HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 - Project 2000PROJECT2000
A Planning Vision for the Balboa Peninsula
Newport Beach, California
A Report Submitted to the City Council of
The City of Newport Beach
By the
Balboa Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee
("BPPAC")
January 20, 1997
Table of Contents
Page
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF 2
THE COMMITTEE'S ASSIGNMENT 3
BPPAC WORK PROGRAM 4
BALBOA PENINSULA BACKGROUND 6
History 6
Marine Heritage 7
Current Conditions 8
CREATING A NEW BALBOA PENINSULA PLAN 10
Peninsula Demographics and Residential Transition 11
Building on Strengths - Catalysts for Change 12
COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 16
Overall Theme 16
Establishing Objectives 16
Building on Residential Strengths 16
A New City Approach to Planning 17
Recognizing Transitional Changes 17
Realistic Expectations 18
Achieving a Balance 18
A COUNCIL COMMITMENT - PLANNING &
POLICY OBJECTIVES
19
Recognition of Necessity
19
Geographic Constraints
19
Quality Street Network
20
Architectural Guidelines
20
User Friendly Changes
20
Parking Management
21
Bay Management
22
Alcohol and Security
25
Signage and Aesthetics
27
Hospitality
32
COMMITTEE COMPREHENSIVE
PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS 34
Page
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES 55
A. Establishing Priorities for Implementation 55
B. Financing the Vision - Cost of Status Quo and
The Economics of Change 56
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE 59
Appendix
A. Original Resolution - Formation of BPPAC
B. BPPAC's 15 Point Plan
C. Urban Design Camp Report and Workshop Results (under separate
cover)
Volume 1 - Study
Volume 2 - Appendix
Summary of Workshops
Transportation study
15 Point Plan
Volume 3 - Appendix
Copies of District Workshop Exercise Sheets
Cover Photo Courtesy of Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau
The Balboa Peninsula Objectives Revisited
"The completion of these improvements should add impetus to the development
of this community as a residential and yachting center. Ten years ago it was
doubtful whether Newport Harbor was to become a second class commercial
harbor featuring fish canneries and other allied industries which require access
to the sea but do not need deep channels or extensive water ways, or whether
the trend of affairs should lead it to become a Coney Island with concession
zones and cheap amusements as its claim to fame, or whether it would take the
course it has followed and become a high-class rendezvous of people who love
the sea and like to live where they can breathe the ocean air and listen to the
music of the pounding surf. The fact that there is no commerce in Newport
Harbor, no fish canneries, no sewage running into the bay and no other source
of contamination, adds to the attractiveness of the place and assures the
yachtsman a pleasant environment. Local yachtsmen cherish the hope that
others of the fraternity making their home port elsewhere will become more
_frequent visitors in the fixture. The front door is going to be wide open and
visitors will be always welcome. "
From the Log of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club
By Joseph A. Beek, Staff Commodore
November, 1929
Printed by permission of Seymour Beek, son of Joseph A. Beek
Acknowledgments
All members of Balboa Peninsula
Planning Advisory Committee (BPPAC)
wish to thank Councilman John Hedges
for his leadership in moving to form
BPPAC in 1995 and Mayor Jan Debay
and members of the Newport Beach City
Council for recognizing the need to
establish planning policies that will
revitalize the Balboa Peninsula's
economic climate and residential quality
of life. Your leadership and
encouragement for the District
Workshop process has been met with an
unprecedented coalition of resident and
merchant involvement and the extended
opportunity for all members of the
-1-
community to participate in this
important and challenging assignment.
In particular, the Committee would like
to thank City Manager Kevin Murphy,
Assistant City Manager Sharon Wood,
Planners John Douglas and Patty
Temple, and numerous City staff for their
patience and assistance during this
assignment, especially during the data
collection phase of the project. Also, we
would be remiss not to acknowledge the
early guidance of Carol Hoffman who
actively participated in the Committee's
development of the 15 Point Plan in
1995.
Balboa Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee
Committee Members
Fritz L. Duda Timothy C. Collins
Committee Chairman Committee Co -Chairman
Owner Owner/Principal
Fritz Duda Company T.C. Collins & Associates
Newport Beach, California Newport Beach, California
Don Dabney Jim Dobrott
Retired Retired
Newport Beach, California Newport Beach, California
Anne Gifford, Esq.* Rush Hill
Mediator Owner and Chairman
J -A -M -S ENDISPUTE The Hill Partnership, Inc.
Orange, California Newport Beach, California
Michael Kranzley* Tim Strader
Vice President President
Paine Webber The Legacy Group
Newport Beach, California Newport Beach, California
William Wren
President
William A. Wren Company
Newport Beach, California
Councilmembers
Jan Debay, Mayor Dennis O'Neil, Councilmember
John Hedges, Councilmember John Noyes, Councilmember
(March, 1995 - Dec., 1996) (effective Dec., 1996)
1
City Staff
Sharon Wood John Douglas
Assistant City Manager Planning Department
Patty Temple
Planning Department
Advisory Consultants
William Blurock, FAIR Jack Camp
Blurock Partnership Urban Design Camp
*Also member of the Newport Beach Planning Commission
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Balboa Peninsula Study Area
The Committee's Assignment
BPPAC (or the Corunittee) was commissioned by
• the City of Newport Beach according to
Resolution No. 95-32 dated March 13, 1995
(Appendix A) to advise City Council and make
. recommendations to facilitate the revitalization of
Balboa Peninsula's commercial land use element
while enhancing the integrity of its residential
community. The Committee was assigned to:
•
' Develop a Stud} Scope: To investigate
the general problem and to determine
how best to address it in terms of the
precise geographical boundaries, the
A staffing and/or consultant requirements
and a work program. The work program
. would be designed to provide ample
opportunities for public hearings and
citizens' input.
-J-
Determine Funding Requirements: To
determine what funds or other resources
are necessary to complete the study
outlined in the first task and shall seek to
secure such funds by making
recommendations to the City Council,
seeking grants or other appropriate
means.'
Coordinate and Monitor Study Program:
To direct and participate in the study
process and ensure that periodic progress
reports are trade to the City Council.
Recommend Implementation Measures:
To recommend to the Citv Council a
plan, including priorities, of the ongoing
organizational and financial commitments
necessary to implement the preferred
alternatives.
On February 26. 1996, the City Council
approved a Budget Amendment to cover an expenditure of
530.000.00 which was subsequently applied to the Urban
Design Camp engagement.
BPPA C Work Program
Phase I - BPPAC 15 Point Plan
The work of the Committee commenced on March
13, 1995. The initial work of the Conunittee
consisted of review and information gathering
whereby planning staff and department heads
contributed both information and suggestions
relative to the various planning issues to be
addressed on the Balboa Peninsula. The
Committee also took time to revisit prior studies
and reports on planning matters, particularly the
Regional Urban Design Assistance Team
(RUDAT) reports from 1983 and 1993, Traflic
Studies in 1968 and 1986, the current Specific
Plans for the districts and the recent report by
Linda S. Congleton & Associates on the
retail/commercial land use element on the
Peninsula. As the Committees preliminary
recommendations took shape, a member- of the
Committee met with every potentially affected Citi
department head and solicited ongoing input and
comments from the Economic Development
Committee. As a result of these sessions, the
Committee formulated a 15 Point Plan and
presented a preliminary report to the joint City
Council, Planning Commission and Economic
Development Committee working session on July
11, 1995. The 15 Point Plan addressed the
following issues:
N
Balboa Peninsula - Sense of Place:
Differentiate the unique roles of the four
principal commercial areas of the
Peninsula.
2. Mission Statement: Adherence to the
Mission Statement which will enhance
and expand residential elements;
consolidate and redevelop quality
commercial; enhance landscape/
streetscape; consider establishment of a
Redevelopment Area Plan; and, provide
incentives to assure the accomplishment
of both transitional and long term
planned objectives.
3. Residential Compatibility
4. Strategy for Attracting Quality
Visitors
�. Crime and Security
6. Parking Management Plan
7. Open Bayfront to Visiting Boater
Access
8. Quality Hospitality
9. Maintenance and Code Enforcement
10. New Sign Ordinance
11. Traffic Circulation
12 Major Site Opportunities (for
Redevelopment)
13. Transfer Traffic and Parking Impacts
14. Community Issues Management
15. Transitional Interim Measures
Phase II - The Workshop Process
In order to facilitate a community based planning
process, the Committee recommended that an
outside consultant be retained in order to conduct
community workshops in four key areas on the
Peninsula. These areas were designated as:
Lido Town Center (formerly referred to
as Lido Village/Civic Center)
2. Cannery Village
3. McFadden Square
4. Balboa Village (formerly referred to as
Central Balboa)
Upon receipt of the 15 Point Plan by the City
Council on February 26, 1996, the firm of Urban
Design Camp was retained in order to facilitate a
,,vorkshop process, utilizing the Plan as a
-5-
guideline, and to return with a concept plan for the
Peninsula. Individual representatives were
appointed by the City Council to participate in the
workshop sessions which were also open to and
attended by other interested members of the
community. Through the workshop process, each
of the four key areas identified issues and provided
suggestions that were incorporated into the Urban
Design Camp Report (attached as Appendix Q.
In order to ensure a comprehensive participatory
process, the Committee also conducted Peninsula -
wide workshops to review both the Urban Design
Camp Report and discuss Peninsula -wide issues
with the Committee. During these workshops,
priorities were established with respect to each of
the four key areas and subsequently in some
instances, due to their identification in multiple
districts or overlap or potential of certain
recommendations to accomplish multiple
objectives, such items evolved to a status of
Peninsula -wide recommendations. The combined
workshops and Peninsula -wide review process
was completed on approximately December 11,
1996, when the Committee adopted the BPPAC
Comprehensive Reconunendations which
formulates the outline in the Committee
Comprehensive Planning Recommendations
section of this report to the City Council.
In summar v, the Committee estimates that in
excess of 535 volunteer hours were consumed by
the workshop and Committee outreach phase of
the project. Also, the Committee accepted both
public and %Nritten continents, and suggestions
from a total of 48 citizens.
Balboa Peninsula Background
History
With Pacific Electric's extension of its Red Car
rail lines from Huntington Beach to Newport in
1905, a new beach community, formerly only
available to the adventurous, was opened to both
Southern Californians and national visitors. Based
on the suggestion of E.J. Louis, at the time vice-
consul for Peru in Los Angeles, a portion of the
Newport peninsula was named Balboa in honor of
the 15th century Spanish explorer, Vasco Nunez
De Balboa.
The historic Balboa Pavilion was built in 1906 as
a Victorian Bath house and served as the terminal
for the Pacific Electric Red Car and has since been
the most recognizable focal point and visitor
attraction of the Balboa Peninsula. The Pavilion
has since been designated a California point of
Historic Interest. In 1936, the City built the
Balboa Fun Zone along Abbott's Landing,
providing residents and visitors with California's
oldest coastal amusement center. With these two
attractions as a mainstay, Balboa became a resort
town relying heavily upon tourists to sustain
economical needs and over the years Balboa was
reported to "...live on drinking, gambling, and a
dance hall. Balboa was a beach resort, plain and
simple. It was hell on wheels from Memorial Day
to Labor Day. Then it went into hibernation for
the rest of the year."
Since its hurried beginning, the Peninsula has
slowly evolved through the maturation of four -
District villages: Lido Town Center, McFadden
Square, Canner- Village and Balboa Village.
Historical growth and commercial development of
the Peninsula have been shaped by its dependence
on the coastal resources for its economic well
being. As recently as the early 1950's, the area
was principally a summer vacation resort.
Balboa Village's historic roots were
entertainment, with nationally known dance halls
like the Rendezvous Ballroom and world renown
music groups like the Stan Kenton Band. Today,
the village emphasizes family entertainment and
ocean recreation, and hosts a diverse blend of
activities and places. These include boating,
fishing, swimming, shopping, dining, and people
2from "Bawdy Balboa" by Judge Robert
Gardner
®.
watching. Village anchors include the historic
Balboa Pavilion, the symbol of Balboa, Edgewater
bayfront promenade, Main Street, Balboa Pier and
beach, and the beachside boardwalk.
McFadden Square is the heart and center of
historic Newport Beach, noted primarily for its
fishing fleet (the Dory Fleet), and pier fishing.
Vacationers populated the area during the popular
summer months and the area still serves as the
primary destination for beach visitors.
Cannery Village started out as a boat yard on the
bay across from the active McFadden Pier area.
