EDITORIAL

A bad scene is unfolding along Costa Mesa’s Canary Drive.

Residents of the block-long cul-de-sac -- including Councilwoman Karen

Robinson -- are battling plans they say would bring too many people to

their little street. Those plans are for an entrance, complete with ramp,

to Fairview Park. They claim the ramp will draw people to the easy

entrance. These people, the residents say, will park their cars in front

of homes, packing the street full.

Instead, they want the city to build a staircase and a landscaped

wall, changes they say would not limit access to the park because there

already are seven entrances, including wheel-chair access at the park’s

main entrance. City staff, at this point, has agreed and proposed the

staircase plan to the council earlier this month. The trouble with this

argument is that the main entrance is a half-mile away -- quite a

distance for parents pushing a stroller, not to mention people in

wheelchairs.

But even more disturbing is the idea, the impression at least, that

the residents of this street are trying to deny an obvious improvement to

the park that would benefit far more people than live on this tiny block.

It sure seems like a bad case of NIMBYism to us.

To be sure, city officials say while residents’ concern played a part

in their decision to build stairs, more important was the presence of

utility and power lines under the ground there, which would have to be

moved to put in a ramp.

If that is the main reason, it sounds acceptable. But coupled with the

pressure from a powerful group of residents, including Robinson, the city

faces an unusually high burden of proof. City officials should address

this more thoroughly and satisfy the many residents challenging the

proposal for stairs instead of a ramp. And it should be done before the

council makes a final decision on the plans.

The issue has raised a separate concern, as well. During the council

meeting when the issue came up, Robinson removed herself from the dais

because of her clear conflict-of-interest. But then she proceeded to

speak as a resident from the council floor.

Robinson needs to understand that as an elected official, she can’t

have it both ways. While we understand that she received the city

attorney’s blessing to do this, she can’t expect that just because she’s

not sitting with her colleagues, she won’t be treated as a councilwoman.

Her words are quite naturally going to carry more weight, no matter

where she is.

And what she really needs to understand is that her words need to

carry that weight for the entire community, which she represents, and not

solely her immediate Mesa Verde neighbors.