Zoning

NEWPORT BEACH — Planning commissioners did not approve an updated citywide zoning code Thursday night, a move that capped an extensive two-year review process with discord and confusion. Three of the commissioners voted in favor of the draft; the remaining four opposed it for various reasons. The most controversial provision would limit how large someone can build a home and, through a complicated numerical formula, determine how the front of that home must look. "I think we missed an opportunity to be creative," said Commissioner Brad Hillgren, who voted no. The City Council now has the option to appeal the commission's denial of the draft zoning ordinance.

NEWPORT BEACH — I attended the Harbor Commission meeting July 14, where commissioners spoke the words "Proposed Zoning Changes" and "Planning Commission." Now for some reason my mind shuts down like a fourth-grader reading his first word problem when I hear the words zoning and planning at city meetings. Early that next morning at about 4:30, my eyes opened wide and I thought to myself: "There is a layer of doubt hovering over the zoning laws in Newport Beach." So let me back up a little, because my father always told me, "you cannot fix the problem unless you know what's wrong."

Alicia Robinson The state will continue trying to sell a vacant 4.22-acre parcel of land at the Fairview Developmental Center, but a lower-density zoning may make it less attractive to developers. The City Council had not made a decision about the zoning at press time. Since last year, state officials have been looking to unload the property and put the proceeds toward a projected deficit of more than $8 billion. Prompted by the suggestion that the Orange County Fairgrounds be sold to bank some cash for the state, the Costa Mesa City Council last summer began to review the zoning of publicly held properties in the city that might go up for sale.

A state bill that would make drug and rehab homes comply with local zoning codes before they could get their state licenses renewed passed the Senate on Wednesday. Senate Bill 268, written by Sen. Tom Harman, will now move to the Assembly. “Residential treatment centers are an important part of the recovery process. They should be run with the absolute safety of their residents in mind. I am pleased my colleagues saw the benefit of balancing the needs of those in treatment with the safety of our neighborhoods,” Harman said in a written statement.

Lolita Harper The first test of the city's new zoning requirements was a success, planning commissioners said Monday as they denied plans to build five houses on a large Eastside lot. The commissioners unanimously turned down the owner of 258 Santa Isabel Ave., spurning his request to deviate from the city's new lot-size requirements and obtain a "planned development residential" zoning designation, which generally...

Lolita Harper COSTA MESA -- Business owners from West 19th Street plan to pack City Council chambers tonight in opposition to a possible rezoning of a small portion of the street that they say will devalue their property. Nori Bunasawa, owner of the Judo Journal at 880 W. 19th St., said he will present the City Council with a petition of about 100 signatures formally opposing any action by the city to turn what is formally called the "19th Street Transitional Zone" into a purely residential neighborhood.

Lolita Harper COSTA MESA -- Mayor Linda Dixon was successful at Monday night's City Council meeting in reopening a zoning issue for a small stretch of West 19th Street, convincing her colleagues on the dais they needed further clarification. The council voted 4 to 1 to rehear the issue, which questions whether the zoning of a portion of the busy street should be redesignated for residential use -- a designation it had more than 25 years ago. Councilman Gary Monahan dissented.

Lolita Harper COSTA MESA -- The "transitional zoning" of a small, residential portion of West 19th Street may have been lifted, but the fog that surrounds the issue is still very thick. Since the City Council voted unanimously this month to return the area formally known as the "19th Street Transitional Zone" to a purely residential neighborhood -- blocking the opening of any business that is not already established -- more questions about code enforcement and property values and rights have been raised, officials said.

The Costa Mesa City Council voted to go forward on creating a specific plan to put guidelines around the design, layout and uses at the Orange County Fairgrounds that would take effect when California sells the property. As it sits now, the city has little, if any, control on the property because it is owned by the state. But of course we all know that it will not be owned by the state come this time next year. Hence the council’s action to have a specific plan in place for that eventuality.

o7Here are items the Planning Commission will consider tonight. f7 SANTA ANA HEIGHTS FIRE STATION The city plans to build a fire station and training tower at the corner of Acacia Street and Mesa Drive in Santa Ana Heights, but the property's zoning needs to be changed first. Residents were initially concerned about the height of the tower, because it slightly exceeds what's now allowed in the area. But city staff members have hammered out a special zoning proposal that would list strict criteria for the design and operation of the fire facilities.

