The fire rings that line Newport Beach should remain in place, says a California Coastal Commission staff report.
Members of one of the state's most powerful agencies ought to deny a request by the Newport Beach City Council to remove all 60 fire pits along Corona del Mar State Beach and the area around the Balboa Pier, according to a staff report.
The commission will vote on the request to jettison the rings when it meets over three days next week in San Diego.
The rings have been the subject of intense debate. While ultimately the city agreed with residents who argued that smoke from the fire pits could create health problems, many residents contended that the fire rings have been at the center of countless fond memories — and should continue to have a place in Newport's beach culture.
To remove the rings, the city would need a coastal development permit because they sit on commission-controlled coastal zones.