Dunes hotel foes back Measure S

-- Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Stop the Dunes Hotel, an activist group opposing the

proposed resort with 470 rooms and 31,000 square feet of conference

space, has endorsed growth-control Measure S.

If approved in November, the measure would put to a citywide vote any

development that allows an increase of more than 100 peak-hour car trips

or dwelling units or 40,000 square feet over the general plan allowance.

“What [Measure S] will do for us is require a vote of the people

before the Dunes [project] can be passed,” said Susan Caustin, the

co-chairperson of Stop the Dunes. “For a more global picture ... [Measure

S] will help to balance the influence of large developers.”

Measure S opponents questioned the importance of the announcement.

“Measure S [supporters] are essentially the same people as Stop the

Dunes [supporters,]” said Tom Edwards, co-chairman of the Measure T

campaign, also known as the Traffic Phasing initiative.

Stop Polluting Our Newport, an environmental activist group, is the

only other organization that has endorsed Measure S.