With the commercial fishing industry booming on
the Rhine channel, fish canneries began operating
adjacent to the docks in the bay and it soon
dominated the entire service industry. The narrow
streets of Cannery Village still provide settings
reminiscent of the renowned fishing fleet days and
is filled with unique shops, galleries, restaurants,
bars, boating services and other marine related
establishments.
Lido Town Center was a later development
incorporated into the Peninsula but nevertheless an
important step in the evolution of the Peninsula. It
attracted retailers who focused more on the needs
of permanent residents rather than merely summer
and recreational needs. It also houses the Newport
Beach City Hall administrative offices, serving the
needs of the entire municipality.
From the 1950's on, the Peninsula's year-round
resident population increased creating negative
impacts to traffic circulation and parking.
Inadequate provisions were in place to provide a
parking management program providing for both
resident and commercial needs, nor did the
planning process deal with the major transitions
occurring both on and around the Peninsula.
The influx of both visitors to these areas and the
general population growth of Orange County
resulted in a large number of residential properties
being converted to year round rental properties.
Orange County retail growth, in conjunction with
this intensified housing use, also created adverse
impacts to existing traffic circulation and parking.
Expansion and changes in retail offerings, with the
evolution of Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza,
and Triangle Square, have created an abundance of
9
retail options and resulted in diminished services
locally for year-round Peninsula residents. Balboa
Peninsula retailers have become dependent upon
visitors for their livelihood and many face
difficulty in providing competitive goods and
services. The Congleton study, commissioned by
.
the City and completed in July 1995, reported that
"newly -introduced specialty retail and dining
offerings located closer to regional Orange County
residents' homes have negatively impacted
Newport Beach's on -street shopping districts."'
With minimal planning incorporated into the
booming growth (in day visitors) along the
Peninsula, the area has seen reactive spot
commercial development tailored to meet the
®
demands of visitors without much discretion or
consideration for optimal residential -retail mix.
®
The concentration of establishments selling
alcoholic beverages on the Peninsula is a key
testament. It has seemingly carried on the tradition
®
of the "hell on wheels" Balboa rather than
fostering a balanced year-round commercial
®
growth and transition that responds to the year-
round residential and seasonal visitor population.
®
Marine Heritage
®
From its early beginnings, the Balboa Peninsula
has enjoyed a tradition which, not surprisingly,
•
centered around its port and the various marine
uses and attractions.
.
During the first four decades of the 1900's, Balboa
was known primarily to fishermen who used the
upper channel for cannery purposes, and visiting
recreational boaters and yachtsmen who developed
®
summer cottages and yacht clubs to pursue an
®
environment previously found only in Los Angeles
®
or San Diego harbors.
Despite the evolution of the Peninsula as a year-
round residential community, its superior coastal
attractions are preserved today in five distinct
®
marine traditions:
The Dory fishing fleet at McFadden
Square,
The harbor excursion and Catalina Island
ferry transport and fishing fleet of
Balboa Village,
Newport Beach Retail Consultation, July 21,
1995, Linda S. Congleton & Associates
The Peninsula -wide yachting and sailing
fleet supported by seven yacht clubs, the
world class Orange Coast College Sailing
Center and the Newport Aquatics Center,
The marine craftsmen, sail lofts, sales
and service providers of the Cannery
Village, and
The 9,000 plus boats that line the piers,
marina slips and anchorages along the
Peninsula and the adjacent five islands
which comprise Newport Harbor; all of
these boaters rely upon the Peninsula for
access to marine support services, visitor
touring and hospitality attractions.
These modern marine aspects of the Peninsula
were and continue to be a tradition, a heritage, and
an asset to be preserved for generations to come.
Even the best example of beach/resort
communities (i.e. Laguna Beach, Monterey and
Carmel) cannot compete with the combined
attractions of the Balboa Peninsula and strong
historical significance of Newport Beach's marine
heritage. There is no more relevant historical
perspective on today's planning challenges for the
Balboa Peninsula than that which can be found in
the 1929 excerpt from the Newport Harbor Yacht
Club member publication which is cited at the
preface to this report, entitled "The Balboa
Peninsula Objectives Revisited".
-Dory Fleet at McFadden Square-
Current Conditions
The Balboa Peninsula presents a very complex
web of planning opportunities and constraints.
With its Bay/Harbor amenities, entertainment,
dining and recreational features, it is an integral
part of the Newport Beach community which has
international name recognition and a reputation
that exudes the California experience. The
Peninsula is composed of four strongly established
neighborhoods with its own unique characteristics
and many overlapping concerns. All four Districts
address the waterfront resource in different ways.
Each receives different benefits and all experience
similar frustrations. There is a clear need to link
and coordinate the overlap activities and services
provided by the Districts while continuing to
improve and enhance the unique qualities of each.
The four Districts should be seen as primary assets
of the community, complementary to the whole
and not as competitive components. The study
found that the worst condition of one
neighborhood negatively impacts the best
conditions in adjacent areas (whether commercial
or residential). There are assets and liabilities
associated with the Peninsula which are
summarized as follows:
Assets:
• Newport Bay and harbor
• Beaches
• Climate
• Recreational activities
• Proximity to other "destination
points"
• Cohesive quality neighborhood
residential structure
• Recognizable name
• Traditions and historical site
-Bay Wildlife -
N
Balboa Peninsula Prorde•
Population:
12,995
Median Age:
34.5 years
Median Household Income:
$57,380
Average Household Income:
$113,982
Total Number of Dwellings:
6,142
43% owner occupied
57% renter occupied
Tourist Population: 20,000-100,000/day
Number of Boats:
9,000
Residential Piers:
1,230
Commercial slips and side ties:
2,119
Bay Moorings:
1,221
*Source: City of Newport Beach and Linda Congleton
Report
•Life on the Bay•
-Visitor Boating-
Liabilities:
• Reactionary vs. proactive planning policy
• Poor traffic circulation
• Inappropriate high concentration of ABC
licenses
• Higher crime rate and resulting higher
municipal service costs
• Lack of parking management plan
• Shortage of quality hospitality housing
• Blighted aesthetic appearances
• Poor road conditions
• Lack of signage programs and
enforcement
• Lack of balanced resident and visitor
serving retail
• Poor quality visitor serving retail
-Examples of
Peninsula Liabilities•
M
Creating a New Balboa Peninsula Plan
In order to reverse historic trends, the community
must make a long term commitment to creating a
new plan and vision for the Peninsula.
Notwithstanding community image, quality of life
and environmental issues, the adverse economic
and social costs to the City with respect to the
Balboa Peninsula "Status Quo" should constitute a
compelling issue that requires immediate and
thoughtful action.
Many community leaders have talked about their
own vision for the Peninsula often citing other
quality communities the City should seek to
emulate. Most if not all of these communities are
the products of disciplined village plans that were
formulated decades ago and strictly nurtured and
controlled by disciplined planning, land use,
aesthetic and regulatory standards. Indeed, these
communities have ranked the village planning and
entitlement process (including in many cases
Redevelopment initiatives) as a high priority and a
function that cannot be left for market forces alone
to dictate or determine.
With respect to the Balboa Peninsula, Newport
Beach has generally adhered to a laissez-faire or
"complaint based" policy based upon theory that at
the end of the day, market and economic forces
would produce the desired result. During this
extended period, an extensive framework of
regulation and zoning ordinances were adopted in
order to deal with issues or problems that rose to
the necessity of Planning Commission or Council
action. In effect, the regulatory scheme in the City
principally addresses quantity (e.g. floor area
ratios, height limitations, setback limitations, etc.)
with little or no attention or devotion to qualitative
considerations. While numerous studies (outlined
elsewhere in this report) were undertaken and
specific plans adopted, much of what has been
studied (and in some cases adopted pursuant to
specific plans) has not been implemented in terms
of proposed infrastructure and capital
improvement projects. The Committee submits
that the following transitions and changes that have
occurred over these many decades make it clear
that continuation of the historic laissez-faire
planning policy in the City will not cause positive
change. While the following list is not all
inclusive, and it is not the Committee's charge to
cite blame, we submit that these issues must be
acknowledged and understood in order to forge a
new beginning and create meaningful and positive
change.
-New Peninsula Residential Element•
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Peninsula Demographics and Residential
Transition
The Balboa Peninsula serves
predominantly as a community of
permanent year-round residents as
opposed to a second home resort
community.
• Nationally recognized commercial and
retail shopping, restaurant and cultural
activities are available to residents and
visitors at South Coast Plaza, Fashion
Island and redeveloped portions of Costa
Mesa. A significant portion of relatively
small shop retail commercial properties
is no longer attractive or competitive to
residents or visitors on the Balboa
Peninsula.
Major freeway and highway vehicular
access has been added and the volume of
traffic has significantly increased which
seasonally overburdens the inherent
geographic limitations of the Peninsula.
• Public works projects including street
widening, adding parking for visitors and
the expeditious movement of day visitor
vehicles have predominated and
contributed to a reduced quality of life for
residents and long term seasonal visitors,
and impaired the continued viability of
commercial/retail areas.
-New Peninsula Residential Element-
-11-
In effect, Planning Commissions and Councils
have attempted to manage planning by permit and
regulation as opposed to adhering to disciplined
land use planning policy that has qualitative and
long term objectives. It is clear from consulting
with planning staff that both the granting and
administration of conditional use and similar
permits on the Balboa Peninsula is a major issue
that can and should be addressed in connection
with future planning policy. Most permit
applications result in numerous conditions
prescribed by staff or imposed by the Police
Department, Planning Commissioner, or Council
person in order to alleviate community concerns
that the proposed use or operation will constitute a
responsible and compatible use of the subject
property. In most cases, conditions prescribed are
numerous and require extraordinary staff time,
departmental review and ultimately review and
approval by both Planning Commission and Cit
Council. Frequently, such conditions are so
numerous that it is impractical to fully monitor the
compliance of the permit holder.
Based upon the Committee's discussions with
planning staff, the City has no adequate system to
account for the numerous use and similar permits
granted over many decades. Moreover, there is no
annual audit or other review process established to
assure compliance. Due in part to recent annual
budget crisis and resultant City staff reductions,
compliance with conditions are only reviewed on a
"complaint basis". In most instances, there is no
-MEMKOO *s•
revenue source assessed to cover the cost of
annual compliance reviews, revocation
proceedings or similar administrative and legal
costs and expenses. Indeed, in one or more recent
instances, the City has invested extraordinary legal
and administrative costs in attempting to terminate
uses that probably should have never been granted
initially had adequate planning policies been in
place.
The Committee recognizes that certain State Court
decisions have permitted use permits to, in effect,
run with the land and succeed to new and different
owners or operators. The Committee submits,
however, that there are many adequate alternative
legal mechanisms to deal with both existing
conditional use permits as well as modifications
that are in the process of being implemented by the
City. More importantly, the Committee believes a
positive planning process will reduce the need and
expense associated with conditional use and other
permit applications. When reasonable plans and
rules are established, it becomes clear to
developers, users and operators that the City is
committed to redevelop and upgrade its
commercial/residential interaction (and is not
inclined to deviate from the established permitted
ues). By the adoption of this Comprehensive
Report and its recommendations, plus the
supporting Stall Implementation Plan, the City \N III
have achieved a first step towards a new beginning.
Building on Strengths - Catalysts for Change
A new planning approach can build on the recent efforts of the Cite Council in concert with residents, merchant
associations and Business Improvements Districts (..B.l D. 's"). Several specific projects are cited as good
catalysts for change and brought a focus to the need 1Or more comprehensive plans and programs to achieve a
competitive strength, heightened attraction Value. and resident serving compatibility for the commercial
element. The Committee cites the ing projects \yhcre positive examples provide the opportunity to build
or, strongths
-12-
Lido Town Center
The soon to be constructed Citizens Park
on the abandoned gas station sites at the
Arches Bridge, a good example of
partnership potential between the
resident community and the City.
• The renovation of St. James Church and
the Vons Pavilion center with its
enhanced architecture and parking
management.
The closure of the Thunderbird Club and
Atlantis as a result of City enforcement
procedures.
-13-
McFadden Square
• The renovation and historic architectural
preservation of the old Forgit Hardware
building and its conversion to first floor
office plus Cafe Carluccio with quality
residential on the second floor.
• The utilization of the City's outside
dining ordinance and added attraction for
the cafe suited restaurants.
The addition of a mid -week Outdoor
Farmers Market to attract off-season
utilization of the parking facilities and a
unique service to the residents.
Growth in the bed and breakfast offering
(Portofino and The Doryman Inn).
Cannery Village
• The formation of a resident and
restaurant operators task force to address
the negative influence of over -
concentration of liquor licenses.
