Slow-Growth Backers Sue Newport

Proponents of a landmark slow-growth measure passed by Newport Beach voters in 2000 have sued the city over how it applies the initiative on certain commercial developments.

At the center of the dispute is how the city measures the size of such developments as hotels and theaters.

Measure S, also called the Greenlight initiative, called for a popular vote on projects that add more than 40,000 square feet of building space or exceed general plan guidelines.

City officials have exempted hotels and theaters because the city’s general plan measures such developments by rooms and seats, not square footage.

Slow-growth proponents say the practice allows the city to approve hotels that have a small number of rooms along with a large convention center, for example, without voter approval.

In a lawsuit filed last week, they asked that a judge order Newport Beach to adhere to the square-footage rule.

But city officials say that could be at odds with the existing general plan.

Greenlight “adopted a one-size-fits-all approach,” City Atty. Bob Burnham said, “but one size fits almost everything in the city; it doesn’t fit hotels, theater or marinas for that matter, because marinas are calculated by the number of slips.”

Burnham said that the City Council already was studying a compromise and that a lawsuit was not necessary.

The council will discuss the matter at its April 27 meeting.