Politics & Government

Who Are the Measure A Proponents?

A look inside the campaign in favor of moving forward the controversial Playa del Norte project at North Beach.

Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a, an initiative that will either push the proposed Playa del Norte commercial development another step toward fruition or will kill the controversial North Beach project. 

There is a core of Measure A advocates who have vigorously campaigned in favor of the Playa del Norte project that  and his LAB company want to develop at North Beach—many of whom were involved in the campaigns to elect the three council members who support the project. 

Measure A, on the ballot March 8, would move forward the proposed 42,000-square-foot retail village, named Playa del Norte.

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The project would consist of 49,000 square feet of retail/restaurant buildings, centered with a 40-foot tower. The project would include an additional 11,000 square feet of outdoor “view-oriented” plazas, according to city documents.

According to the latest financial disclosure forms filed with the city clerk Jan. 22, the No on A political action committee, Vision San Clemente, has by far outspent Yes on A's Pro North Beach Vision Coalition.

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By Jan. 22, the Pro North Beach Vision Coalition had spent just $5,939 to the No on A PAC's $23,968.

That's about to change, said project opponent and former Councilman Wayne Eggleston; the Orange County Association of Realtors and the California Association of Realtors are about to put an infusion of cash into Yes on A totaling tens of thousands of dollars.

The next campaign finance disclosure deadline is Feb. 24, so there are no public documents available at this time to confirm the influx of cash, but Bill Hart, a prominent proponent of Measure A and member of the city's Coastal Advisory Commission, confirmed Thursday that the Realtor associations were financing the campaign.

Hart said "ballot box planning," where a group seeks to undo a development that has already been approved, is a dangerous precedent for the real estate business.

Perhaps foremost among Measure A supporters are Mayor Lori Donchak, Councilman Jim Dahl and Councilman Jim Evert—the pro-Playa del Norte voting bloc on council.

Also, heading the Pro North Beach Vision Coalition advocating a "yes on A" stance is and Christy MacBride-Hart, who is the treasurer of that political action committee and Bill Hart's wife.

Dennis also acted as campaign manager to Donchak in the election last November.

Opponents say the Yes on A campaign has been spreading misinformation by connecting potential renovations to the empty, ramshackle (but historic) Miramar Theater with a “yes” vote on A. 

Though it can be argued that increased economic activity and additional parking lots in North Beach may lead to more business opportunity in renovating the rickety Miramar, Measure A has nothing to do with that project, on paper or otherwise.

Hart disputes that the pro-Playa del Norte campaign has unjustly conflated potential Miramar improvements with a "yes" vote on Measure A.

"I will strongly state that the fortunes of the entire area will benefit from Measure A," Hart said.

The idea, Hart said, is to promote redevelopment of the area using the Playa del Norte project as an anchor; he cited the Pier Bowl area as a success along the same lines. The city leased what was once the public boathouse to Fisherman's Restaurant, and it helped draw residents and tourists through food and entertainment. 

Proponents say the No on A campaign obfuscates eminent-domain issues.

Mailers by the No on A campaign picture a cartoon man attempting to protect his home from a giant government hand, portraying Playa del Norte as a government seizure of land that is then handed over to wealthy commercial developers.

The plots in question were purchased through eminent-domain proceedings in the 1970s and subsequently used as beach parking. They would be part of the Playa del Norte project and could be .

Though one could raise legitimate policy questions and philosophical problems about the use of this public property, a potential transaction with LAB for the Playa del Norte project would be legal, according to City Attorney Jeff Oderman.

Opponents, specifically of North Beach Green Alternative, have disputed the legality of the potential transaction, citing a provision of the original eminent-domain documents, but that dispute would have to be hashed out by lawyers.

Already there are rumblings and threats of lawsuits from both sides surrounding the Measure A issue, but no one has yet brought the courts into the fray.

Multimedia uploads are enabled on this article. Only the first three images were posted by the author of this article from San Clemente Patch files. Any others that appear here were posted by readers.


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