NEWPORT BEACH - As if John Cook needed more of an advantage at the Toshiba Classic this week. The 11-time PGA Tour winner, who grabbed his ninth victory on the Champions Tour in January, doesn't totally have an edge on the Newport Beach Country Club golf course. But it's safe to say Cook is in his comfort zone. He owns a home in nearby Corona del Mar and is just "five minutes," away from NBCC. Cook calls it a bonus, as he looks to add to his hot start on the Champions Tour this year.

Contractors for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have begun dredging sediment in the Santa Ana River Marsh in Newport Beach - some of which is being piped just offshore for beach replenishment, drawing concerns from residents. The roughly $5-million project, which will restore channel depths to improve water circulation and tidal flushing necessary for maintaining the 92-acre salt marsh habitat, is expected to be complete by the end of March. The Army Corps project is federally funded.

A monument is an edifice, an architecturally significant structure that serves to remind us of great deeds by an individual or group. Arguably, the new City Hall will serve as a monument to the city's leadership and its visionary planning and maintenance of the city's assets, symbolizing their, and our, civic achievements while also serving the functionality of administrating the city's operational needs. A legacy is what one leaves behind, a lasting memory of past activity. The old City Hall and the immediate neighborhood it administered are not the legacy that the city leadership would like to leave behind on the "West Bank" of Newport Beach.

IRVINE - Before Corona del Mar High's basketball game on Friday, Coach Ryan Schachter said he had a little talk with Max Stone. The talk involved him talking smack to his best shooter. "About his lack of shooting prowess," Schachter said is what he discussed with his guard. "I was mostly teasing him, but he took it personal. He hasn't made more than [six three-pointers in a game this season]. "He was mad, though. I didn't think he'd get mad. " The talk fired up Stone. He came out determined in the Sea Kings' game at Beckman.

Whenever Max Stone is open, he has the green light to shoot the basketball. It doesn't matter if he's missed his last six shots, or hasn't made one because Corona del Mar High relies on its guard to score. If he doesn't produce, the Sea Kings are usually in trouble. For their sake, Stone is one of the top three-point shooters in Orange County, averaging around three per game. But there have been times he has hesitated to take a wide-open look and opted to pass. This is when Coach Ryan Schachter gets on Stone's case.

Out of dozens of ideas, community members expressed the most interest Wednesday night in creating a two-way language immersion program and a focus on theater and costume design in the Estancia High School zone. The school district hosted a community-input meeting at Estancia High School to gauge parent's interests in creating two flagship programs - one academic, one arts - where students can focus on a specific interest from K-12 in each high school zone. Residents also expressed a high interest in mathematics and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM.

HUNTINGTON BEACH - The Newport Harbor High football team scored a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds earlier this season to defeat arch-rival Corona del Mar. Friday night, it got to experience how the other side of the ball lives with receivers flooding the end zone and the clock dwindling to nothing. And the Sailors lived to celebrate, after senior Talalelei Teaupa batted down a fourth-down pass in the end zone as time expired to preserve a 21-14 Sunset League victory over host Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach High.

For inspiration, Robert Stefano knows where to find it. When you manage 29 games, as he has since Memorial Day, you need to find ways to fire up yourself and your team. All Stefano has to do is look at the amount of support one of his players gets and the kid cannot even play. Stefano said Caleb Ricketts broke his leg in practice before he could play for the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. 11-and-under Bronco All-Star team in a Pony Region tournament a couple of weeks ago. Ricketts still comes to the games, along with his crutches, and sits in the dugout.

Newport Beach's Balboa Fun Zone unveiled a new attraction called "Ocean Motion" earlier this month. It's part of ExplorOcean/Newport Harbor Nautical Museum's efforts to "put the fun back in the Fun Zone" and revamp the 75-year-old tourist attraction for visitors and locals alike, according to Leslie Perovich, vice president of marketing and development for the museum. The new attraction offers riders a chance to safely "flip, bounce and fly" with a bungee cord apparatus that launches riders up to 20 feet into the air, providing them panoramic views of Newport Harbor and the surrounding area.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with some young men, all newly minted graduates of Corona del Mar High School, who did something so ridiculously cool that I just had to share it. First, you must picture these eight men. They are whip-smart, articulate and ambitious, with a combined average GPA well north of 4.0. Each lettered in at least one varsity sport, and all are headed to prestigious universities. One aspires to become the Los Angeles district attorney; another wants to be a Marine Corps officer, and others plan to pursue studies in physics, biology, business and engineering.