Home Ranch opponents to continue fight

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- In the days after the City Council’s overwhelming

endorsement of the Home Ranch project, Westside activists are dealing

with feelings of betrayal while “responsible growthers” plot the best

strategy for their continuing battle against it.

Councilman Chris Steel shocked his supporters and fellow Westside

activists by voting in favor of the Segerstrom development, which would

bring a flagship Ikea and a mix of industrial, residential and commercial

land use to 93 acres just north of the San Diego Freeway.

Janice Davidson, an avid supporter of Steel, said she was devastated

when he voted in favor of the development Monday. Davidson and fellow

members of Citizens for the Improvement of Costa Mesa strongly oppose the

development and thought they had Steel’s support on the issue.

“I was shocked. He kept telling us he would do the best he could, and

then he just socked it to us,” Davidson said.

There has even been hopeful talk on the group’s Internet chat group

that Steel might lose his pending perjury case, involving signatures on

his campaign filing papers, and be forced to leave his seat.

Steel was not available for comment Wednesday but addressed some of

his constituents’ concerns from the dais Monday. Sensing he would anger

some of his supporters, Steel asked people to have patience and see how

the Home Ranch project played out.

“When I spoke against Home Ranch during my campaign, it was because

they were promoting rentals and I was against that. But they’ve changed

it to owner-occupied housing,” Steel explained.

Still, Costa Mesa resident Allan Mansoor said he felt betrayed by

Steel.

“Although we are not lock step on every issue, I thought he was

representing our best interest on this one. I am greatly disappointed in

him,” Mansoor said.

While expressing dissatisfaction with Steel, both Davidson and Mansoor

praised Councilwoman Karen Robinson for opposing the project.

“She should be commended for standing strong. She did what was right,”

Mansoor said.

Robinson’s supporters -- many of the same people who vocally opposed

Home Ranch -- said they are proud of the councilwoman but need to do more

than just pat her on the back right now.

Members of Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible Growth must decide

which course of action to take against the city -- lawsuit or referendum.

Jay Humphreys, a former councilman and leader in the anti-Home Ranch

movement, said the group is leaning toward a referendum, which would take

the council’s action and put it to a vote of the people. Sandra Genis,

also a former councilwoman and opponent to Home Ranch, said the other

option would be to attack the project’s environmental report in court.

Both Humphreys and Genis said a referendum is preferable because it

allows the city’s voters to make the final decision. Both Humphreys and

Genis have organized referendums against previous Home Ranch proposals.

In November 1988, voters rejected two measures proposing Home Ranch

designs approved by council members.

“I can do referendums for about $2,000 less than most people. Nobody

does them cheaper,” Genis said.

Opponents would have only 30 days to gather signatures from about

2,000 people to get the issue put to a vote, Humphreys said. To do that,

organizers would need to print numerous copies of the city’s resolution

to approve the project -- which is 100 pages long -- and comb the streets

with petitions.

Previous referendums were done by mail but because of the size of the

Home Ranch resolution, it is financially impossible, Genis added.

“Our printing costs are going to be a couple of thousand dollars

already. There’s no way we could pay for such a large mailer also,” Genis

said.

Robin Leffler, vice president of the responsible growth group, said

she was prepared to put in the work required for a referendum.

“I’m ready,” Leffler said.

-- Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .