Group’s intent questioned by Greenlight crowd

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- It may have the word “Greenlight” in its name, but a

newly formed group supporting the planned Koll Center expansion isn’t

comprised of the usual suspects.

In fact, the band of community leaders who led the effort behind last

November’s successful Greenlight slow-growth measure say this group has

nothing to do with them.

The new group, which calls itself the Greenlight Implementation

Committee, has submitted a ballot argument supporting the Koll expansion

Measure G, the first test of the slow-growth initiative.

But Phil Arst, and other supporters of the Greenlight measure, said

the new group is deliberately trying to obfuscate the Koll issue.

“We do think it’s a calculated gesture,” Arst said. “The whole thing

is put together to confuse the voters and mislead the voters.”

Arst and others on the Greenlight steering committee, the ad hoc group

set up to implement the initiative, sent a letter to Koll developers on

Saturday protesting the new group.

The council approved the Koll expansion July 24 on a slim 4-3 vote and

the development kicked off the voter-approval requirements called for in

the new Greenlight law.

Koll officials hope to build a 250,000-square-foot, 10-story office

tower on their current property at the intersection of Jamboree Road and

MacArthur Boulevard.

Four Newport residents signed the argument supporting the Koll

project.

They included Paul Salata, founder of “Mr. Irrelevant Week,” Tony

Sansone, Barbara Glabman and Elizabeth Hart.

“I think it’s a fair development,” Sansone said when contacted Friday.

Sansone, who said he is not related to the former mayor and Councilman

Phil Sansone, referred other questions to Scott Hart, the Newport Beach

consultant hired by Koll developer Timothy Strader, Sr. Hart, who did not

return calls for comment, is married to Elizabeth Hart. Calls to the Hart

home were also not returned.

In the argument supporting the Koll Center, authors said the project

is “a perfect example of how ... Greenlight is working for all of Newport

Beach.”

The argument trumpets the project as meeting the “guidelines, spirit

and intent” of Greenlight.

The initiative, which passed on a 63.1% margin Nov. 7, requires

certain projects to face a public vote.

If a project needs a general plan amendment and adds more than 100

peak-hour car trips or dwelling units, or 40,000 square feet to the

plan’s current allowance, it must go before a citywide vote.

Arst said supporters wrote an argument “replete with untruthful

statements.”

In their argument against the Koll project, Arst and others say the

expansion will further clog crowded streets.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .