Editorial

After the Costa Mesa City Council approved the latest incarnation of

the Home Ranch project by a 4-1 vote Nov. 19, the project’s opponents

went to work in finding additional avenues to thwart it.

Throughout this month, members of the Costa Mesa Citizens for

Responsible Growth will be gathering signatures from registered voters to

launch a referendum.

They need to gather 2,700 valid signatures by the end of the month to

succeed.

While it is obviously their right to create a referendum, it appears

at this point that some of the opponents may use scare tactics to garner

signatures. Former mayor and vocal opponent Sandra Genis has said she’ll

push traffic congestion and the construction of the Gisler Avenue bridge

over the Santa Ana River as reasons voters should oppose Home Ranch.

Referendums serve their purposes in this democracy, but this project

doesn’t warrant one, nor does it warrant scare tactics from opponents who

would oppose anything but the current lima bean field.

Throughout the months of public meetings at both the Planning

Commission and City Council, the city’s residents and project’s opponents

had ample opportunity to speak and call for changes to the project. And

in many cases, their suggestions were heard and C.J. Segerstrom & Sons

altered its project, which calls for a flagship Ikea furniture store, 192

homes and a mix of commercial and industrial land use on 93 acres.

At one point earlier this year, the opponents complained about the

housing element, calling for the elimination of rentals and the creation

of owner-occupied housing. So be it and let it be done, the developers

answered. That, coupled with other changes, even convinced one-time

opponent Councilman Chris Steel, much to the chagrin of his supporters,

to approve Home Ranch.

The current project is the third incarnation in 19 years and is

clearly the best for the Segerstrom’s Home Ranch site, bordered by the

San Diego Freeway, Fairview Road, Harbor Boulevard and Sunflower Avenue.

The first project in 1986 gained considerable opposition as it entered

the City Council hearings, convincing the Segerstroms to withdraw it.

The second, however, came shortly thereafter and garnered approval

from the commission and council. That project ended up on a 1988

referendum in the form of two measures, or two different designs. The

voters downed both.

The latest project may generate more traffic, but the developers are

more than making up for it by adding a Susan Street offramp from the San

Diego Freeway and are widening streets in the vicinity to accommodate it.

In addition, they’re giving $2 million to the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District for three Costa Mesa schools, are contributing $250,000

for a new stadium and aquatic center at Costa Mesa High School and, as

requested by Steel, giving $200,000 to relocate the historic Huscroft

House to Fairview Park.

Meanwhile, the city continues to oppose a Gisler bridge and is working

to ensure it never is built.

As for Home Ranch, this long overdue project will bring great revenue

to the city and is more than compatible with its surrounding uses.

As we’ve said before, the Segerstroms, who have done wonders for the

city of Costa Mesa, deserve to finally build on their land.

A citywide referendum would only play to the hyperbole and

fear-mongering that has characterized much of the Home Ranch debate. Home

Ranch had its fair hearing and day in City Hall and it was met with

approval. Anything else is unnecessary and should be shelved.