Commentary: Get informed about the Banning Ranch project

Last week I went to an informational meeting on the impact of the proposed Banning Ranch development project and was very surprised for two reasons.

First, I cannot believe what a negative impact the development of Banning Ranch will have on the quality of life for those of us living to the south of the 55 Freeway. And second, I cannot believe that I haven’t heard more about this project, which will play such an important role in our daily lives.

This project has been in the making for several years, and it is only recently that I have become aware of it. I am an avid newspaper reader so it makes me wonder how many people there are in the Newport-Mesa area who know nothing about Banning Ranch. I hope that they will take the time to learn before it’s too late to do anything about it.

Also, it will be the largest building project since the beginning of the ‘90s in our area — larger than five other relatively new developments combined. It is also the last large coastal open space in Orange County.

Evidently, the former Newport Beach City Council gave it its blessing in 2012, but there is still one last hurdle it must pass — the Coastal Commission, which will be conducting hearings on it in Long Beach Oct. 7-8.

If this area is developed the first most visible problem that residents of Newport-Mesa will notice will be the increased traffic congestion and the resultant air and noise pollution. It is projected that there will be an additional 15,000 car trips per day in the Newport-Mesa and Huntington Beach region once construction is complete.

There will be dramtic increases on Coast Highway, 17th Street, the 55 Freeway and in Costa Mesa. Yet traffic is already a nightmare in these areas.

Other problems with the development of this valuable property abound. Destruction and loss of this last, uninhabited green area along the coast means loss of wildlife, flora and fauna, possible run-off when it rains, the use of millions of gallons of water and noise pollution from excavation and heavy construction.

If you want to learn more about what you can do to keep this disastrous development from taking place, you can consult many websites that are already set up, and a new one which is in the making: saveourcoastnow.org which will link directly to the Banning Ranch Conservancy website. You can also Google Save Banning Ranch for additional information.

LYNN LORENZ lives in Newport Beach.