Is Costa Mesa growth-control measure ‘Draconian’ or about ‘sound decisions’? Debaters disagree
Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and City Council hopeful Jay Humphrey went toe to toe Tuesday to debate a ballot initiative that, if approved in November, would give city voters the power to accept or reject some new development projects in town after they had been approved by the council.
The two have had political clashes in the past — Righeimer defeated Humphrey by 47 votes in the 2014 council election — but both said Tuesday that their primary focus is to do what’s best for Costa Mesa.
However, whether the proposed growth-control measure fits that goal depends on whom you ask.
Humphrey, who worked with the community group Costa Mesa First to push the initiative, said it’s important to give local residents a say in determining the future of their city.
“The reality is that a lot of people have been saying they do not want high-density projects here in the city, and what we’re talking about in this initiative is those kinds of high-density projects,” he told the crowd of at least 70 people at the Halecrest Park clubhouse.
Development is a quality-of-life issue, Humphrey said, and the measure would let residents decide whether some projects would be worth possible increases in traffic and other issues.
“I trust the public to be sensible and make sound decisions,” Humphrey said.
Righeimer, on the other hand, called the initiative “Draconian.”
“It’s not about traffic, it’s not about planning,” Righeimer said. “It’s just about politics and who can do the best campaign to convince you to vote for something or against something.”
Those who are unhappy with projects that are being approved can already use the ballot box to voice their displeasure, Righeimer said.
“They’re called elections,” he said. “You elect people to council, they put people on Planning Commission and, if they don’t do well, you unelect them. But what you don’t do is change the process in the city completely, forever.”
The proposed growth-control measure, which will be put to a vote Nov. 8, would cover projects requiring a general plan amendment or zoning change that also would entail construction of 40 or more dwelling units or at least 10,000 square feet of commercial space or generate more than 200 average daily vehicle trips.
The City Council, acting on a suggestion from Righeimer, voted this month to add a competing growth measure to the ballot. The language of that proposal is expected to be hashed out at a future council meeting.
If both the city- and resident-sponsored measures were to pass, the one with the most votes would prevail.
Tuesday’s debate was presented by the Costa Mesa Republican Assembly.
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Twitter: @LukeMMoney
