IRVINE — A group of residents has introduced an initiative that gives voters the power to weigh in on whether sizable development projects in the city can move forward.

Karen Jaffe and Arthur Strauss, on behalf of Irvine for Responsible Growth, recently submitted to the city “An initiative to give the people of Irvine control of their future.”

If this initiative passes, developers would have to get voter approval for any project that adds significant traffic, 40 or more housing units or 10,000 square feet of non-residential use and requires general plan or zoning changes.

Jaffe told the Register on Thursday, Sept. 7 that the initiative — modeled after a ballot measure Costa Mesa voters passed in November — is a way for residents to compete against “the paid lobbyists and campaign contributions from the development community.”

Development, business and other special interest groups and wealthy individuals poured at least $1.1 million into a network of independent political committees trying to influence voters in this past Irvine mayoral and City Council races.

“This is not a politically aligned initiative,” Jaffe said. “This is a grass roots effort to restore the citizen voice into the process. The citizens and residents of the city need a voice into the process and simply three minutes at a (city meeting) is insufficient.”

Opponents, however, say the initiative could hurt economic growth and slow down crucial developments in Orange County’s third largest city and employment hub.

Councilwoman Melissa Fox said the initiative would hinder the building of affordable housing and child care facilities as well as the developing Orange County Great Park.

“It goes so far that I can’t support it,” she said.

The petitioners must collect at least about 12,000 signatures, 10 percent of the city’s registered voters, to put the initiative on the ballot. They must submit signatures by March to qualify for the November 2018 ballot, city spokesman Craig Reem said.

Jaffe and a few other residents of Irvine’s Turtle Rock community formed a Facebook group called Irvine for Responsible Growth to oppose Concordia University Irvine’s plan to renovate its campus. They said the project would add traffic to an already congested area.

The City Council approved the project in May with conditions that the university work to appease residents’ concerns. Jaffe, however, said she feels like city officials didn’t do enough and spend more time listening to developers and lobbyists than residents.

“I had to take so much time away from my job to get our voices heard,” she said. “The deck is stacked against us and we don’t have anybody that hears us.”

She said she is also upset the City Council directed staff in March to start processing the Irvine Company’s application to build a 1,710-unit apartment complex on Sand Canyon Avenue (the project still requires council approval).

The Irvine Co. emailed the following statement to the Register on Friday, Sept. 8 regarding the initiative:

“Guided by the master plan, Irvine has evolved into a world-class city beloved for its schools, safety, open space and village lifestyle. In the coming months, those who love and respect our city will need to weigh the intended and unintended consequences of the proposed initiative that, if enacted, will override the master plan.”

Jaffe also opposes the city’s plan to widen the eight-lane Jamboree Road to a 10-lane road, as well as the council’s decision to swap the city’s 125-acre parcel at the former El Toro Marine base with developer FivePoint’s land for a veterans cemetery.

FivePoint, which oversees the development of 9,500 homes around the Great Park, stated it’s too early for the company to comment on the proposed measure.

“We are still reading and evaluating the proposed ballot measure and its potential impact on the economy and lifestyle that has made Irvine a model for growth and the envy of cities around the world,” FivePoint spokesman Steve Churm said Thursday.

Mayor Don Wagner, who was elected to the council in November along with Fox, said the new council deserves more time to tackle the city’s traffic problems. Since his election, the council has reinstated the Transportation Commission and hired a transportation manager.

“We just started on those things,” he said. “The (initiative) is not a good one, certainly not at this time.”

Wagner added residents have already voiced their opinions in the November election when they voted for him over Mary Ann Gaido, who campaigned to halt new housing developments.

Jaffe emphasized the initiative, unlike Gaido’s proposal, doesn’t stop development. Instead, it ensures the proper infrastructure and studies are in place before the building begins, she said.

Wagner and Fox said the initiative would slow development at the Great Park development, especially the 233-acre Cultural Terrace where the city is considering an amphitheater, a lake, a library and museum.

“Currently, the Great Park is not great and has been a political hot potato for the past three or four city councils,” Jaffe said. “I think it’s high time that the people of the city vote on what they want to see in the Great Park.”

Fox also said she’s worried the initiative would hurt Irvine’s chance of landing Amazon’s second headquarters.

Amazon announced Thursday it will spend more than $5 billion to build another headquarters in North America to house as many as 50,000 employees. Just several hours later, Irvine officials said the city plans to submit a proposal to Amazon.

“It would tell everyone that Irvine is closed for business,” Fox said about the initiative. “The job market is changing and we need to be able to build our businesses to accommodate them.”

Jaffee disagrees, saying the initiative would help companies attract employees because they would see less traffic congestion.

Irvine is home to 17,000 companies and 170,000 jobs, according to the city.

Jaffe said the initiative would also apply to projects that have already been approved based on an “incomplete” environmental impact report.

“The building should be stopped until these proper studies are completed,” Jaffe said. “We don’t want to stop development. We want to make sure it’s done responsibly.”