NEWPORT BEACH : Council to Oppose Widening of Dover

A plan to forestall any widening of Dover Drive has won support from the City Council.

“We have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” Councilwoman Jean H. Watt said.

Councilwoman Norma Glover sought the change to such insulate neighborhoods as Santa Ana Heights, Cliff Haven and the planned Castaways community from increased traffic. Dover runs from Coast Highway northward to the Costa Mesa line, where it becomes 19th Street.

The change would require a joint city and county study and a six-month series of public hearings to remove the road from the county’s Master Plan of Arterial Highways, which indicates an eventual widening of Dover from four lanes to six.

Three residents, including the president of the 350-member Cliff Haven Community Assn., spoke in support of the change during a council meeting last week. No one opposed it.

Councilwoman Jan E. Debay said she had reservations about starting the change process with minimal council discussion, primarily because she is concerned about fragmenting the community.

“I just think maybe that different neighborhoods are acting in self-interest and not necessarily looking ahead at what’s best for the city as a whole,” she said.

Glover said the change has been delayed too long already.

“If we send it off to some side committee, that just diverts it off (the will of) the public who are asking for it,” she said. “Let’s face the issue and get it started.

Debay voted to support the change because the studies it requires would address her concerns.

To make the change, the city and county must conduct individual “scoping” sessions within the community, a technical analysis of the plan and a joint scoping session. The city’s transportation committee, Planning Commission and City Council must hold a series of hearings.