Resort at Marinapark best use of land

Richard Luehrs

Oftentimes, change is hard. We get so used to seeing things for what

they are, we tend to overlook what they could be. This principle can

be applied to the Marinapark site on the Balboa Peninsula.

As I write this, our community is in turmoil over what to do with

this precious piece of bay-front property that belongs to our city.

In writing this commentary, I hope to shed some light on another

perspective -- the business perspective -- on this issue, which we

will be voting on come Tuesday.

In my years at the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, I have found

that many residents do not realize that the redevelopment and

reinvestment in our businesses and properties is essential to our

city’s vitality. Although some people may want to see our city remain

“how it used to be,” this mind-set is not beneficial to the economic

health of Newport Beach. Like any other city, Newport Beach needs to

continually reinvent itself to stay energized.

Here’s the choice before us now: Do we desire to achieve the best

use of the eight-acre Marinapark site for the long-term benefit of

current and future Newport Beach residents? More than likely, the

overwhelming answer to this question by residents is “yes.” And we,

as residents, have the responsibility to ensure that the use of this

valuable bay-front land is optimized.

Measure L opponents believe the best use of this land is as a

public park area. Surely, most residents enjoy spending time with

family and friends at the nearly 50 parks (not including our beaches)

we have here in Newport Beach. However, not all sites in Newport

Beach are suitable to function as an additional public park. The

Marinapark site falls into this category.

The public park proposed by Measure L opponents would include

boat-launch facilities, picnic areas and a soccer field. These uses

would attract hundreds, if not thousands, of additional people on a

daily basis to an already overcrowded Balboa Peninsula. This would

result in not only increased traffic, but also increased vehicle

emissions, parking demands and noise.

Additionally, the public park outlined by Measure L opponents

would require acres of turf to be maintained by our city. Because of

the location of Marinapark, the proposed grass area would create

serious environmental concerns with fertilizers, pesticides and

animal waste draining into our bay and polluting our waters.

Financial impracticalities arise when suggesting the Marinapark

site be used as public parkland. According to a city of Newport Beach

staff report, a public park would cost more than $5 million to build

and a minimum of $21,000 per year to maintain. The project would

generate very minimal, if any, revenue to cover the building and

maintenance expenses associated with this plan.

In contrast, the city’s financial analysis -- conducted by one of

the foremost companies for studying the economic impacts of resorts

-- indicates the Marinapark Resort and Community Plan will generate,

in total, more than $150 million to Newport Beach over the 50-year

term of the resort lease. This is comprised of $2.2 million in sales

tax, bed tax and lease revenue that will go to the city’s general

fund, and approximately $1 million that will go to the Newport Beach

Tidelands Fund each year.

Further, the resort plan will provide a host of additional

community assets, including the restoration of the American Legion

post, a new Girl Scout house and a new community center. Access to

the Marinapark beach will vastly improve with new pedestrian

corridors and a waterfront restaurant, both of which the public can

enjoy. As an added bonus, the outdated mobile home park currently

occupying Marinapark will be replaced with a high-quality resort run

by Regent International, a five-star resort operator known for

excellence around the world. With 110 rooms, 12 of which are

fractional ownership shares, on 96,000 square feet, the resort plan

is anything but massive. It will be a wonderfully charming,

high-class addition to the Balboa Peninsula.

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce has determined that the

Marinapark Resort and Community Plan is the best use of this site.

And contrary to the arguments of Measure L opponents -- who bemoan

the plan as a giveaway of public land for private gain -- we believe

the resort’s public-private partnership model ensures this land will

be used to its maximum benefit for generations of Newport Beach

residents.

The future of Newport Beach depends on how our businesses and

residents embrace the “work in progress” mentality. Ultimately, this

mindset will allow our community to maintain the current quality of

life we enjoy. By continually redeveloping and reinvesting in our

businesses and properties, everyone -- residents and businesses --

will benefit.

A “yes” vote on Measure L is a smart, reasonable vote that will

guarantee the best use of the Marinapark site and will ensure that

this important city asset benefits all who choose to live, work and

play in Newport Beach.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Richard Luehrs is the president and CEO of the

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.