• The opening of restaurants like
Aubergine which provide gourmet
quality dining options for residents and
visitors.
• The first phase of new modular home
Redevelopment of the Lido Peninsula
Trailer Park.
Balboa Village
Widening of the sidewalks and building
facade and landscape improvements on
north Main Street.
Conversion of the former Wells Fargo
Bank parcel to a short term parking lot
with landscaping provided by community
volunteers.
The pending restoration of the Balboa
Theatre and efforts of the theatre
association to deliver a legitimate
community theatre arts attraction.
• Balboa Boat Rentals addition of the
classic Phoenix motor yacht, an historical
vessel unprecedented in our tour boat
fleets.
Peninsula Wide
Street improvements associated with a four block section of Balboa Boulevard from 12th Street to
16th Street which offers enhanced streetscape along with roadway surface and subsurface
improvements.
-15-
Community Action Plan
Overall Theme
The committee received comments and discussed
view's from numerous residents and business
owners on the Peninsula. Not surprisingly, there
were mane different views with respect to what
was "wrong" as well as various suggested
solutions. While most of the suggestions were
constructive, it became apparent that a consensus
of comment centered around the fact the Peninsula
had developed a negative rather than a positive
image over the past several decades. Typical
comments were to the effect that "it doesn't stand
for anything anymore," "the commercial retail has
deteriorated," "a conglomeration of tattoo parlors,
T-shirt shops, fast food joints and cheap bars," "a
place to drink and party." Clearly, if the Balboa
Peninsula is to redevelop and revitalize in a quality
fashion, an overall theme or niche must be
developed that will cast the commercial and retail
elements in a positive light and at the same time
provide residential compatibility.
Many members of the community cited similarly
situated coastal beach communities that had
quality, images. Laguna Beach, with its annual
Festival of Arts, was often cited as a community
that had developed a theme that attracts quality
retail, artisans and craftsman along with high
quality visitors. Laguna enjoys a more balanced
commercial and retail element. The committee
believes there is a substantial heritage and
foundation that can and must form the basis for an
overall cultural theme for the Balboa Peninsula
that will reverse current trends and provide a
positive transition. The following steps should be
followed:
Establishing Residential Objecth,es
Establishing long term objectives is the basis for any meaningful community action plan. If real change is to be
implemented on the Balboa Peninsula, objectives must he articulated that form the basis for a disciplined
Redevelopment. The beach and bay amenities along with a rich history of water sports and beach oriented
recreational activities form the obvious basis for clearly defining schematic objectives. Those communities that
were often cited by residents as being representative of what the Peninsula `should aspire to be" typically had
long standing village or town plans that had been established generations ago with a qualitative planning and
regulatory environment that assured strict adherence to an oNerall theme and qualitative ot�jectiyes. The
Committee has proffered herein a set of planning policy statements and objectives which we respectfully offer
the Council for their consideration.
Building on Strengths
O%-er recent decade;, the residential element on the Balboa Peninsula has enjoyed a positi�-e transition. The
im-entory of single familt- residential has improN ed in quality as the Peninsula has become a tear -round
residential community. As the retail and commercial elements hay e experienced a negati%*e transition, it is
incumbent on Cite planners and decision makers to recognize the risks inherent in lurther deferring a
comprchensiv-e planning ,41-ategy. A declining amumcreial clement will ultimately adv-crseIY impact the value
of residential. Conyer.sely, the strength of the Balboa Peninsula's residential transition affords an opportunity
fin- the Citv to provide positi%c impacts bN- encouraeing and expanding the residential element with zoning and
planning incentives that encourage consolidation of small lots and afford additional quality residential
development opportunities with respect to both detached single family residences and attached product. The
Committee recommends that overall objectives recognize the
aj strength and opportunity with respect to the residential element, and
b) the consolidation and Redevelopment necessity with respect to the commercial retail element.
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BALBOA PENINSULA LAND USE
ECONOMIC PROFILE
Residential (950 Parcels)
• Contributes 66% of City revenue
• Property Tax revenue to City - $485,000
(Valuation $282 million; tax $2.8 million)
• Rising valuation, last 3 years, due to new
construction/remodel
• Offers greatest potential for growth and
increased revenue
Commercial (150 Parcels)
• Contributes 34% of City revenue
• Property Tax revenue to City - $254,000
(Valuation $151 million; tax $1.5 million)
• Other City revenue (Sales Tax, Business
License, Bed Tax, & Misc.) $1.2 million
• Poses greatest risk of declining valuations
and blighted conditions
Source: City Revenue Department
(Excludes: Building Permits, Parking and Mooring Fee income)
A New City Approach to Planning
Newport's history and policy with respect to
planning has been influenced by numerous
extemal circumstances. The Irvine Company, as
the City's largest property owner, established
comprehensive master plans for the development
of its properties. The City has benefitted from
these foundations which were largely dictated and
implemented by third parties with the City reacting
to plans as opposed to promulgating its own.
Consequently, while these various developments
provide outstanding examples of quality planning
and development, the City has not heretofore
applied similar expertise to establish progressive
village or town plans for the Balboa Peninsula.
Although the 1983 RUDAT studies and previous
specific plans for McFadden Square/Cannery
Village (1986) and Central Balboa (1994) were
adopted in prior failed efforts to force change,
none of the plans were ever fully implemented. As
the City of Newport Beach approaches full build
out, it is indeed fitting that the City Council has
recognized that it is time to get back to Old
Newport, the once sleepy peninsula, to devote the
same attention and City resources for
Redevelopment that our major land owners have
enjoyed over the last three decades of new
development.
-17-
The Committee recommends that the City dedicate
staff priority and utilize outside consultant
resources in order to foster this comprehensive
new City approach to planning on the Balboa
Peninsula, which approach will take into
consideration the following:
Recognize Transitional Changes
New City planning should recognize the
quality transitional changes and
opportunities that have occurred in the
residential sector as well as the wider
area commercial retail developments at
South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island and a
redeveloped Costa Mesa that effectively
render much of the Balboa Peninsula
commercial retail sector less competitive
and attractive. City planners must also
recognize that seasonal commercial
businesses appealing solely to summer
visitors cannot compete on a qualitative
year-round basis.
Realistic Expectations
New City planning should recognize that a
potentially smaller and consolidated (but quality)
commercial retail element may be more
appropriate than alternatives that contemplate
maintaining or expanding the current inventory of
the commercial retail development on the
Peninsula. According to the Congleton report,
when measured by resident supportable standards,
there would appear an excess of commercial
space, by as much as 13,000 square feet in the
Balboa Village alone. This condition has
necessitated a significant merchant dependence
upon seasonal visitors. Conversion of excess,
marginally performing commercial to a greater
hospitality purpose must be explored.
M
Achieving a Balance
New City planning should take inventory
of current uses and recognize that a
qualitative approach to both commercial
retail mixes and uses is fundamental to
any well planned commercial element
with balanced tenant mix. Many
mechanisms are available to meet these
goals. Laguna Beach controls its tenant
mix with what it calls a "resident serving
ordinance" while other communities have
strict controls on signage, design review
and limitation of specific uses.
A Council Commitment - Planning and Policy Objectives
To generate a new planning culture, the City
Council must provide the support mechanisms
necessary to and for City management and staff to
move ahead. The Committee submits that
adoption of the following key Council planning
and policy objectives by a unified Council is a
necessary step and a preferable alternative to the
past practices cited elsewhere in this Report.
1. Recognition of NecessitN
A new planning, Redevelopment and
regulatory policy must be implemented
now for the following reasons.
A. Continued deterioration of the
Peninsula's commercial
elements will produce higher
enforcement costs and lower
economic returns to the City,
and will ultimately adversely
impact residential values.
B. City-wide taxpayers cannot be
expected to continue paying
extraordinary costs associated
with high liability and
maintenance expense without
achieving corresponding
economic benefits, paid for in
part by area visitors.
-19-
C. Residents are entitled to a
professional standard of
planning, infrastructure and
commercial compatibility
consistent with the established
quality residential element.
D. Newport's reputation for quality
and environmental commitment
is principally measured by the
impressions and experiences of
visitors to the Balboa Peninsula.
E. Expected benefits include
increased property values, year-
round business vitality and
resulting growth in sales tax,
reduced City expense in control
of negative influences, and other
fiscal benefits which flow from
a quality and balanced
commercial element.
Geographic Constraints
The Balboa Peninsula consists of a
limited area in a narTow configuration
that has inherent constraints in terms of
the movement of vehicles, people and
ultimate capacity considering both
residential need and enjoyment, visitor
burden, and reasonable environmental
considerations. A new plan and policy
must respect these limitations.
3. Quality Street Network
Historically, the City planning has prioritized public works that favored the movement of traffic. One
way streets, right turn only lanes and related traffic engineering schemes are not consistent with
developing quality village cores that provide convenience for both residents and visitors. In order to
develop quality town and village cores, a street network must be redesigned that responds to the
village resident needs as opposed to simply moving people and vehicles at peak periods.
4. Architectural Guidelines
A new planning policy must establish architectural guidelines that will provide an impetus for the use
of materials and color pallets that reflect the character and tradition of the Peninsula.
5. User Friendly Changes
User friendly changes must be considered in order to provide greater ease of travel by bicyclists and
pedestrians. Again, wider streets, added parking and narrow sidewalks do not produce reasonable or
user friendly access for pedestrians and bicyclists. These conditions have displaced more pedestrian
and bike traffic to the Oceanfront boardwalk. The inherent vehicular traffic and parking limitations on
the Peninsula must be confronted in order to provide pedestrians and bicyclists reasonable means of
access to both the beach and bay as well as a connection between the commercial retail elements.
-20-
6. Parking Management
The action plan must include a well
designed parking management program.
Due to the competing uses for parking on
the Peninsula, a parking management
plan must take into consideration
seasonal requirements, respond to the
consolidated village theme and provide
residents with preferred parking zones.
The plan must take into consideration the
potential for upgrading the quality of
visitors to the Peninsula by recognizing
that residents themselves attract quality
visitors to the Peninsula. Reasonable
preferences to accommodate this resident
visiting population has the potential for
enhancing a redeveloped retail
commercial element. Of equal
importance are the placement of visitor
parking near key commercial village
cores as opposed to residential streets
where access to businesses is difficult,
PARKING REVENUE BY DISTRICT:
(Does not include median parking revenue)
and the use of off-site or dedicated
parking facilities, including bus loading
and staging areas, by high traffic
generators.
Beyond the operational benefits to be
derived from a Parking Management
Program, there is a proven opportunity
and source for the City to finance needed
visitor infrastructure and improvements
via a fair application of parking revenues,
whether by meter collections or in -lieu
fees. Few such mechanisms are available
to assess the fair and full burden of visitor
impacts. The Committee strongly
advocates a review and realignment of
the existing parking districts and meter
zones to ensure maximum funding of the
Parking Management Program and
proposed new parking facilities. The
table below shows the 1995 City revenue
generated from parking sources.
MEDIAN PARKING REVENUE:
Area (# of meters) Revenue Area (# of meters)
Revenue
Cannery Village (333)
S75,859
McFadden to 15th St. (I 11)
S57,086
Lido Shopping Area (228)
83,953
15th St. to 10th St. (147)
36,021
McFadden Area (269)
319,371
10th St. to Alvarado (168)
35,064
Balboa Village (465)
35.1,059
Ocean Front Lot (219)
319,458
1295 meters Total 5833,242
5519,632
BALBOA PIER LOT (611) 51,100,000
TOTAL - ALL DISTRICTS, ALL METERS
Source: City of Newport Beach, Revenue Dept.
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645 meters Total
S2,453,000
7. Bay Management
Each of the four Peninsula districts shares a unique resource, the Newport Bay. It is the consensus of
the Committee, and the many workshop participants, that the Bay and Beach are our major tourist
attractions. Given the public, non-commercial character of the beach amenity, the Bay becomes the
common asset to be more commercially showcased in creating a unique sense of place.
Due to the recovering local economy and growth in recreational boating, coupled with the City's
expanded emphasis on tourism, especially Conference and Visitors Bureau promotion of the harbor as
an entertainment venue, the growth in competing use of a limited marine resource has placed
unprecedented pressure on the Bay.
Evidence of such pressure is seen in the growth of tour/charter boat operations. These boat trips
range from one time charters for private party use to major operators that use the Bay on a weekly, if
not daily, basis for scheduled and charter cruises. In some instances, this has resulted in certain
negative impacts on the harbor and its adjacent residents. These impacts include the following:
Bay Pollution. Residents have
expressed their concern related
to the potential for the pollution
and contamination of both water
and air as a result of the
operation of large diesel boats
in the Bay.
Litter. There is an impact with
regard to the disposal of
cigarettes and other similar
small items that are jettisoned.
Noise and Invasion of
Privacy. Residents have
complained that noise
emanating from these vessels
disturbs residents in close
proximity to the Bay, especially
during the evening hours when
these cruise vessels idle in close
proximity to living areas often
with passengers at advantaged
heights peering into their
private living areas.
Safety. Newport Bay does not
have the size inherent in larger
cruising waters (San Diego and
Los Angeles Harbors).
Accordingly, there are
limitations as to the size and
number of tour boats that can be
accommodated in the Bav
without interfering %�,ith the fi-ee
use and safety of the Bay by
smaller craft. Also, tour boat
operators mav, in effect,
-22-
compound the alcohol and
security problem by providing
numerous floating bars and
restaurants that are not subject
to comprehensive City
entitlement process and
regulations as are land based
establishments.
Recreational Interference.
Newport Bay hosts many small
craft sailing events, kayakers,
rowers and other recreational
users. The City of Newport
Beach Parks and Recreation
Programs, Orange Coast
College and numerous yachting
and sailing clubs use the Bay for
sailing instruction and junior
sailing events. The charter/tour
boat industry has grown to the
point that many of these events
are routinely interrupted. All
such competing uses must be
better coordinated so that
neither activity is adversely
impacted. Participants and their
families who visit Newport
Beach in connection with these
events provide a substantial
positive economic contribution
to the City. Losing junior,
collegiate and other sailing
events would create a negative
economic impact on the City,
especially its summer youth
recreation programs.
Bay Management
-23-
• Parking. Visitors patronizing cruise boats utilize a substantial amount of available public
parking facilities which in many cases negatively impacts private parking facilities dedicated
to specific use permits. The City of Newport Beach has largely unenforced regulations
requiring tour boat operators to provide parking. Current regulations require that the
operator apply to the City Revenue Department for approval stating the point of
disembarkation and providing written evidence from the property owner who will provide
appropriate parking, that permission is granted and that such parking does not infringe upon
any dedicated parking required for another use permit. Without a comprehensive permitting
system, the current regulation does not adequately protect Peninsula parking availability.
Any form of over utilization, be it private or charter, threatens the harbor quality and overburdens
limited financial resources. Despite public charter boat regulation by Federal (Coast Guard, FCC),
State (ABC, Water Quality Board, AQMD, EMA) and County (Harbor Department/Sheriff), the City
has exerted limited permit regulation and enforcement. Despite growing public use and the
generation of just under $200,000 in fees from harbor related rentals and taxes as shown in the
following table, the City incurs a net annual deficit from the operation of its tidelands.
BAY MANAGEMENT FEE INCOME - 1995
Mooring Rental S 15,000
• Approximately 1,200 moorings
• 850 Off -shore, 350 On -shore
• 20-30 available for rent on any given day
• $5/day - 20 day maximum
Slip Rental S7,000
• 5 Slips available for rent
• $10/day plus $.40/foot for any boats over 25 feet
• No limit on length of stay
Charter Permit Fee 1,2 S46,000
• Total number of charters 1,516
• Average number of trips per day 4.15
• Total number of passengers 89,925
Charter Passenger Tax" 5123,000
• Passenger Tax is charged as follows:
$0 if cost is less than $25
$.50 if cost is between $26 - $50
$1.00 if cost is greater than $50
TOTAL - All Sources 5191,000
Period 7-1-95 to 6-30-96
Does not include Catalina Flyer
Source: City of Ne%%port Beach, Revenue Dept.'Fire and Marine
No commercial waterfront (or harbor/tideland) use or project on the Peninsula, whether private or
public, should be allowed to proceed without sufficient Civy fee assessment and monitoring of its full
impact upon the Bay asset and, where warranted, mitigation program for negative influences
(pollution, noise and traffic, both vehicular and vessel, etc.). For these reasons, the Committee
recommends the development of a Bay Management Plan to incorporate the recommendations
contained in Part VI of the Committee Comprehensive Planning Recommendations of this Report.
-24-
Bay Management
8. Alcohol and Security
The end goal of any prudent community planning process is the ability to achieve a balance or mix of
commercial uses that serve both residents and visitors to the community. While achieving a
commercially viable balance, the community and its residents benefit from both convenience and
positive economic contributions emanating from the commercial sector.
The greatest imbalance existing on the Balboa Peninsula with respect to specific use types is the over
abundance of alcohol serving and dispensing businesses. According to the State of California
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the City of Newport Beach has permitted some 104 commercial
uses which permit the sale of alcohol or so-called "liquor licenses". These establishments consist of
restaurants, bars, nightclubs, package stores and charter boats. Some are included in the category of
"off -sale licenses" since they dispense package goods for off -premises consumption. The charter boat
category has experienced dramatic growth in recent years due in part to the ease in securing City
permits and the absence of regulatory and approval standards which are typically attached to such
comparable land based use permits (e.g. parking, entertainment, business hours). For example,
certain boats operating from private landings are currently impacting parking spaces that are also
concurrently required for or utilized by the adjacent commercial uses.
Historically, no inventory of uses (including alcohol serving businesses) was maintained by the City
Planning Department. While various data was and is available from City departments and public data
bases, it is not provided to the Planning Commission for their consideration in discretionary use
permit and related proceedings. The new planning process must first consider data relative to the
existing balance of alcohol related commercial uses located on the Peninsula before granting more use
permits.
Due to the extraordinary police enforcement and securit}' issues on the Peninsula, the Committee
assembled data from both City staff, the County of Orange, and the State Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board in order to better understand the nature and extent of the problem as well as the Peninsula's
standing with respect to similarly situated beach communities in the area. The number of licenses on
the Peninsula along with City wide statistics and other beach communities are represented in the chart
below.
ABC LICENSES
PER 1,000
PER SQUARE
O.C. CITIES RESIDENTS
MILE
Huntington Beach 1.72
11.5
Seal Beach 2.07
3.0
Laguna Beach 4.10
12.7
Newport Beach 4.70*
23.3*
Balboa Peninsula** 8.10
64.1
* Highest among all Orange County Cities
** Based on following Peninsula assumptions:
Licenses: 109
Population: 13,537 (including West Newport and Lido Isle)
Square Miles: 1.7 (including beaches, excluding Bav area)
Source: O.C. Economic Development Consortium; Communities in Prevention, Census 1995
-25-
In order to assess the impact on the community, the Committee was able to secure a March, 1995
research study by the University of Southern California Office of Health Science. This report is the
result of a several year study of several communities in California. The USC study makes it clear that
there is a direct correlation between violent crime and the density of alcohol outlets allowed or
permitted in any community. It comes as no surprise that the Balboa Peninsula experiences a high
rate of crime when compared to the remainder of the City. The Committee secured crime and
enforcement data from the City Police Department which is summarized in the chart below.
CRIMINAL STATISTICS - 1995
Peninsula as a
Entire City Percent of Total
Peninsula Only of Newport Beach (vs. 24% of population)
Criminal Arrest 2,081 3,717 55.99%
Alcohol Related Arrests 890 1,552 57.35%
Note: Based upon typical patrol force manning, and excluding seasonal or night shift adjustments, 3 of
the 8 City wide patrol cars are dedicated specifically to the Peninsula.
Source: Newport Beach Police Department
As the data suggests, the Peninsula experiences an extraordinarily high crime rate with an estimated
56% of the total criminal arrests in the Cih' (and corresponding dedication of 37% of the annual
police budget) attributable to the geographic area comprising the Peninsula. Since prior City
planning and policy has not taken into consideration this large imbalance, the Committee believes it is
incumbent upon the Cite to address this issue with both interim and long term strategies. In addition
to both the quality of life and economic objectives articulated with respect to this issue, the Committee
believes that the existing imbalance contributes to negative image and potential City liability issues.
1-1
In order to mitigate this imbalance, the Committee has recommended a number of both interim and
Iong term solutions outlined in Part VII of the Committee Comprehensive Planning Recommendations
of this Report.
With respect to interim solutions, there is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive policy that will
initiate a positive transitional change. Curfews and other interim measures were discussed by the
Committee along with preliminan, responses from the Cite Attorney's office. While the City Attorney
has noted some state lacy limitations with respect to curfews, the Committee believes there are other
ample mechanisms available to the City in order to assess these high enforcement costs and regulate
the alcohol sen'ing and dispensing element of uses on the Peninsula in order to achieve both
transitional and long term objectives. For example, a recent California Appellate Court case
involving Oakland upheld the City's imposition of impact fees on licensees who were found to
negatively impact community health and welfare.
While the Committee commends recent efforts by residents and license holders in Cannery Village to �
provide better private security and related initiatives for patrons and residents, the Committee submits
that the established data is compelling and should motivate an immediate change in City policy in
order to realize a reasoned quantitative and qualitative improvement over future years. In that regard, .
the Committee supports an early conclusion to the Cite stafl's effort to propose a City-wide Alcohol
Control Poliev.
-26- w
9. Signage and Aesthetics
The Committee strongly encourages the City to give early project implementation priority to
developing both Peninsula -wide and village themes which present a strong historical sense while
maximizing the unique marine aspects of each village (e.g. shipbuilding, marine recreation, fishing,
etc.) plus all of the positive destination attractions which the bay, ocean and yachting traditions have
to offer.
Three prior RUDAT studies have addressed all or a portion of Balboa Peninsula's urban design
issues. The first two studies, done in 1983, considered the Peninsula as a whole; the second study,
done in 1993, considered the commercial segment of Balboa Peninsula commonly known as
Downtown Balboa. These two studies, some ten years apart, both emphasized the need for improved
streetscape, referring to landscape design, street lights, removal of overhead utility lines, improved
pedestrian corridors, view enhancement and signage.
The subject of signage was not treated separately in either study, but the 1993 study addressed certain
specific themes such as gateway signage and festive banners.
The 1996 Urban Design Camp workshop study project issued a report making a recommendation to
establish an overall Peninsula signage theme with different, but compatible, themes for each District.
In addition, the report recommended modifications to the City-wide sign code to incorporate the
following specific provisions:
1. Prohibit free standing signs except monument signs.
2. Prohibit rooftop signs.
3. Limit the amount of window display signs.
4. Encourage flags, banners and other festive signage for special events.
I
-27-
The report also recommended unique
regulations in each District addressing
sign colors, illumination and materials.
The report included a model titled "Sign
Standards for Commercial Uses".
The current City of Newport Beach
Municipal Code contains a sign
ordinance which is uniformly applicable
(with the exception of Planned
Developments and Specific Plan areas) to
all commercial areas in the City.
Title 20 of the Municipal Code was
comprehensively reviewed and revised in
1996 based on recommendations of City
staff, a subcommittee of the Planning
Commission, input from the Economic
Development Committee and from public
hearings conducted by the Planning
Commission. Public hearings by the
City, and its vote on the recommended
text forwarded by the Planning
Commission, are currently planned to be
scheduled for implementation the first
part of 1997. The sign ordinance was not
comprehensively reviewed as to
substantive matters as part of that
process.
The existing sign ordinance provides
certain standards for signs in commercial
districts and generally permits and
regulates the following aspects of ground
signs, pole signs, wall signs, and
projecting signs:
• Size/Height/Scale
• Illumination (brightness)
• Animation
• Projection
-28-
Signage and Aesthetics
1.
p-r�, .
1, 9
Analysis: Conflicts in Standards - Insufficient Design Guidelines
Streetscape has consistently been identified as a major element through which the image of the
Peninsula business districts can be upgraded, and the residential quality of life improved. A
comprehensive sign program is a significant component in reducing visual clutter, projecting a high
quality image, thematic design, and establishing visual boundaries between commercial and
residential areas. Three of the four Peninsula business districts are presently each governed by all or
portions of different sign standards: Lido Town Center area by the sign ordinance, and Balboa Village
area and Cannery Village/McFadden Square each by its own specific area plan (to the extent sign
standards are set forth in that particular plan), and otherwise, by default to the provisions of the sign
ordinance.
Mechanisms and resources for sign standards and maintenance enforcement have been inadequate.
The same mechanism applies to all violation of the standards, whether of significant economic
consequence or minor in nature. There are no design guidelines or standards, including within the
specific area plans, except those related to public safety, brightness, and the prohibition of animated
or inflated signs.
Recommendations
Provide for the creation of a
single overlay zone for signage
for Balboa Peninsula.
Prohibit painting of commercial
structures that, in effect,
constitute constructive sign
treatments or business identity.
