Debay ventures into Greenlight debate

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Councilwoman Jan Debay on Tuesday used two expansion

projects currently before the city as examples of how small additions to

existing buildings would have to go before a citywide vote if the

Greenlight Initiative passes.

Supporters of the growth-control measure quickly countered that Debay

was misinforming residents of the initiative’s purpose.

The two projects -- a 2,160-square-foot lobby expansion and a

440-square-foot filing room -- are both located within areas of the city

that have already reached their construction allowance.

“This means that they have to wait and go to the ballot,” Debay said.

“The whole citizenry will have to vote on these small additions.”

The Greenlight Initiative, known as Measure S, proposes to put before

a citywide vote any development that allows an increase of more than 100

peak-hour car trips or dwelling units, or 40,000 square feet over the

general plan allowance.

A competing initiative, Measure T, would add parts of the city’s

traffic phasing ordinance to the city charter and nullify Measure S, if

voters approve both measures.

Debay, who opposes Measure S and supports Measure T, pulled the

projects -- which were approved by the Planning Commission on Thursday --

to illustrate her point.

But because it will take more than a month for the Planning Commission

and the City Council to complete the necessary general plan amendment,

city officials said the process could not be finished before the election

and voters would have to decide on the projects if the Greenlight

Initiative passes.

Measure S supporters countered that the two projects would not require

a vote. While large projects such as the Dunes Hotel or the Connexant

expansion would have to be voted on, the City Council would be able to

allow smaller projects to pass without a vote, they pointed out.

In no way would a person’s home, for instance, be subject to a Measure

S-required vote, said Phil Arst, a Greenlight supporter.