Friends group cancels its protest of house

A Corona del Mar activist group has canceled plans to picket one man’s designs on building a home adjacent to Begonia Park, organizers said Thursday.

Friends of Begonia Park claims that land owner Kim Megonigal’s plans to build a 3,500-square-foot house would obstruct a picturesque view from the park of Newport Harbor.

The activists had planned a public demonstration Saturday at MacArthur Boulevard and East Coast Highway, but canceled the event due to lack of interest, group member Kenneth Jaggers said Thursday.

The group claims that the home would block as much as 50% of the park’s view and has submitted a petition to city officials with about 940 signatures in protest of the house, Jaggers said.

Members of the group will be out Saturday trying to collect more signatures at shopping centers in Corona del Mar and Newport Coast, he said.

Megonigal has had to pay about $35,000 for an environmental-impact report on his project. The report found that the house won’t significantly block public views.

The Newport Beach Planning Commission approved plans for the house earlier this year.

The City Council is slated to discuss whether the city should allow Megonigal to build his house at its next regular meeting Tuesday.