Implement signage themes
which unify rather than separate
the three physically adjacent
business Districts: Lido Town
Center, Cannery Village and
McFadden Square. Each is a
small District, distinct only in
the microcosm of the Peninsula.
Develop a distinct pattern of
commercial and residential
signage to create visual
boundaries for the visitor \N•hich
promote greater consciousness
and respectful behavior in
residential areas.
Build in strong enforcement
measures, and obtain
commitments from the Business
Improvement Districts to allow
for an initial pre -enforcement
step of referral of the complaint
by the City to the B.I.D., and
encourage B.I.D. efforts to
promote voluntary compliance.
-30-
As per State planning and
zoning law, provide for
categories of legal non-
conforming status based on
economic investment in the
non -conforming signage, and
whether conformance involves
additional investment or
removal expense.
A mandate from the City
Council to identify staff plus an
external consultant to develop a
one -text proposal for signage
for a Balboa Peninsula overlay
district. The input group should
include certain City staff,
specific Council appointed
committees representing a cross
section of the commercial/retail/
residential elements. Such
groups would then forward its
recommendation for a language -
specific Balboa Peninsula
overlay district sign ordinance
to the Planning Commission,
then on to the City Council for
adoption.
An expedited review and
recommendation for
public/directional/and highway
entry signs.
10.
Hospitality
The Committee considered and reviewed both the capacity and quality of existing Peninsula lodging
and hospitality components. These components fall into three general categories:
1. Hotel and Motel Facilities
2. Multi Unit Residential Properties
3. Privately Owned Detached Residential Properties
While the Peninsula boasts extensive
beach and bay recreational opportunities,
the hotel -motel lodging and hospitality
component represents only 95 rooms.
The largest number of rooms is
represented at the Balboa Inn. There is
no high quality resort oriented facility
available to provide visiting tourists with
accommodations comparable to lodging
and hospitality provided by similarly
situated beach communities (e.g.,
Carmel, Laguna Beach, Del Mar,
Mission Bay, Coronado). Accordingly,
the Peninsula is unable to compete with
these communities for regional, national
and international tourists. These visitors
typically opt for communities where
quality lodging and hospitality are
available in facilities that are of high
quality and provide convenient proximity
to bay and beach recreational amenities.
The City of Newport Beach has
numerous high quality hotel and lodging
facilities at Fashion Island and the airport
area; however, these facilities are not in
close proximity to the beach recreational
areas on the Balboa Peninsula. Indeed,
numerous first time visitors from outside
the area are dismayed to find that the
major hotel and motel accommodations
in the City of Newport Beach are not
located at or within walking distance of
the beach itself. Also in limited supply
are the bed and breakfast inns which have
proven so successful in other coastal
resort communities. The Committee
believes that the lack of quality
hospitality and lodging facilities will
continue to penalize the Peninsula and
the City in its efforts to attract quality
visitors to the area. City shuttle buses or
similar public transportation between the
Peninsula and Fashion Island are
potential mitigation measures; however,
they alone cannot solve the visitors'
negative perception.
While many residents on the Peninsula
may be opposed to the concept of a resort
hotel, it is clear that initial reactions are
principally motivated by initial
perceptions of the type of facilities
contemplated. For example, when
facilities are identified with well-known
resort facilities in other communities such
as the Hotel Del Coronado, Shelter
Island's Beach Club, and similar facilities
in Laguna Beach, Del Mar, Carmel,
Monterey, etc., the receptivity of this type
of lodging -hospitality element evokes far
different and positive responses. Also,
the Committee cites the existing Best
Western Motel at 18th Street, which has
long served as a good neighbor as an
example of suitable hospitality. As
suggested in the recent study by Keyser
Marston of the alternative uses for the
Marina Park site, the Committee strongly
supports further study of candidate sites
for hospitality purposes.
-31-
Over several decades of transition, the Committee believes there has been a deterioration with respect
to the quality of short term and weekly residential properties. In many instances, both multi -unit
residential and detached single family residences do not meet reasonable or minimum hospitality
standards. In other instances, such uses are conducted in primarily single family neighborhoods
attracting potential nuisance to the Peninsula residents, especially when offered without proper
standards and protections for security, noise control, etc.
Pricing is a major issue as weekly rentals on the Peninsula range from approximately $1,000 per
week for units off of the beach or bay, generally shared by a number of individuals, to a rate of $5,000
per week for an upscale single family residence on the beach or bay servicing a single family of four
to six during the summer rental season. Due to the limited availability and pricing considerations,
many of these units are no longer rented for family vacations; rather, they are rented for multiple
occupancy or assemblages that far exceed reasonable occupancy limits otherwise permitted by
conventional lodging and hospitality facilities. In some instances, non -discriminating agents and
owners pen -nit higher or multiple occupancy in order to extract high rental rates. In effect, the
Peninsula affords a large supply of party house rentals that all too often represent noise and nuisance
elements that are not compatible or consistent with residential enjoyment by permanent residents nor
a positive vacation experience by other short term visitors who are occupying properties that adhere
to quality hospitality standards and strict occupancy limits. The Committee believes that adoption and
enforcement of hospitality standards for the Peninsula could have a positive impact equal to that
resulting from the City ordinance to control "party rentals" in West Newport.
In the final analysis, the vacationing public have many options available. The Balboa Peninsula has
acquired a reputation for attracting short term visitors that are not compatible (both economically and
in quality) with the expectation and needs of residents, families and other vacationers who are capable
of making more positive contributions to the area. It should be noted that this issue impacts all of the
various interests, both residential and commercial on the Peninsula. For example, so called "crash
pad or party rentals" interfere not only with residential owners but have an equally negative impact on
long term renters as well as short term vacationers. On the commercial side, these elements generally
do not make a positive contribution with respect to patronizing retail shops and quality restaurant
facilities. Also, these elements often bring an unacceptable level of crime and other nuisances which
burden the City resources.
-32-
The remaining two existing lodging and hospitality
components available on the Peninsula consist of
mill" i` }` . "
ff
multi family residential, primarily duplex units, and
detached single family residences. These
9
II
components are typically rented on a short term or
?f
weekly basis during the summer season. These
rental opportunities are scattered widely throughout
the Peninsula and are principally administered by
real estate rental agents along with some
, }
owner/operators. Again, with the exception of area
!
residents who are familiar with the "ins and outs" of
securing a Peninsula rental, this lodging and
hospitality element does not have the same public
convenience or identity that can be attributed to
a - `
lodging and hospitality facilities available in other
"y" J
�
high quality beach communities. Perhaps more
importantly, these components generally do not have
a quality reputation or any consistency associated
with them. At the upper end, they represent a small
element of high quality personal residences that are
rented on a very limited and selected basis. At the less desirable end of the spectrum are a wide array of
weekly beach rentals that have little or no qualitative assurance for the visiting public and in many cases
cast a negative taint on the positive hospitality elements and the immediately adjacent permanent
residents.
Over several decades of transition, the Committee believes there has been a deterioration with respect
to the quality of short term and weekly residential properties. In many instances, both multi -unit
residential and detached single family residences do not meet reasonable or minimum hospitality
standards. In other instances, such uses are conducted in primarily single family neighborhoods
attracting potential nuisance to the Peninsula residents, especially when offered without proper
standards and protections for security, noise control, etc.
Pricing is a major issue as weekly rentals on the Peninsula range from approximately $1,000 per
week for units off of the beach or bay, generally shared by a number of individuals, to a rate of $5,000
per week for an upscale single family residence on the beach or bay servicing a single family of four
to six during the summer rental season. Due to the limited availability and pricing considerations,
many of these units are no longer rented for family vacations; rather, they are rented for multiple
occupancy or assemblages that far exceed reasonable occupancy limits otherwise permitted by
conventional lodging and hospitality facilities. In some instances, non -discriminating agents and
owners pen -nit higher or multiple occupancy in order to extract high rental rates. In effect, the
Peninsula affords a large supply of party house rentals that all too often represent noise and nuisance
elements that are not compatible or consistent with residential enjoyment by permanent residents nor
a positive vacation experience by other short term visitors who are occupying properties that adhere
to quality hospitality standards and strict occupancy limits. The Committee believes that adoption and
enforcement of hospitality standards for the Peninsula could have a positive impact equal to that
resulting from the City ordinance to control "party rentals" in West Newport.
In the final analysis, the vacationing public have many options available. The Balboa Peninsula has
acquired a reputation for attracting short term visitors that are not compatible (both economically and
in quality) with the expectation and needs of residents, families and other vacationers who are capable
of making more positive contributions to the area. It should be noted that this issue impacts all of the
various interests, both residential and commercial on the Peninsula. For example, so called "crash
pad or party rentals" interfere not only with residential owners but have an equally negative impact on
long term renters as well as short term vacationers. On the commercial side, these elements generally
do not make a positive contribution with respect to patronizing retail shops and quality restaurant
facilities. Also, these elements often bring an unacceptable level of crime and other nuisances which
burden the City resources.
-32-
The Committee believes the City must upgrade and expand its lodging and hospitality facilities on the
Peninsula by taking the following actions:
Regulate short term and weekly rentals. A firm but not intrusive hospitality ordinance
should be enacted that provides the following:
a. Limits weekly and short term rentals to prescribed hospitality zones.
b. Requires annual inspections for minimum hospitality standards to be administered
as a self funding measure by either City personnel or a third party contract service
provider.
C. Requires of all rental agents to enforce hospitality standards in dealing in weekly
and short tern rentals with appropriate revocation and penalty provisions for both
agents and owners who violate standards prescribed by the ordinance.
2. Bed and Breakfast.
Establish bed and breakfast zones in the selected areas, consistent with the model ordinance
established by the American Bed and Breakfast Association. Meaningful economic
incentives should be provided in selected commercial areas in order to encourage owners to
transition their properties from uneconomic or blighted commercial to quality inns and/or
owner occupied bed and breakfast hospitality use, especially when such uses serve as a
natural buffer between commercial and residential uses.
3. Peninsula Resort Lodging.
Select key Redevelopment sites under a comprehensive Redevelopment Plan that will assist
in consolidating and assembling sufficient key locations that will serve as resort lodging
sites. The Committee proposes that the following sites be considered for these key
hospitality amenities:
a. Lido Marina Village, as a component of a mixed-use Redevelopment Plan.
b. Southcoast Shipyard property.
It should be noted that both of the above locations are adjacent to high or medium intensity
commercial uses and afford the opportunity to integrate marine recreation and both
permanent and visiting boater marina facilities. District traffic, parking, and pedestrian
circulation objectives may be best accelerated and maximized within such Redevelopment
designs.
The Committee believes that these facilities should be considered only after third party
professional planning consultants assist in establishing Redevelopment Project Areas and
strict criteria are formulated that Nvill lead to competitive requests for proposals from highly
qualified resort hotel developers and operators.
4. Prohibit party rentals. The Cite hospitality ordinance should include an ordinance prohibiting
one night or similar party rentals of multi unit residential or single family private residences.
The ordinance should be designed to eliminate cur7ent practices whereby "prom night" or
other party type arrangements are provided by rental agents under the guise of a "weekly
rental". Such new ordinance should complement the existing City ordinance which has been
successfully applied in West Newport to curtail "party rentals".
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t,''%,. �
Committee Comprehensive Planning Recommendations
Balboa Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee's intent is to provide specific plans that will create a
mission and sense of place for the Peninsula and to differentiate unique roles of four principal areas: Lido
Town Center, McFadden Square, Cannery Village and Balboa Village. The primary objective of the
Committee's recommendations is to design and maintain a strategic plan with planning disciplines which
will continually strive to improve the entire Peninsula while maintaining a sense of community between
and uniqueness for each of the four Districts.
The overall objective is to re-establish Balboa Peninsula as a more economically viable waterfront
community in terms of quality of life, image, and property values. The following is a summary of the
Committee's recommendations:
Peninsula Wide Recommendations
Community Image - Commit to City planning and enforcement policies that stand for these
objectives:
A. A quality community where
D. A place where quality hospitality is
residents can depend on the
assured in a variety of accommodations
quiet and secure enjoyment of
that encourage family vacations,
their homes and dwelling
visiting boaters and day users to enjoy
units.
and have convenient access to our
recreational elements.
B. A quality destination to visit
and enjoy the natural resources
E. A community where there is zero
provided by Newport's beach
tolerance for pollution, litter and all
and bay.
forms of conduct or activities that
adversely impact the environment,
C. A place where business owners
especially our ocean and bay, and
provide quality goods and
reputation as a quality place to live and
services serving both the needs
visit.
of residents and visitors that
are respectful of the character
F. A place that takes pride in and protects
and integrity of the area.
its heritage and traditions of sailing,
boating and water sports recreation.
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II. Revise and Beautify Newport and Balboa Boulevards - Realign and design attractive median
landscaping for both Newport and Balboa Boulevards following these guidelines:
A. Eliminate the "one way" only
lanes on Newport Boulevard
from 30th Street to 26th Street
in favor of a two-way
configuration pursuant to the
Urban Design Camp concept
plan. Reclaimed right-of-way
should be converted to
parking, hospitality and/or
residential use.
B. Provide an attractive
realignment and merger of
Balboa and Newport
Boulevards. Create plan that
includes fountain or monument
art work that gives character
and tradition to key area.
C. Reduce center divider parking
spaces in residential blocks
from McFadden Square to
Alvarado Street and replace
with an expanded raised tree
planter median. Transfer
parking to proposed and
expanded McFadden Square
and Lido -Cannery Village
parking centers.
D. Initiate an underground
conversion plan of overhead
utilities to enhance visual
aesthetics throughout the
Peninsula area. This program
would be instituted as both
stand alone district projects
and as complementary to other
major street improvement
projects.
E. Provide widened sidewalks
and bicycle lanes on Balboa
Boulevard (space permitting)
to allow more convenient
resident and visitor access by
bicyclists and pedestrians from
McFadden Square to Balboa
Village. Recognize that
boardwalk congestion will be
reduced by providing
reasonable and continuous
bicycle and pedestrian ways on
Balboa Boulevard. A balance
should be given to aesthetics
plus pedestrian and bicycle
flows in assessing vehicular
traffic engineering issues.
F. Create "Balboa Peninsula"
entrance monuments at Pacific
Coast Highway, Balboa
Boulevard, and Newport
Boulevard key ports of entry
with coordinated direction
signage to four key villages.
Newport Boulevard/Balboa Boulevard
-35-
Newport Boulevard/Balboa Boulevard
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III. Parking and Transportation Management - Adopt a parking and transportation management
plan that includes:
A. Inventory of current capacity
and identify utilization by user
groups.
B. Resident preferred zones and
stickers for residents and
authorized visitors.
C. Time and cost management
programs to ensure constant
rotation and availability in the
four principal business areas.
D. Strict enforcement to assure
that time limits and related
features of the plan are carried
out.
E. Consider off Peninsula parking
solutions with shuttle services
during summer season.
F. Recast regulations, realign and
consolidate parking districts,
meter zones, and funds flow to
have a program that assigns
collected revenue to better
finance needed infrastructure
improvements while assessing
a fair burden on visitor
impacts.
G. Seek a trolley shuttle (land and
water) connection to other
Districts on and off the
Peninsula to reduce auto traffic
and serve as more of an
"Outing/Destination"
attraction.
-36-
IV. Recreation and Hospitality - Designate the following key sites and locations as special study
areas that afford opportunities to provide quality residential, recreational and hospitality
improvements.
A. Las Arenas and Marina Park
Site Opportunity:
Community Recreation Center
- Water sports and junior
sailing center, visiting boaters
facility and marina, and
appropriate marine recreational
amenities. (Note: According to
outside consultant/legal
counsel, current mobile home
park use may be in conflict
with permitted use under State
tidelands regulations; extension
of leases is thus assumed to be
an unacceptable land use.)
B. McFadden Square Site
Opportunity (Southcoast
property): Hotel and marina
with visiting boaters facilities.
C. Lido Town Center Site Opportunity:
Encourage continued Redevelopment of
the area with high quality residential
and resident and visitor serving
commercial uses; opening bay front to
visiting boaters.
D. Visitor Hospitality: Establish the
following visitor hospitality measures:
Require annual inspections and
hospitality permits for short
term (less than 30 days)
residential rentals.
2. Monitor standards to assure
visitors that minimum quality
hospitality accommodations
are met. Display "approved"
signage that confirms minimum
standards are met.
r 4W
Las Arenas
38
_49i I
V. Planning and Economic Policy For the Peninsula - Initiate a comprehensive review and revise
as appropriate the existing ordinances to provide both interim and long term incentives and
disciplines to achieve the following objectives:
A
r
Planning Policy:
Physical and Environmental Limits. Recognize
inherent physical and environmental constraints that exist
on the Balboa Peninsula and in the Bay. Take into
consideration itsgeographic configuration, traffic
circulation limitation, parking and ultimate visitor and
vehicular capacity limitations. Carefully consider
cumulative Peninsula -wide environmental and economic
impacts before limits are exceeded.
2. Redevelop Blighted Commercial. Recognize the
inability of current blighted and under -performing
commercial uses to compete or meet qualitative criteria.
Consider use of Redevelopment process to consolidate,
concentrate and redevelop four quality commercial
villages:
a. Lido Town Center
b. Cannery Village
C. McFadden Square
d. Balboa Village
3. Establish Redevelopment Area. Consider
establishment of both Redevelopment Project Areas and
assessment districts as mechanisms to achieve revised
plans for implementing a viable and quality commercial
core for each of the key commercial villages.
4. Update Local Coastal Plan ("LCP"). Incorporate
adopted BPPAC recommendations in the City's LCP
certification process.
5. Conform Specific Plans. Direct staff to immediately
screen and modify specific plans to conform with
planning objectives of this report. Establish
Redevelopment Project Areas and key study areas to
assure positive transitions and provide control
mechanisms. Adopt incentives, such as modified
parking and/or FAR regulations, to accommodate
desired high quality uses and tenants that will contribute
to the upgrading of the area.
-39-
6. Respect Permanent Residential Uses. Establish zones and
adopt standards for weekly and shorter term rentals in selected
areas that are not principally owned or occupied by full time
single family residential users.
7. Hospitality Zones. Provide entitlement incentives to foster
development of quality hospitality and bed and breakfast zones
in key areas near piers, Balboa Village, McFadden Square,
Cannery Village, Lido Town Center and areas proximate to
more intensive uses.
8. Land Use Regulations. Adopt balanced planning regulations
that encourage quality retail and resident compatible uses,
services and tenant mix. The goal is to displace blighted and
low quality commercial establishments.
9. Improve Quality and Tenant Mix. Enhance quality and
attractiveness of retail tenant mix to residents and visitors.
Prepare Peninsula -wide and District specific tenant mix and
Village management plans and recruitment programs. Identify
all marketing and promotional programs with name and logos
to clarify the distinct Districts.
10. Bed and Breakfast Incentive Zone. Establish bed and
breakfast and quality inn zoning on periphery of each Village
core in lieu of blighted or non-competitive commercial
elements. Zoning should contain development regulations
which respect the historic small lot pattern of the Peninsula.
B. Economic Policy:
Increase Revenues - Allocate Costs. Allocate economic
costs and expenses associated with non-resident and visitor
burdens directly to these sectors. Initiate funding alternatives
and increase fair share revenue contributions, and, where
practical, transfer costs from local taxpayers to third party
users. Key examples include but are not limited to:
a. parking management plan revenues
b. imposition of extra police enforcement and
maintenance costs on special burden generators,
C. charter/fishing/rental boat permit fees and passenger
taxes,
d. market rate mooring and docking fees and other
appropriate taxes, fees and assessments.
-40-
V1. Bay Planning - Improve the regulatory process and institute practice consistent with City
wide hospitality role while preserving environmental quality and resident use of our greatest
natural assets.
A. City Harbor Commission. Constitute a single City Harbor
Commission with full responsibility for harbor and tidelands policy, ■
entitlement, permitting, management and maintenance of the harbor and
control of its users. Support and expand efforts to monitor
environmental impacts of commercial uses and improve water quality .
of the bay. Consolidate the current multi -agency harbor control and
enforcement. Approach the County and explore transfer of Orange ■
County Sheriff's functions for harbor patrol and mooring administration ■
to City departments.
B. Marine Service Industry. Preserve marine industry sales and service,
firms (i.e. shipyards, marine hardware, fuel docks, etc.) to preserve
heritage and ensure ample services to residents and visiting boaters.
C. Hospitality for Visiting Yachtsmen. Promote harbor to visiting
yachtsmen and open access to villages from bay by installing short term
bay boat and dinghy docks at strategic locations. Improve the visitor
service and hospitality role of the Harbor Department staff; improve
communications between residents, users, and the Harbor Department
by instituting a "ride along" program.
D. Charter/Fishing/Rental Boat Regulations. Ensure resident respectful
conditions on charter/fishing/rental boats, particularly to control noise,
route of travel, and conflict with recreational boat activities.
For operators using City owned dock facilities, competitive
bidding for commercial license permits with specifications that
prescribe reasonable limits on the size of vessel, number, and
frequency of charters.
2. For operators using private dock facilities, the City should
modify permit policy to prescribe stricter requirements and
conditions for adequate parking, security, trash containment
and other lawful mechanisms to mitigate user impact on such
facilities and adjacent business and resident uses.
3. Expanded interaction of the newly constituted Marine
Operators Alliance with local Yacht Club Sailing Program
directors to continue the effort to reduce seasonal regatta
conflicts.
E. Improve Bay Circulation. Remove/relocate moorings which impose
on major traffic corridors; relocate existing visitor anchorage from
turning basin to an area in closer proximity to services and hospitality
(e.g. Marina Park facility).
-41-
F. Improve Transient Access and Moorings. Convert certain moorings
from long term to transient use; cluster them near key village attractions
(i.e. recreation, dining, hospitality and marine services) and near to
dinghy docks. Discourage continued mooring control by owners of
derelict boats.
VII. Security and Alcohol - Provide on an urgency basis, strict control measures that are designed to:
A. Adopt Alcohol Serving Limits. Establish Peninsula -wide policies and
specific criteria that requires on and off -premises sale of alcoholic
beverages to be compatible with adjacent land uses.
B. Balance Alcohol Serving Uses. Establish target ratios that are
consistent with similarly situated beach communities (e.g. Huntington
Beach, Seal Beach, Laguna Beach). Limit all new bars until reasonable
ratios are achieved. Control and reduce adverse community impacts
resulting from the existing high concentration of on and off -sale liquor
licenses on the Peninsula.
C. Increase Police and Security. Establish zero tolerance police and
security measures on the Peninsula; maximize visibility of police
personnel and consider a substation by joint use with fire station, library
or other public facilities.
D. Enforce and Audit Conditional Use Permits. Inventory and audit all
existing establishment conditional use permits. Enforce, revoke or
amend those that are not in compliance. Increase City enforcement
staff to assure compliance with existing ordinances and previously
issued conditional use permits. Scrutinize applications for permit
modifications where intensification of use may be involved.
-42-
VIII. Aesthetics, Signage and Infrastructure - Adopt design standards and criteria for commercial
signage and infrastructure planning and modify specific area plans to include the following:
A. Mandatory Design Standards. Mandatory design standards and
reviews that are compatible with established and developed quality
commercial areas in each of the four villages.
B. Underground Utilities. Prioritize under grounding of utilities and
provide oversight relative to electrical, telephone and cable service
maintenance cost allocations and service capability to accommodate
long term Peninsula utility requirements.
C. New Sign Ordinance. Adopt a new signage ordinance that provides
for an amortization period of not more than five years with respect to
existing non -conforming commercial signs, building painting and
similar displays in order to implement and phase in a new sign
ordinance and design criteria specifically designated for the Balboa
Peninsula and its principal commercial elements. Provide City budget
for amortization costs from Years 6 through 15.
D. Aesthetic and Maintenance Standards. Prohibit painting of
commercial structures that, in effect, constitute constructive sign
treatments or business identity treatments that are not compatible with
quality commercial areas. Provide regulatory maintenance standards to
respond to future deterioration or neglect after initial sign or graphic
installations.
E. Business Improvement Districts. Permit and encourage business
improvement districts to provide seasonal lamppost banners that
identify Village events, seasonal activities and other non -product
sponsored community activities.
F. Public Signage. Design and articulate public directional, street and
related signage that is thematically compatible and projects a quality
community appearance.
G. Project Green. Enhance the landscaping of all public areas including
establishment of a "PENINSULA PROJECT GREEN PLAN".
Initiate resident volunteer seasonal planting programs in public areas
and an annual spring flower fair festival at McFadden Square to
highlight the Peninsula's dedication to attractive street and residential
plantings.
-43-
Lido Town Center
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Lido Town Center
The Lido Town Center District (referred to in the
workshops as Lido -Civic Center) is a multi -urban use
village located in a triangular area east of Newport
Boulevard, north of 32nd Street and Newport Bay. The
District developed over many economic cycles and
many legislative changes that have left varied
influences on land use and architecture. The multiple
uses include a variety of urban elements such as
medium rise office buildings, one and two story office
and commercial buildings, governmental and
commercial plazas, a parking structure, churches,
restaurants, clubs, marinas, a theater and several types
of residential dwellings.
