NEWPORT BEACH BALLOT MEASURESUpdate: Slow-growth Measure X defeated

Newport Beach voters said enough growth control already as they sent Measure X, the update to the Greenlight initiative, to defeat on Tuesday.

With nearly all votes counted on Wednesday morning, opposition to the measure was an overwhelming 62%, about where it had stayed since the polls closed.

For complete election results click here

The competing Measure V, an update to the city’s general plan, passed more narrowly with 52.9% of voters approving it.

“Shocked the heck out of me!” Debra Allen said when she heard the first results that showed Measure X was losing. She supported Measure V and opposed X, but she had expected Measure X to pass.

It apparently shocked Measure X supporters too. Greenlight residents group leader Phil Arst booted photographers from the Measure X party at his house Tuesday night and wouldn’t come to the phone when a reporter called.

Measure W, an eminent domain restriction measure, easily passed with 75.5% support as precinct results came in.

Measure X was designed to tighten the voter controls on development that were put in place in 2000 with Measure S, also known as Greenlight.

But those who opposed it said the measure is unfair to property owners and would invite legal challenges the city would be forced to defend. They were pleased with the early returns.

“I feel very good about it, and I hope the early indications hold up,” said Dennis O’Neil, a former Newport Beach mayor who led the No on Measure X campaign. “I take a very strong stand against Measure X as being very destructive for our community.”

Measure V is expected to guide land use in Newport Beach through 2025. Supporters say it’s a long-overdue plan that emphasizes the city’s residential character and was created with input from a wide swath of city residents.

Mayor Don Webb, who led the pro-Measure V campaign, said although the complete results weren’t yet in, “I’m very, very happy about the initial results. It’s even better than I could have predicted.”

Critics, largely backers of Measure X, charge that the general plan update would increase traffic and allow high-rise condos and other big developments residents don’t want.

Webb said he was even more pleased about the flagging support of Measure X. It would have preempted some of the changes in the general plan by requiring votes on projects the plan allows.