COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:Refuting claims about Measure V

George Jefferies has been an acquaintance for close to 30 years. He does a great job of telling his stories to justify the cause he is supporting. In his Oct. 26 Letter to the Editor, “Flawed logic and exaggerated flaws from opponents,” there are a number of statements, interpretations and conclusions that I question.

Jeffries’ portrayal of the general plan vision statement for 2025 paraphrases a limited portion of the statement and does not recognize many of the goals that are in the statement. It seems that the following phrases from the vision statement are the basis for his representation of the desires of the community:

“The successful balancing of the needs of residents, businesses and visitors has been accomplished with the recognition that Newport Beach is primarily a residential community….

“We have a conservative growth strategy that emphasizes residents’ quality of life….

“Traffic flows smoothly throughout the community.”

The vision statement also speaks of a healthy natural environment; boating and waterways; the airport; community services; recreational opportunities; and a responsive government — those don’t seem to be of concern to him.

The new general plan will provide a balancing of the needs of residents, businesses and visitors through a conservative growth strategy that emphasizes residents’ quality of life. By 2025 a population and projected traffic growth of close to 17% is predicted, and that averages a very conservative less than 1% a year for the next 20 years. In fact, since the city’s incorporation in 1906, the lowest prior 20-year growth rate was 21% (1980 to 2000) and the highest was 500% (1940 to 1960).

The land-use element is Jeffries’ major concern. He asserts that the new land-use element promotes major growth and that “the old plan is irrelevant.” If you vote yes on Measure V, then the old plan will be irrelevant. The old, existing plan is still in effect and is the guide that must be used to govern the future of the city until a new plan is approved by the voters. The new general plan has nearly 2 million fewer square feet of commercial, adds 1,100 residential units and reduces future traffic projections by almost 30,000 trips per day from the old, existing general plan. Voting yes on Measure V is your vote to say that you approve of the plan crafted by residents over the last four years.

A no vote on Measure X will protect the property rights that are provided for in the general plan, old or new. Measure X proponents thought they were exempting R1, R1.5 and R2 residences for the entire city, but through a lack of understanding of the land-use element, they did not exempt planned community residences, which are almost two-thirds of our residences.

When people invest in our city, whether by buying a residence or a business, they look at the city’s general plan to determine what property rights their purchase will bring them. Both residential and business owners should be able to exercise their property rights to build within the limits of the general plan without being subjected to a vote. If property owners want to exceed their general plan limits then a vote would be required by the original Greenlight measure. If you believe in property rights, both residential and business, you should vote no on X. Put a hex on X; vote no.

When discussing traffic concerns, Jefferies has exaggerated by 30% intersections with unacceptable levels of service in existing conditions and questioned the ability of the city to improve those conditions in the future. He further states there are no plans or money to make the required improvements.

I disagree. There are plans and funding to complete the required improvements. There is a five-year plan for major roadway improvements in the city. The city annually spends 30% to 40% of its capital improvement budget on roadway projects. This year, in excess of $13 million will be spent on our roads. In addition to our normal sources of funds, developer fees and county and state funds will enable the city to complete the projects listed in the circulation element. When the new general plan’s circulation element is implemented there will be only two intersections with unacceptable levels of service E. These two intersections cannot be improved without widening East Coast Highway through Corona del Mar. The new general plan recognizes that this would be an unacceptable improvement and has allowed this low level of service for these two intersections.

A yes vote on Measure V will bring to the city a plan that balances the needs of residents, businesses and visitors through a conservative growth strategy that emphasizes residents’ quality of life.

A no vote on Measure X will protect the property rights that you purchased when you bought your property in Newport Beach.