The principle problem in the District is that a majority
of these urban elements are distributed along or
adjacent to the several blocks of Via Lido which should
be a village business street. In actuality, Via Lido is a
major thoroughfare to and from Newport Boulevard,
the 55 Freeway, the Pacific Coast Highway and local
shopping on 17th Street in Costa Mesa, for the 870
households on Lido Isle, the many condominiums and
mobile home parks located on the Lido Peninsula and
the trades people serving these residents.
Lido Town Center
Turning Boisn
Although the District functions, to some degree, for the people who work, trade, recreate, or dwell within
the locale, substantial benefits would be derived from comprehensive planning for street usage, automobile
and boat parking, and City ordinances that encourage greater private investments in quality facilities.
District Recommendations are:
A. Town Square. Consolidate the areas
bounded by Via Lido, Newport
Boulevard and 32nd Street by
abandoning Via Oporto and Via Malaga
thereby creating a village triangle for
the mix of commercial uses. Provide
attractive landscape and seating areas
linking City Hall, shopping, office and
church uses with convenient pedestrian
walkways. The Committee recommends
identifying the District as Lido Town
Center or a similar reference as a means
to distinguish the area.
-44-
B. Via Lido Shopping Street. Establish
Via Lido as the Village shopping street
with diagonal parking to accommodate
additional parking for store -front
business.
C. Reconfigure and Improve 32nd
Street. Reconfigure 32nd Street to
serve as a convenient alternative route
for residents and visitors.
D. Town Square - Cannery Parking
Center. Establish a parking district
within the block bounded by 32nd
Street, Villa Way and Lafayette Avenue.
Construct a parking structure with 32nd
Street ingress/egress attractive
landscaping to serve (a) currently
inadequate City Hall requirements and
(b) visitors to Lido Town Center and
Cannery Village. This parking structure
would also accommodate overflow
beach parking and replace street parking
which would be lost to other District
improvements.
E. Relocate Fire and Marine
Department. Consider relocation of
existing Fire and Marine buildings as
adjunct to new 32nd Street parking
facility.
F. Redevelop Lido Marina Village.
Initiate the formation of a
Redevelopment Area at Lido Village to
assist conversion of blighted and
uneconomic commercial to quality
medium density residential, bed and
breakfast, hotel, and including improved
restaurant and retail elements; require
Redevelopment Plan that opens bay
views and provides convenient.
pedestrian and visitor access to docks
and bay. Link Mariners Mile pedestrian
access with Via Oporto through park
triangle.
G. Provide Bay Boat Access. Establish
short term visiting dinghy docking
facility for convenient access by small
craft to Via Lido and Town Square
commercial and retail establishments.
-45-
Lido Town Center
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Cannery Village
Cannery Village
As referenced in the introduction, Cannery Village's
genesis was the fishing industry of the 1930's. It
developed in a manner that provided narrow streets
with a multitude of mixed uses. It is important to
recognize the diverse nature of this uniquely developed
District and maintain the quaintness of the area.
While certain commercial industrial uses complement
the area needs relating to the boating and marine
element, other uses are not necessarily compatible with
the District. At the same time, current traffic
circulation must be addressed in order to more
effectively service the District both from a vehicle and
pedestrian standpoint. In preserving the
yachting/boating, service business, it is desirable to
discourage certain industrial uses. With its
disproportionate share of bars and nightclubs, certain
restrictions must be put in place which will reduce the
number of these uses and develop much more
compatible uses such as quality restaurants.
The District recommendations are:
A. Recognize Mixed Use Tradition.
Recognize the diverse and mixed use
nature of this important traditional area
which combines small art oriented
specialty retail, residential, resident
serving and related eclectic assemblage
of related uses.
B. Preserve Yachting Service Business.
Encourage the preservation of boater
serving commercial uses such as sail
making, marine craftsmen, small craft
sales, accessory shops and related
established boating service uses that
rely on proximity and convenient access
to the bay. Give incentives for
businesses to create visitor attraction
and observation areas to see the trade or
specialty (i.e. Mystic Seaport Village).
C. Discourage Incompatible Industrial
Users. Discourage industrial users and
-47-
Cannery Village
long term dry boat storage that are not
compatible with established pedestrian
orientation and diversity of uses
comprising the Village core.
D. Restrict Bars and Nightclubs. Reduce
the number of nightclubs and bars (both
existing and new) that are not
compatible with quiet enjoyment of the
neighborhood and replace them with
quality restaurants or other appropriate
uses.
E. Circulation Improvement.
Reconfigure 32nd Street as the major
access from Newport Boulevard to the
Village. Improve vehicular circulation
and reestablish traditional pedestrian
circulation patterns with priority over
vehicular traffic circulation.
a
F. Public Signage. Provide
clear directional signage to
encourage parking at the
32nd Street parking
district block which is
recommended to service
Lido Town Center and
Cannery Village Districts.
Reassess role of 30th
Street public parking lot
with design of Town
Square structure.
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McFadden Square
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McFadden Square
McFadden Square represents the historical
center of Newport Beach. Its mix of
restaurants, small retail stores, fast food
outlets, offices, bed and breakfast, tackle
shops, the Dory Fleet, the pier and the beach
has always been and will continue to be a
recognizable feature of McFadden Square.
In order to preserve and upgrade this most
valuable area, specific steps must be taken.
These include: renovation and refurbishment
of existing architecture, vehicular access and
circulation, parking, pedestrian circulation,
improvement of public transportation,
development of hospitality related uses to
address both local and visitor needs.
The District recommendations are:
A. Redesign Circulation and Access.
Redesign the traffic circulation element
at McFadden Square consistent with the
conceptual design as presented in the
Urban Design Camp Report that
provides for combining Newport and
Balboa Boulevards through McFadden
Square.
B. Improve Parking. Reconfigure
existing parking areas to provide better
access and circulation. Dedicate
parking management plan provisions
that respond to commercial and
residential elements.
C. Establish Redevelopment Area.
Establish a Redevelopment Area that
will facilitate Redevelopment of the
blighted commercial elements and
provide incentives for quality historic
building renovations. The theme of the
area should respond to and enhance the
old town character of the Square and
provide incentives to allow traditional
McFadden Square
-49-
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floor area ratios that are consistent with
the historical entitlements.
D. Designate Key Hospitality Site.
Designate a key site for a hospitality
facility that will accommodate between
100 and 150 rooms to serve visitors
including special facilities to
accommodate visiting boaters, e.g., the
Southcoast property.
E. Improve Visitor Serving Commercial.
Encourage quality visitor serving uses
and reduce the number of bar and
nightclub establishments. Replace with
quality restaurants and maximize
ambiance of outside dining adjacent to
pedestrian areas.
F. Provide Public Transportation
Alternatives. Improve bus access, both
tour and OCTA, and remote, off
Peninsula parking opportunities for high
traffic generation users.
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Balboa Village
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Balboa Village
Balboa Village revitalization will include a series of
orchestrated improvement projects which will widen
sidewalks, enhance streetscape aesthetics with street
trees and landscaping, provide more convenient
parking and traffic circulation, creative signage and
enhance architectural character.
The revitalization will recognize Balboa Village's
uniqueness: a place of character between beach and
bay. Balboa's assets need to be linked together by
pleasant tree -lined walkways that allow people to easily
enjoy the diverseVillage resources, from Balboa Pier to
the bayfront promenade. Eliminating vehicular traffic
on some streets, redesigning the main parking lot,
implementing a user friendly parking management
system, and improving walkways will enhance the
Village.
Balboa Village
F
Aesthetically, improvements will include landscaping; street furniture; entry artwork; clear and attractive
signage; undergrounding overhead utility lines; establishing a local design review process; upgrading the
Fun Zone area by opening up the Edgewater promenade to the bay and creating additional space for
outdoor dining and social gathering; and providing local residents and visiting boaters with short-term
docking facilities.
The historical Balboa Pavilion has been selected as the symbol for theVillage.
The District recommendations are:
A. Improve Aesthetics and Pedestrian
Walkways. Develop a Streetscape
Implementation Master Plan for all
Village streets and walks, to be
implemented via a combination of Cit\
public works funds and an assessment
district, and provide wider sidewalks
and landscaping on Balboa Boulevard
as Phase I. Other priority improvements
include:
Improve City Parking Facility.
As part of a comprehensive
parking management plan,
redesign the main City parking
lot to increase parking and
replace spaces lost by widening
sidewalks throughout the
-�1-
Village.. increase convenience
of parking to serve Village
businesses by incorporating
pedestrian walks connecting
parking to Village and bav, and
improve landscaping. Redirect
lot egress via Washington
Street and create a central turn-
around near Balboa Inn.
?. Provide Public Transportation
Alternatives. Improve bus
access, both tour and OCTD,
and off- Peninsula parking
opportunities for high traffic
generation users.
3. Main Street Pedestrian Walk.
Reconstruct Main Street south
of Balboa Boulevard for
pedestrian use only.
4. Bay Avenue Improvements.
Seek expanded parking close
to resident serving businesses
by consolidating parking areas
along Bay Avenue and enhance
street aesthetics.
B. Family Marine Recreation Theme.
Establish a Family Marine Recreation
theme to encourage preservation and
enhancement of historic structures.
C. Open Bay Front - Upgrade Fun Zone.
Upgrade the Fun Zone area by opening
bay front walkways, eliminating kiosks
and other vendor obstructions along the
sea wall. Provide bay boat and dinghy
docks for local residents and visiting
boater short term docking facilities.
Establish a new Central Balboa
Visitors/Ticket Sales/Reservations
Center with visibility from Balboa
Boulevard. Consider relocation of
commercial vessels to offshore
moorings during non-use. Add
waterfront dock area suitable for
attractive quality yachts and historical
vessels.
D. Improve Quality and Tenant Mix.
Enhance quality and attractiveness of
retail tenant mix to residents and
visitors. Prepare tenant mix and Village
management plan and recruitment
program. Identify program with name
and logo to clarify Balboa as a distinct
destination.
E. Design Review. Implement an advisory
project design and architectural review
program to allow an opportunity for
members of the community to
provide input and comment on proposed
development and Redevelopment
Projects prior to approvals.
-52-
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7
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
A. Establishing Priorities for Implementation
At the conclusion of the Community District Workshops in October, 1996, the Committee Members were
asked, by written questionnaire, to list their personal opinions of the priorities for implementation of the
myriad of issues and recommendations discussed. Subsequently, when the final draft of recommendations
was agreed to, further consensus was reached to include the top three planning objectives. Also, it was the
Committee's final position that each of the first three recommendations, as listed below, were of sufficient
importance and urgency that they should all be considered of equal priority in the preparation of an
implementation program.
Highest Priority
Balboa Boulevard beautification -
aesthetic upgrades (including District
themes and signage supported by
private sign ordinance and a public
signage program).
2. Parking management plan and parking
block between Lido Town Center,
Cannery Village and improved access
via 32nd Street.
3. Traffic improvement in core retail
especially the mix -master
reconstruction and consolidation of
Balboa,'Newport Boulevard.
Next Highest Priority
Improve tenant mix; control alcohol
licenses/crime.
2. Comprehensive special study to
consider marine hospitality/
recreational/ cultural amenity at Marina
Park site.
3. More quality hospitality lodging
capability - upgrade visitor (emphasis
on bed and breakfast and short
term/rental property standards); special
study to consider resorthnarine
hospitality of SOnthcoast site.
4. Manage bay asset; improve boating
attraction and visitor access while
maintaining harbor quality.
5. Strenuthen B.I.D.'s - consolidate for
ongoiria financial support purposes.
The Committee respectfully requests that the Council and staff consider such consensus priorities as they
develop the process for implementation. Also, as many of the specific priorities contained in the
Committee Comprehensive Planning Recommendations section not listed above are of relative ease to
implement, or of nominal cost, they should be given early attention in the overall scheme which the
Committee appreciates will take several years to fully accomplish "Project 2000, a Planning Vision for the
Balboa Peninsula".
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B. Financing the Vision - Cost of Status Quo and the Economics of Change
The Committee well appreciates the financial implications of its recommendations. However, before the
question is asked "How are we going to pay for the Vision?", consider first the past and continuing costs of
the "Status Quo". Local taxpayers are writing checks to subsidize negative influences and will continue to
do so until a new approach is taken to City planning. The present conditions and negative economic
impacts are summarized as follows:
1. Lower assessed valuation on
commercial properties means declining
tax revenue.
