Editorial

It would certainly be a shame if all the hard work that has gone into

annexing Santa Ana Heights and Bay Knolls into Newport Beach was for

naught.

But in one heated evening of debate, the tables sure seemed to turn

that way.

Here’s a review:

Santa Ana Heights and Bay Knolls are slivers of county land along the

northwest end of the Back Bay. For decades, these neighborhoods have

lobbied Newport Beach city officials to take them under the city’s wing.

The benefits for the residents are simple. More personal fire and

police protection, not to mention the whole raft of city services like

trash pickup and general maintenance that the residents don’t receive

from the county.

For the city, taking Santa Ana Heights, whose borders kiss the edges

of John Wayne Airport, means being in a better position to tame the

aviation beast and stifle the ever-present threat of expansion, an

expansion that could come both physically and through increased flights

and later curfews.

Alternately, no one knows the torture of airplane noise better than

the residents of Santa Ana Heights. By joining Newport Beach, they saw a

natural ally in that fight.

For some reason, however, the marriage is never consummated. And this

week, more squabbling over details has left the whole issue in a

precarious state.

Suddenly, the residents don’t think they are getting such a great deal

from the city. Likewise, city officials are wondering aloud if the money

gained, $110,000 a year until 2035, or $3.6 million over 33 years, is

enough to cover the costs of the services the city provides.

Further, the city’s decision to broker an agreement that extended the

historic flight cap settlement of 1985, in lieu of a modest increase in

John Wayne passengers, has left some in Santa Ana Heights a bit steamed.

Fortunately, this week’s sparks that left city leaders and Santa Ana

Heights residents ready to call the whole thing off will have time to

cool down.

Our hope is that cooler heads will revive the talks and ensure that

years of studies and negotiations haven’t been wasted and that Santa Ana

Heights and Bay Knolls will be a part of Newport Beach in the

not-too-distant future.