A state bill that would pave the way for a park at West Coast Highway
and Superior Avenue in Newport Beach has taken another step toward
reality.
That bill, introduced by state Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine), passed
the full Senate on June 5 on a 39-0 vote.
Known as Senate Bill 124, the legislation would transfer vacant land
owned by Caltrans to the city at a reduced price of $1.13 million.
Newport Beach has earmarked an additional $5 million to develop a park
at the area, known as Sunset Ridge.
The city's attempts to develop a park at the land for a decade have
not been successful, in part because of a stalemate with Caltrans over
how much the land is worth. The state agency wants the market rate of
about $4 million.
Using a loophole in state law, Johnson's bill would allow the city to
buy the land at the price Caltrans paid for it in the late 1960s.
