The Greenlight Initiative: What would it do?

-- Source: The proposed Greenlight initiative.

THE BASICS: The measure would amend the Newport Beach City Charter

to require voter approval of projects that would require major amendments

to the city’s general plan. Any development over what is approved in the

existing general plan requires an amendment. The basic thresholds in the

initiative defining “major” are 100 dwelling units, 100 peak-hour traffic

trips and 40,000 square feet of floor area.

THE FINE PRINT: The thresholds do not apply to the city as a whole,

but to each of 49 distinct “statistical areas” around the city, all of

which vary in geographic size. Each area also has a different history of

general plan amendments. Some, such as Newport Center and the airport

area, have had several, while others have had none.

The initiative requires that 80% of the total trips, density and floor

area from general plan amendments during the last 10 years be added to

the corresponding numbers for the proposed project. Once any one of the

Greenlight thresholds are maxed out in a specific area of the city, a

development generating more than 80% of the thresholds would require a

citywide vote. The 80% figure would exclude items that are approved by

voters after the initiative is passed.

THE PROCESS: Because the initiative is an amendment to the city

charter, a proposed project would have to go through the city’s existing

approval process, including state-required environmental and traffic

studies, before appearing on the ballot. Only general plan amendments

approved by the City Council would go to the voters.

HOW IT WOULD WORK: To illustrate the process, here is a fictional

example for a mixed-use development in the city:

80% OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS IN PAST 10 YEARS FOR THE SPECIFIC AREA:

Peak-hour trips homes square feet

80 80 800

PROPOSED PROJECT WOULD GENERATE:

50 50 300

CUMULATIVE TOTAL:

130 130 1,100

NOTE: This project would require a public vote because the cumulative

number of both homes and peak-hour trips is greater than 100.