The Political Landscape:

Friends of Begonia Park — a group of Corona del Mar residents who oppose a property owner’s attempt to build a three-story house on a bluff in their neighborhood — plan to voice their concerns at an informal public hearing Friday, with Newport Beach City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner in attendance.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the northwest corner of Begonia Park. Gardner, who plans to vote on the property owner’s application at the council meeting Tuesday, said she had been invited to Friday’s event by Friends of Begonia Park and expected merely to answer residents’ questions.

“I know that there’s a number of people who feel very strongly about property rights, and we’ll be looking very closely at that,” Gardner said. “But I also know there are many people who are attached to that view, and we’ll be looking at that as well. I think it will be a lively meeting.”

The property owner, Kim Megonigal, wants to build a house cascading down the bluff, so that only one story is at street level.

Others in the neighborhood, though, say the construction would block some of the view of the bay from Begonia Park.

According to Dan Spletter, who lives a few houses away from the property, the group has hired an attorney and plans to file a lawsuit if the City Council approves the development Tuesday.

If the view of the bay was blocked, Spletter said, property values in the neighborhood may go down as a result. Megonigal, though, said he had already appeased his neighbors more than enough.

“I have bent over backward to protect the view from the park,” he said. “I have made a lot of concessions to not damage the view from the park, and I believe we’ve done a very good job of that, and I’m hoping the City Council will endorse the fact that I’ve done that. I’ve been very reasonable as a property owner to try to accommodate everyone’s viewpoint to the best of my ability.”

Hopefuls make rounds

Costa Mesa City Council candidates are revving their campaigns into high gear as November’s election nears.

Incumbent Katrina Foley walked the streets of Mesa Verde over the weekend with friends and supporters, while Jim Righeimer had a few meet and greets. Lisa Reedy and Nick Moss have also been checking in with voters and talking about the issues, they report.

Reedy says she was surprised by the amount of special interest groups courting her.