From: Amy Hykes
To: City Clerk"s Office
Subject: Residents deserve a meaningful voice in major land use decisions Date: April 27, 2026 1:58:22 PM
[EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above.
I am deeply concerned about the City Council’s approval of high-density housing projects throughout Newport Beach. These decisions have the potential to permanently change the character of our city.
Residents deserve a real voice in major land-use decisions, especially when projects could significantly increase traffic, density, building height, and strain on local infrastructure. Many of us chose to live in Newport Beach because of its quality of life — not because we wanted the congestion and overdevelopment seen in cities closer to Los Angeles.
Mayor Lauren Kleiman ran on a promise to “preserve the quality of life” in Newport Beach. Supporting projects and zoning changes that open the door to large-scale, high- density development does not reflect that promise.
We are asking Newport Beach to take a step back and reevaluate its process, priorities, and commitment to public trust. The Council has approved broad zoning changes, grouped multiple properties together, and changed height and density limits in ways that many residents did not clearly understand at the time. Projects such as the Ford Road development and 300 Newport Center raise serious concerns. Two 270-foot luxury condo towers would dramatically alter the look, feel, and traffic patterns of Newport Beach.
The city should not move forward with major land-use changes through complicated zoning actions that make it difficult for residents to understand what is really being approved. Newport Beach residents deserve transparency, clear communication, and meaningful public input before decisions are made that could reshape the city for generations.
Thanks, Amy Hykes
April 28, 2026
Study Session Item