Koll campaign heats up

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- The battle over the Koll Center expansion project is

heating up residents’ mailboxes and setting the stage for the first test

of the city’s Greenlight Initiative.

In the last week, fliers for and against the 250,000-square-foot

project have been sent to voters.

A Nov. 20 special election will decide the fate of Measure G -- the

proposal by developers to expand the Koll Center’s southern tip at the

intersection of Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard. The project

includes a 10-story office tower and two parking structures.

On Wednesday, opponents of the expansion sent out nearly 15,000

mailers that included applications for absentee ballots.

“With the election that close to the holiday, a lot of people aren’t

going to be around,” said Phil Arst, activist and member of the

Greenlight group.

Last year, voter’s passed the Greenlight Initiative, which requires

voter approval for all projects large enough to require an amendment to

the city’s general plan.

The City Council approved the project in the summer, but because of

its size it also requires a special election, according to Greenlight.

Supporters of the project, who call themselves the Greenlight

Implementation Committee, have also been sending out mailers that include

absentee ballot applications. They argue that the development is

consistent with the city’s slow-growth objectives.

“Our goal is to get the facts out there and let voters know exactly

what the project entails,” said Scott Hart, a Greenlight Implementation

Committee member.

The group has been criticized for its choice of name, which opponents

of the project say is misleading, and for its close relationship with the

developer.

Opponents of the Koll project have raised a number of other concerns

as well.

The Greenlight Implementation Committee emphasizes the project’s

Irvine Business Complex location, but Greenlight members say this makes

it sound as if the project is in Irvine instead of Newport Beach.

There also is disagreement over its proximity to homes. Supporters

describe it as “miles from any residential area,” but Arst said it’s

about 1 1/4 miles from some Eastbluff homes.

Opponents say the project will create serious traffic problems and

possibly create demand for more flights at John Wayne Airport. Supporters

point out that the project provides an extra $2 million in traffic funds,

plus $112,500 for a planning study for the airport area and $60,000 to

help build a new fire station.

-- June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .