Mailbag: New homes in Irvine mean traffic headaches

If you think traffic is bad now — just wait. The city of Irvine is in the process of approving more than 10,000 residential units, all within 10 miles of downtown Laguna.

In an effort to raise additional funds for the construction of the Great Park (after wasting uncounted millions of dollars), Irvine is on track to approve 5,000-plus new units by converting mixed-use commercial zones to residential zones. This is in addition to the 5,000-plus units already approved for the Great Park, and an additional 1,200 units approved in the Irvine Spectrum Center.

This will generate billions of dollars for the developers (Five Points for the Great Park and Irvine Company for the Spectrum). Averaging two people per unit, this can add more than 20,000 day-trip neighbors who will visit our town, beaches and parks.

While that may have positive effects for some local business owners, the negative impacts to Laguna have not been analyzed in the Environmental Impact Report. Irvine says Laguna is outside of the “project area.”

It does not take an expert to know that our city will be greatly affected by all this development. Has Irvine offered mitigation money to build parking structures, support alternative transportation, etc.? No way. All of the increase in revenue will be spent on nice new soccer fields for its manicured community.

To be fair to our city, Laguna Beach was not given notice of any of the increase in units; local community members tipped them off. The city is now scrambling to digest the convoluted reports and is in the process of hiring a traffic consultant — more money not being paid by Irvine.

Irvine will also not extend the review period for the city. Developers and Irvine stand to make millions from the additional housing. Irvine can increase funding for the Great Park while Laguna Beach will receive more traffic, stress to our parks, beaches etc.

Do we care? Do we want this additional summer traffic? Can it get worse? We all slept through the development of “Laguna Altura” at the far end of Laguna Canyon — can we afford to sleep through this? Please call your city representatives and say enough is enough. Right now the city needs our support in fighting this project.

Ginger Osborne

Laguna Beach

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Healthy fair fare

Re. “Healthier fair food” (Mailbag, Aug. 15): I beg to differ about fair food. Yes, it can be expensive, but they do have healthy alternatives. The Greek Restaurant is the best, and very reasonable, considering. The crepe place has some good choices, as does the Pineapple Express. I was told that the place that used to sell salads just didn’t do well enough. I’ve worked the fair, and attended it, can’t remember the last time I had anything fried. The choices are there.

Marty Green

Costa Mesa

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Political letters

The Daily Pilot is showing its most endearing side by publishing the letter from the person in the Newport-Mesa area who described another ‘Mailbag’ contributor as “just plain vindictive, nasty and stupid.”

By doing this, the Pilot has shown it belongs on top of the recycle bin instead of the bottom of the trash bag. No wonder I’m compelled to open this “so-called” newspaper when it prints “such an ignorant, mean spirited article” (even if it was actually commentary/opinion and not an article/item); it shows no discretion on the editors’ part to determine for me what is a more evenly based, intelligent commentary irrespective of subject and bias.

I look forward to opening this “rag.” I appreciate the Daily Pilot giving voice to the thoughts and feelings of all my neighbors and fellow citizens, not just those with whom I agree.

Curt Honingford

Newport Beach