

On the November ballot, residents may be asked if they support a flat tax of $10 per month over the next 30 years to buy 133.8 acres of upland property known as Upper Castaways and Newporter North.

Surveys conducted by the Newport Conservancy showed that the public wanted a fixed tax which affected every property owner equally and would cover the entire cost of the project, including restoration and maintenance, Watt said.

“We want everything to be up front,” Watt said. “People do not want any hidden costs.”

This approach is intended to avoid a repeat of history.

Two years ago, the City Council decided not to put an $82-million bond issue on the ballot after residents indicated in surveys that they would be unwilling to tax themselves to acquire these same two properties. Officials say that measure failed, in part, because the wealthiest residents of Newport Beach would have been assessed far more than the citywide average of $175 per year.

And in 1976, a bond measure to preserve open space, including 10 acres of Upper Castaways but none of Newporter North, was put to city voters. That effort failed to reach a required two-thirds vote by one percentage point.

City officials say the latest plan may draw criticism from those who oppose tax hikes of any kind. Also, residents who live farther from the ecological reserve may not perceive a benefit for them.

“I think the issue needs to be pushed forth. There has to be a regular campaign mounted, or nobody will know what we are talking about,” said Councilwoman Evelyn R. Hart, whose district includes the Upper Castaways. “I would imagine this will be the last opportunity to come forth and protect the open space around Upper Newport Bay.”

Newport Beach resident Frank Robinson, who has worked to preserve the Upper Newport Bay since the early 1960s, said: “What has happened over the past couple years is people are discovering what a wonderful place Upper Newport Bay is. Fifteen years from now, we will look back at this and think, ‘What a steal.’ ”

The conservancy plans to offer a mix of uses to appeal to nature lovers, recreation enthusiasts and those who simply enjoy a great view.

“From the upper bay, you can look all the way to the ocean and turn the other way and see all the way to mountains,” Hart said. “I feel fortunate to have something beautiful like this in the city.”

The Newport Conservancy already has presented plans to the city which include walking trails and restoration of the natural sage scrub on the 77.2-acre Newporter North. On the 56.6-acre Upper Castaways, 10 out of 56 acres may be set aside for a baseball and soccer field and a 125-space parking lot, leaving the remaining acres to be restored.

Watt said the conservancy will seek private donors to help finance an expected $100,000 campaign to include direct mail and advertisements in local media.

While still in negotiations with the Irvine Co., the conservancy conducted a series of focus groups and telephone surveys to gauge voter interest in the land, Watt said.

Though the purchase price the Newport Conservancy quoted people in those surveys was significantly higher than the final agreement, Watt said that by her count 57 of the 60 participants in focus groups indicated willingness to tax themselves. But Watt would not reveal the results of the telephone survey, saying it was based on outdated information.

“But it is safe to say that had they not been favorable, we would not have gone on to the next stage” of negotiations, she said. The conservancy nevertheless plans to conduct new surveys to reassess the community mood.

Newport Beach Mayor Clarence J. Turner said residents “want to see this happen. I have talked to people about it, and when they find out how much it will cost them, they tend to support it.”

Bay Deal at a Glance

Here are the details of the Irvine Co. agreement to sell undeveloped land overlooking Upper Newport Bay to the Newport Conservancy:

* Price: $31.2 million for Newporter North and $24.6 million for Upper Castaways; total, $55.8 million.

* Size: Newporter North, 77.2 acres; Upper Castaways, 56.6 acres.

* Agreement: Either property must be bought by Feb. 1, 1994. Only then can the other be purchased, no later than Feb. 1, 1995.

* Source of funds: Assessment district, with Newport Beach property owners expected to pay no more than $10 a month for 30 years. Also private donations.

* Next step: Newport Beach City Council has until July 12 to put issue on November ballot.

Sources: Newport Conservancy; the Irvine Co.