A five-star resort planned for the Balboa Peninsula escaped an early
death by just one vote last Tuesday after City Council members listened
to residents passionately opposed to the project. The controversial
decision over whether Stephen Sutherland should begin environmental and
traffic studies brought no votes from supporters like Mayor Tod Ridgeway
and yes votes from Greenlight supporter John Heffernan.
And skateboarders have a little less elbow room after the council
approved an ordinance to restrict the sport in some areas of city parks.
Paved areas that slope more than 6% and installations like planters,
benches and stairs are now off limits.
Customers dissatisfied with Internet and cable service from Adelphia
may have a chance to be heard. In hopes of persuading Adelphia to correct
problems that have drawn large numbers of complaints, the city has hired
consultants The Buske Group to conduct phone surveys and focus groups.
* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)
574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .
Airport up in arms
Further forging a line between north and south, Costa Mesa City
Council members narrowly voted last week to officially oppose a park at
the former El Toro Marine Base.
The council voted 3 to 2 to adopt a resolution that encouraged Costa
Mesa residents to vote down Measure W, which would allow for the zoning
at the shuttered base to be changed to allow a park. If the South
County-backed measure succeeds, it would pave the way for an Orange
County Central Park and Nature Reserve and halt any plans for an
international airport at El Toro.
Residents, who believe John Wayne Airport will be expanded if another
Orange County Airport is not built, attacked the council for what they
called a weak stance on airport issues.
Although it was Mayor Linda Dixon and Councilwoman Karen Robinson who
did not support the action, criticism was hurled at Councilwoman Libby
Cowan because she is employed by the city of Irvine -- a city that has
poured a lot of resources into opposing an airport at El Toro.
Accusations of a possible conflict of interest were suggested, despite
the fact that Cowan initiated a review and was deemed to have no conflict
by a state committee.
"I will be happy to step away from this and leave you with a 2-to-2
vote," said Cowan, who has repeatedly said she is in favor of an airport
at the former base.* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached
