Newport Beach Growth Battle Costs Skyrocket

Two hotly debated, conflicting growth measures in Newport Beach are shaping up to be among the more costly city elections in Orange County history, according to campaign finance forms turned in Thursday.

Organizations representing development interests have spent more than $378,000 fighting the so-called Greenlight Initiative, which if passed would let voters decide on an individual basis the fate of many major projects.

The generous financial support for the measure’s defeat is not surprising, said Mark Petracca, chairman of UC Irvine’s political science department.

“These initiatives have a way of bringing out well-financed and wealthy members of the development community who do not want a precedent-setting initiative to be passed in the heart of supposedly conservative Orange County,” he said. “There’s a lot at stake here.”

On the other side, Greenlight backers have raised $62,562 in a surging grass-roots movement that, before the first vote has been cast, has already had a chilling effect on development.

The Irvine Co. and two other developers withdrew major expansions plans at Fashion Island; Newport Dunes is considering downsizing plans for a hotel and convention center; and chip maker Conexant Systems Inc. has also put on hold its plans for a 566,000-square-foot addition to its headquarters.

The initiative, Measure S on the ballot, would require a citywide vote on developments that exceed the city’s General Plan by 100 residential units, 40,000 square feet or 100 peak-hour car trips. Smaller projects in highly developed areas of the city, defined by a complicated equation, also could trigger a vote.

Rival Measure Could Nullify ‘Greenlight’

The opposition is pushing a separate initiative, Measure T, that would nullify Greenlight if both get approved by voters and Measure T gets more votes.

That group had raised $327,000 as of Saturday, according to campaign forms turned in Thursday, and has more than $100,000 in debts. Petracca said he wouldn’t be surprised if there is a major mailing push by Greenlight opposition in the final week before the election. That is what well-financed groups have done successfully in the past, he said, to defeat ballot measures.

One of the Greenlight supporters, Dorothy Osterkamp, has lived in the city for 45 years and contributed $200 to the cause. The reason, she said, is that “we no longer have faith in our council. Things should be more prudently planned.”

Osterkamp, whose husband, John, raises sugar beets and alfalfa in the Imperial Valley, said she lost faith on learning that two Newport Beach council members and the planning commissioner who would be deciding the fate of the proposed Conexant Systems expansion owned stock in the company.

Planning commissioner Edward Selich said sold his 301 shares at a $10,760 loss. Councilman Garold Adams said he will sell his 1,000 shares if he can recoup a five-figure loss. Until then, he will not be able to vote on the project. Attempts to reach Councilman Tod Ridgeway were unsuccessful.

But slow-growth supporters say they are wary of elected city officials after seeing decades of development.

“Frankly, I think the horse is out of the barn--Newport Beach has already grown too much,” said William Kohlmann, a retiree who moved to the city in 1981. Since then, he said, “there’s been much too much development, elimination of green areas and increased traffic.”

Among those writing checks to stop Greenlight, the biggest donor so far has been the Irvine Co., which gave $147,000.

“When you subject the question of planning to the ballot box, you are by its nature creating a mechanism where good planning goes away,” said Gary Hunt, Irvine Co. executive vice president and a Corona del Mar resident.

Earlier this week, the company announced that it would not seek any amendments to the city’s General Plan or build any more high-rise office buildings in the city, regardless of whether Greenlight passes. Hunt said that move allows voters to look at the initiative without worrying about future Irvine Co. development.

A similar slow-growth proposal in San Clemente also is drawing opposition--and money--from developers. A ballot initiative there, Measure U, would halt most new construction until a key roadway segment is built: a 5.4-mile four-lane segment of Avenida la Pata between Avenida Pico and Antonio Parkway that would ease traffic congestion through town.

There are two opposition groups. The Coalition for a United San Clemente raised $75,000 in the first three weeks of this month--$25,000 each from the developers of Forster Ranch, Talega and a group listed as MT No. I LLC. Businesses for a Better San Clemente has raised $9,155.

Those in favor of Measure U had raised $12,786, according to campaign documents released Thursday.

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Ballot-Box Planning

Voters in three Orange County cities will decide the fate of local slow-growth measures on Nov. 7. Brea opposition information was unavailable Thursday, but bars show updated amounts of money raised by pro and con groups in Newport Beach and San Clemente.

NEWPORT BEACH

Measure S--Protection from Traffic and Density

Under the “Greenlight Initiative,” proposed developments that exceed the city’s General Plan by 100 residential units, 40,000 square feet or 100 peak-hour car trips would trigger a citywide vote. Smaller projects in highly developed areas would also require a vote.

Supporters: $62,562.

Opponents: $327,061, including:

* $147,000 from the Irvine Co.

* $52,000 from the California Assn. o Realtors

* $24,500 from the Building Industry Assn. of Southern California

* $10,000 from the National Assn. of Home Builders

The opposition has also countered with Measure T, “Newport Beach Traffic Planning and Improvements.” This competing measure that would nullify the “Greenlight Initiative” if both are approved by voters and Measure T receives more affirmative votes.

*

SAN CLEMENTE

Measure U--Residential Building Permit Moratorium

This initiative would prohibit the city from issuing most building permits for new residential structures until Avendida la Pata is a paved, four-lane divided roadway open between Avendida Pico and Antonio Parkway.

Supporters: $12,786

Opponents: $84,155

* $75,00 from Coalition for a United San Clemente

($25,000 each from Forster Ranch, Talega and Mt No I LLC)

* $9,155 from Businesses for a Better San Clemente

Note: Financial information is drawn from campaign disclosure statements that cover Jan. 1 through Oct. 21.

Source: Newport Beach and San Clemente