No triple-dog dares, please, at least not just yet

Marinapark. Triangle Square. St. Andrew’s Church. Soccer fields.

More and more the issues of land and facilities management will

command our attention. In some case, these discussions will center on

a fixed facility, such as the proposed expansion of St. Andrew’s

Presbyterian Church or the future of Triangle Square or Marinapark.

The question for these facilities is: “We have the location, but

what are we supposed to do with it?”

In other cases, the discussion will be open-ended, and the

question will be: “We have a need (such as more soccer fields), how

do we fulfill it?” Or that question could be: “Do we fulfill the

need?”

Either way, there are systems and processes set up to manage and

resolve all these issues. In some cases, such as Marinapark, the

process was the ballot box. But instead of deciding what to do with

the space, Newport Beach residents voted what not to do with it. Not

necessarily a bad start, but now the process is starting all over

again as residents offer their opinions on Marinapark’s fate.

In the case of Triangle Square, there was a recent suggestion to

circumvent the systems and processes and go straight to resolution.

The problem with the suggestion of eminent domain, as it was offered,

was that did not allow for either public opinion on the use of

eminent domain or public opinion on what should be at the Triangle

Square location should the city exercise its U.S. Supreme

Court-sanctioned right to bully the owner of any property deemed not

to be in the public interest.

The leap to eminent domain reminded me of the flagpole scene in

the excellent movie, “A Christmas Story,” in which one kid is daring

another to stick his tongue on a flagpole, frozen by the winter. The

kid who is challenging did not go through the normal steps of “dare,”

“double dare,” “double dog dare,” and so on all the way through

“triple-dog dare,” the highest, most daring dare there is.

Instead, the kid offered a double dare then went straight to

“triple-dog dare,” which the narrator pointed out was a serious

breach of etiquette.

Sometimes the wheels turn very slowly. And sometimes, some people

get a little antsy over what they perceive to be foot-dragging when

it is really just a system in motion. Slow motion, perhaps, but

motion nonetheless.

These specific land and facility-use issues are not to be taken

lightly. They are not to be decided by whim or by cavalier

suggestions based on one’s opinion or feelings. Feelings don’t count.

What counts is input and study. What counts in issues such as

these is building consensus, not heavy-handed directives.

Sometimes, yes, executive decisions have to be made. But not in

these cases -- not now.

For a model of how to do it right, keep your eye on Newport Beach.

And while I may wish that the up-or-down vote on a luxury hotel at

the Marinapark site would have included alternatives on the same

ballot, I applaud the process. In fact, I give it a standing ovation.

We live in a land where property is revered. Property, in these

parts, is sacred. In the private sector, we are rejoicing at the

steep escalation in the value of our homes, while at the same time, a

few hand-wringers want us to know that our bubble is going to burst

-- and soon.

I happen to disagree and still challenge any of these forecasters

to show me an apples-to-apples comparison that will justify their

nervousness.

Either way, boon or bust, property is on our minds constantly.

Public-sector property issues are more complex, not only because

we have run out of dirt and more often must rely on infill to meet

demand, but because the number of decision-makers and influencers is

tremendous.

Neither Costa Mesa nor Newport Beach is circled around the

flagpole triple-dog daring anyone these days. But we need to be

careful that, like those kids, we don’t say or do anything that will

ruin our relationships with our neighbors.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(714) 966-4664 or send story ideas to [email protected].