READERS RESPOND -- What should be done with Marinapark?

As a permanent, full-time resident of Marinapark for the last 11

years, I feel it is my responsibility to express my thoughts and ideas to

what can and/or will be done with beautiful Marinapark.

Personally, when I came here, I naively bought my mobile home with

every cent I had received in selling my home in Van Nuys, never dreaming

that someday the city would devastate my life and my home by telling me

to get out for reasons of greed and misconceptions of denial to the

public of beach access and tennis court usage. To the contrary, hundreds

of times, I have attempted to use the tennis courts only to find them all

occupied by non-Marinapark residents. And they are welcome any time to

use the courts or the beach.

My thinking, albeit personal as a permanent resident of the

Marinapark, is for the city to do nothing with the park other than bring

the space rents up to market value, and have improved standards for the

homes that would bring them more in line with the Newport Beach Peninsula

image, with penalties for noncompliance, collect the million and a half

or more dollars each year for space rent, give a 15-year or longer lease

so the residents that cannot afford to upgrade their coach or pay the

increased space rents would have the option of selling their coach --

receiving some reasonable compensation toward their original investment

-- and move on to another home more affordable to them.

This costs the city officials nothing and allows for $1 million-plus

dollars to go to the city each year.

And, they retain a valuable piece of property that will appreciate a

thousand times in 15 to 20 years, keep city residents that are already in

place, purchasing their goods and other needs in Newport Beach, paying

taxes, voting and not contributing to increased traffic congestion, etc.

It simply seems to be a “win-win” situation that makes sense and is

what I am hearing most Newport Beach residents would prefer, rather than

an overpriced hotel that would change the way of life on the Balboa

Peninsula forever. Please listen to the voices of the three Newport

homeowners associations and the voters that put you on the City Council

and let us have our way of life back and our homes.

JOHN W. NICKELSON

Balboa

In response to Patty Lillegraven’s feedback on Marinapark (Sunday),

she raises some valid concerns. Parking and traffic are problems in many

parts of Newport Beach. But it is time to redevelop Marinapark. Like

Crystal Cove and the piers on Balboa Island, Marinapark sits on public

tidelands.

Public tidelands are held in trust by the city of Newport Beach for

all of the citizens of California. Tidelands are not held so a small

number of people can enjoy bayfront living at Marinapark, or oceanfront

living at Crystal Cove or have a private dock on Balboa Island at a

fraction of the market value. It is ironic that the city can rent a slip

at the Balboa Yacht Basin at $16 to $20 a foot, but receives $75 a year

for a private pier placed on public tidelands.

The statement “tourist, go home” shows just how ignorant some

residents can be with regards to how the city funds its budget. A large

portion comes from sales tax- and tidelands-generated revenue. I am sure

Lillegraven would like to believe that her property tax funds this city,

but it does not. The truth is the city receives 13 to 17 cents for every

property tax dollar taken in by the county.

When you figure in that nice pre-Proposition 13 tax base, the city

might receive just enough to cover Lillegraven’s street sweeping. To

maintain our quality of life, the City Council will need to continue to

balance the need for new income sources, with open space and traffic

congestion.

This NIMBY attitude is hypocritical. The residents of this city wish

to promote an airport at El Toro, partially based upon business travel

and tourism, but will not redevelop portions of Newport Beach to

accommodate this same influx of travel. The residents of this city need

to stop talking out of both sides of their mouth.

As for the ambience of the peninsula, was Lillegraven referring to the

Electric Tattoo parlor, the head shop or that empty warehouse called the

Emerald Forest? There is nothing like the ambience of the peninsula on

the Fourth of July, when nice families drive down that country road, also

called Balboa Boulevard, to get a new tattoo and toss back a few at the

Balboa Saloon or Class of 47. At least these businesses are surviving.

It is time for the peninsula to carry its own weight and stop relying

so heavily on tax revenue and resources from the east side of town. It is

time to pave the country road, implement a parking plan and build public

restrooms at The Wedge. By the way, where do all those tourists who use

the beaches go to the bathroom? Nevermind, water quality is an entire

different subject.

While I am not in favor of a resort at Marinapark, the time has come

to redevelop the area and the peninsula. I personally would prefer a nice

public beach open to swimming, with small boat launching, a park, a

community recreation building, and a new home for the American Legion and

some public dock space. Unfortunately, that is probably not realistic.

BRENT JACOBSEN

Newport Beach