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.