Fliers fuel big-house fears in Newport

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- Mansionization. The word alone is enough to strike

fear in Corona del Mar and Balboa Island homeowners. And the trend toward

building huge houses in neighborhoods where smaller homes set the

standard has emerged as one of the biggest issues in the city’s general

plan update process.

It’s a real problem in places such as quaint Corona del Mar, but on

Balboa Island it seems there’s nothing to fear but fear itself. Because

there, stealth and deception threaten to rule the debate.

Fliers on mansionization materializing in residents’ mailboxes

recently appear to be official city correspondence, naming City Hall as

the return address for a questionnaire. But the city has not sent or

endorsed the mailers.

“They’re incredibly deceptive,” City Councilman Steve Bromberg said.

“I don’t have a clue as to who would have done this.”

What’s worse: The fliers tout a problem that doesn’t exist everywhere,

Bromberg said.

Enlisting the labor of a Balboa Island “kitchen cabinet,” Bromberg

surveyed all 1,275 homes on Balboa’s two islands. Only 16, including two

under construction, had large homes stretching over two lots. On single

lots, 1978 zoning changes reined in the trend toward larger houses by

placing strict limits on the size of homes that can be built there.

“I, too, had been exposed to this perception that there’s a problem on

the island,” Bromberg said. “I was getting very concerned Balboa Island

was going to become one huge box.”

But after learning the facts, Bromberg said he’s relieved.

“I’m comfortable with where we’re at,” he said.

Corona del Mar, though, is another story. There, economic trends are

causing quaint cottages to be scooped up and razed to make way for much

larger houses.

“Land values have gone up so much that when developers buy a piece of

land there they have to put a fairly good-sized home on it to make it

worth their while financially,” said City Councilman Dennis O’Neil,

noting that the “flower streets” in his district are particularly prone

to the trend. “There’s a transition from the quaint village atmosphere

that many find hard to accept. . . . It’s very sad.”

But the general plan update now underway could provide a solution. The

city is gathering resident input and statistical information to update

the document that sets goals and guidelines for every aspect of the

city’s future. A series of community workshops will continue Monday with

a 5 p.m. meeting to discuss the airport commercial area and a 7 p.m.

meeting to focus on City Council District 7.

“I think the general plan update process will provide a great

opportunity to focus on this and see what will be done about it,” O’Neil

said. “It needs to be looked at, and this is a great opportunity.”

FYI

For more information about the Newport Beach general plan update and

community workshops, call the city manager’s office at (949) 644-3000.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .