Promise of Access to Crystal Cove

More than 160 people heard Donald W. Murphy, state parks director, promise Monday that the public will not be barred from state land if a proposed beachfront resort at Crystal Cove is built.

Murphy, who spoke before the Friends of Irvine Coast, told the packed audience at El Morro Elementary School that no walls would be built, and there would be no policy isolating the public, although some activities would be solely for resort guests.

“I give you my word as director,” Murphy said, “that we will not restrict lands to the public.”

Under terms of the contract, the state gives a partnership permission to develop more than 28 acres of Crystal Cove State Park, 12 acres more than the state previously has said.

While state officials have said rooms would cost between $100 and $400 a night, the contract does not specify rates. Instead, it grants the developer the right to set room rentals “at market rates for such first-class resort accommodations,” subject to approval from the state Department of Parks and Recreation.”

According to recent projection figures obtained by The Times, room rates would not average $225 a night, as originally projected, but would average $239 to $250 in the first year, depending on the size of the resort, rising to $369 to $387 by the 10th year.

Roy Roberson, a spokesman for Ekotek of Laguna Niguel, one of the private partners, said that projections are based on whether 94 cottages are allowed or 75. If only 75, then the costs per overnight stay would average $250 the first year and increase to $387 by the 10th year.

“We think we’re going to be building the smaller number to help recover some of the costs,” Roberson said. “Of course, we would love to put in more and keep the fees down, but we would have to build 500 cottages to charge $100 [a night], and we think that’s not going to happen.”

Roberson did receive catcalls when he told the audience that some of the existing cottages are so old they are “being held up only by paint.”

Questions have been raised about whether a luxury resort should be built on Crystal Cove’s 12.3-acre historic district, which is public land. While environmentalists have railed against the plan, a spokesman for Resort Design Group, one of the partners, has said the resort would provide far more public access than exists now because of features such as a restaurant, a dive shop, public education efforts and the fact that the resort will be open to the public--unlike the cottages, which are rented privately now.

When Sandy Genis of Costa Mesa corrected Murphy on a point of public access by reading from the state contract, Murphy pledged to not allow any restrictive contract language.

“If that’s offensive to you and it sounds restrictive, then we’ll take it out of the contract,” Murphy said.