2. Diminished City reserves have resulted
in shrinking City budgets; most capital
budget expenditures go to
replace/restore aging infrastructure or to
maintain visitor facilities.
3. Decline in Peninsula commercial
element promotes a lower quality
visitor and lower sales tax contribution
to City.
4. Dependence upon day and short term
visitors increases City burdens (parking,
trash, maintenance, crime control) and
provides only seasonal short term
benefits. This condition has been
exacerbated by the loss of
approximately $100,000 of Orange
County funding.
Growth in bars and nightclubs has
resulted in over -concentration and year
-round negative influences.
Prior planning studies by RUDAT have
been ignored so the blighted and
deteriorating conditions continue and
worsen.
-55-
Reversing Negative Economics
Before meaningful financial plans can be
developed which address the negative economic
factors, several fundamental changes in City
economic patterns should be acknowledged.
These changes are mostly demographic and most
are beyond the control of the City. We cite the
following:
More year-round residential base and
expectation of quality environment; no
longer a community of beach houses;
continuous residential remodeling and
additions of high quality homes.
Change in retail merchandising (new
regional power centers and malls, e.g.
South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island,
Triangle Square, plus big box discount
stores, e.g. Home Depot, Price Club,
etc.) have shifted resident serving uses
off the Peninsula and provided visitors
with many selections that make the
Peninsula commercial element less
viable. Replacing departed tenants with
nightclubs, bars, and low quality shops
has produced negative impacts.
Mixed use land use has brou-ht
unforeseen conflicts (especially in small
lot environment of the Peninsula).
4. Demographics - Unique to the
Peninsula'
a. Median Age - 34 (vs. 40 City
wide)
b. Median Income - $57,380 (vs
$64,417 City wide)
C. Multi -family housing serves
students and young
professionals (approximately
48% of households are
apartment/duplex)
d. Lack of growing families
which are prime retail
consumers (only 16% of
households)
e. Upscale, executive, and retired
comprise approximately 34%
of households
Reversing the Trend - Taking the Next Steps
The Committee's scope of work did not include
definitive implementation plans, particularly the
source of funding. However, at each juncture,
there has been a conscious effort to quantify,
define, prioritize and balance the needs. By
doing so, we have been able to input to the City
Manager and the staff a set of recommendations
that are more readily submitted to analysis and
more rapidly advanced to the City Council for
debate and the political process which will
produce a plan of action.
The main focus of the City staff has been to
study the Committee's preliminary
recommendations based upon past practice, prior
and current budget expenditures and, generally,
the perspective of past attempts or studies of
similar purpose. In virtually every department
input, either the incomplete understanding of the
recommendation, lack of staff time to further
study the issue, some past policy constraint, or a
need for consultant input has caused the staff to
stop short of full support. However, our
differences are being constructively debated and
an implementation plan is taking shape. The
Committee appreciates the dynamic process of
evaluating change, especially when major
systems and new policy thinking are advocated.
Source: Linda S. Congleton R Assoc.
Report dated 7-21-95
-56-
The Committee foresees the need for high level
interaction with the City Council, City Manager,
City financial officer and City Attorney to
explore alternate funding mechanisms.
However, such contact has been deferred until
the Council receives this report and further
budget estimates can be generated by the
affected department heads. Accordingly, we are
able to offer only the following concepts which
will require another round of staff and consultant
input before the implementation plan can begin
to evolve.
Immediate professional planning
intervention to "jump start" staff
response and implementation schedule
for report recommendations.
Integrate community based needs and
Village infrastructure improvements in
City-wide capital budget/planning. Re -
prioritize as appropriate. Piggyback
planned public works projects as
opportunities to incorporate related
recommendations.
3. Strengthen and expand the role of
B.I.D.s to prioritize and partially fund
Village improvements and destination
attractions, and monitor tenant
behavior, deliver image, etc.
4. Create zoning and improvement
incentives for property owners and
developers to attract property
conversion and upgraded land use.
5. Cooperate with both EDC and VCB
efforts to attract quality tenants and
visitors, extend visitors' length of stay
and thus maximize their contribution to
local economy and tax base.
6. Convert strategic sites to higher and
better use with resulting financial
returns.
7. Form Special Assessment Districts to
finance resident serving infi•astructure
and public improvements that maintain
or increase property values and enhance
general ambiance of the Villages and
Peninsula.
Ensure that visitor burdens are financed
through appropriate user fees (i.e.
parking management, charter boat
franchise fees, etc.) and State funding
sources (gasoline tax, etc.): plus Federal
grants (UDAG, etc.). Assess extra
enforcement costs to high rate violators
and special burden contributors (bars,
etc.)
Judicious use of municipal bonding
capacity for public improvements plus
revenue bonds to be debt serviced by
income from Redevelopment and
increased sales or property taxes (i.e.,
leverage parking district funds).
10. Continued assessment of fair share
Traffic Impact and other mitigation fees
to owner/developers of Redevelopment
Projects.
The City Manager will be delivering a Staff Report to the City Council concurrent with
this Committee report. The Staff Report will include certain budget projections for
future capital projects which, in substance, attempt to show the potential funding of our
recommendations. We caution the Council that, except for the early budgeted fees for
needed consultant work, such projection for final planning, engineering and construction
costs are at best of rough order and magnitude. These are projected numbers and should
not be considered as all inclusive or indicative of the action plans and priorities which
may evolve when a more thorough financial feasibility review is undertaken and
alternative funding sources are identified. A subcommitte of BPPAC members has been
formed to work with staff to advance a financing plan for your later consideration. We
expect to conclude this final phase of our Committe's assignment prior to the scheduled
sunset of our Committee on June 30, 1997. We look forward to working with the staff to
advance a financing plan for your later consideration.
Your attention is also directed to Volume 1, Implementation Strate-ies of the Urban
Design Camp Report for various funding options to be investigated.
-57-
About the Committee
Fritz L. Duda, Chairman
Bay Island, Newport Beach
Mr. Duda is the President and
Owner of the Fritz Duda
Company, a privately held real
estate investment building and
development company. He is
a member of the Board of
Directors of The Vons
Companies, Inc. (NYSE), is a
sustaining member of the
Urban Land Institute and has
served on numerous ULI panel
study groups. He is a member
of the University of Notre
Dame's College of
Architecture and Engineering
Advisory Council.
Timothy C. Collins,
Co -Chairman
Peninsula Point, Newport Beach
Mr. Collins is the Owner and
Principal of T.C. Collins &
Associates, a firm specializing
in real estate development
consulting with emphasis in
entitlement processing,
financing and project
construction and property
management; he was
previously an executive and
Co-founder of Jet America
Airlines and MGM Grand Air.
He received his Bachelor of
Science in Commerce from
the University of Santa Clara
and is a licensed CPA.
Don Dabney
Lido Island, Newport Beach
Mr. Dabney retired in 1989
from a career in Human
Resources with Hughes
Aircraft where his emphasis
was in engineering recruiting
and employment. Don served
two terms as President of the
Board of Lido Isle Community
Association. He is an alumnus
of USC where he earned his
degree in Geography.
Jim Dobrott
Lido Isle, Newport Beach
Mr. Dobrott is a resident of
Lido Isle and is presently
retired. He served as President
of W. R. Grace Development
corporation and previously
was employed by Rinker
Development and Shell Oil
Co. He received his bachelor
degree from Loyola
University.
-58-
Anne Gifford
Central Balboa, Newport Beach
Ms. Gifford is an attorney with
J -A -M -S Endispute, an
arbitration/mediation firm, and
over the past 20 years has both
legal experience and hands-on
business experience, including
The Wickes Companies and
Dayton -Hudson Corporation.
She received her law degree
from San Diego Western State
University. She is currently
the Chair of the Newport
Beach Planning Commission.
Rush N. Hill, II
Newport Heights, Newport
Beach
Mr. Hill is the Chairman and
Founding Partner of the Hill
Services Companies; and
previously worked as
Education Advisor in
Governor Reagan's
administration. He has a
business administration degree
and an architecture degree
from Cal Poly in San Luis
Obispo, and is a registered
architect in California and
seven other states. He is a
member of the Board of
Directors of Orange Coast
College Foundation, Chairman
of the Newport Beach City
Council Ad Hoc Economic
Development Committee, and
Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Newport
Harbor Area Chamber of
Commerce.
Michael Kranzley
Balboa Village, Newport Beach William Wren
Peninsula Point, Newport Beach
Mr. Kranzley is a Vice
President at Paine Webber in
Newport Beach, Former
President of the Lido Sands
Homeowners Association and
member of the Bicycle Trails
Committee, Mike is currently
serving as Vice Chair of the
Newport Beach Planning
Commission. He also served
on the Planning Commission
Steering Committee for the
Comprehensive Review of
Title XX Zoning Code.
Timothy L. Strader
Corona Del Mar
Mr. Strader is a 26 year
resident of Corona Del Mar
and is President of The Legacy
Company. He was a partner
with Don Koll in the
development of Koll Center
Newport and Lido Village. He
received his law degree from
UCLA. He is a member of the
Board of Directors and
Executive Committee of the
Orange County Performing
Arts Center. He is a member
of The State Contractors
License Board and remains
active in real estate
development and
management.
-59-
Mr. Wren is the President of
William A. Wren Company, a
real estate consulting firm.
Previously he spent 20 years
with Chevron Land and
Development Company as a
Senior Project Manager and
has also participated in several
different Urban Land Institute
projects. He has an economics
degree and an MBA from
Stanford University. He is a
Director for the Orange
County Chamber of
Commerce and is a member of
numerous community
committees and charitable
groups.
Community Representatives
- District Planning Workshops -
Facilitators: Urban Design Camp
Jack Camp - President, Urban Design Camp
Mike Adams - Urban Design Camp
William Blurock, FAIA - Blurock Partnership, Advisor to Jack Camp and BPPAC
Cannery Village Balboa Village Lido Town Center McFadden Square
John Bary
Ron Baers
John Cotton
John Curci
Bob Black
Bill Dunlap
Gary Disano
Don Donaldson
Jerry King
Jane Elliott
Bill Ficker
Tod Ridgeway
Russ Fluter
Ray Handy
John Sipple
Bill Hamilton
Chan LeFebevre
Clarence Turner
Steve Lewis
Dan Thompson
Buzz Person
John Wortmann
Michael Porter -
Gary Adams
Marcia Dossey
Henry Johnson
George McGaffigan
Rob Roubian
Fran Ursini
Appendix "A "
i RESOLUTION NO. 95-32
i
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT
BEACH ESTABLISHING THE BALBOA PENINSULA PLANNING
. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS, the City Council has received communication from residents and
business people that the type and quality of commercial development on the Balboa
Peninsula does not well serve the residents on the Peninsula and the City as a whole;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to investigate the nature and extent of
this problem and to seek solutions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council in addressing this problem desires to appoint a
Committee composed of community members all of whom are knowledgeable in
commercial redevelopment and some of whom live and work on the Peninsula.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Newport Beach hereby establishes the Balboa Peninsula Planning Advisory
Committee as follows:
MEMBERSHIP: The Chairman of the Committee shall be Fritz Duda. The
remaining members shall consist of three members at large and three members who
live in and shall represent the Peninsula/Lido Area.
TERM: The Committee shall sunset upon presentation of its final report to the
City Council or December 31, 1995 which ever occurs first unless the term is extended
by action of the City Council.
FUNCTION AND DUTIES:
1. Develop a Study Design.
The initial task of the Committee shall be to investigate the general scope of the
problem and to determine how best to address it in terms of the precise geographical
boundaries, the staffing and/or consultant requirements and a work program. The
work program shall provide ample opportunities for public hearings and citizen input.
2. Determine Funding Requirements,
The Committee shall determine what funds or other resources are necessary to
complete the study outlined in the first task and shall seek to secure such funds by
making recommendations to the City Council, seeking grants or other appropriate
means.
3. Coordinate and Monitor the Study Program.
In concert with City staff, the Economic Development Committee or others as
appropriate, direct and participate In the study process and ensure that periodic
progress reports are made to the City Council,
4. Recommend Implementation Measures
Upon completion of the study program and the identification of solutions, this
Committee shall recommend to the City Council the ongoing organizational and
financial commitments necessary to implement the preferred alternatives.
Page 2
STAFFING:
The Committee shall receive assistance primarily from the Assistant City Manager and
periodically from other City departments as necessary. The Economic Development
Committee shall also provide assistance and coordination as necessary.
ADOPTED this 13th date of March
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MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK U�11:r r
1995.
Appendix "B "
BALBOA PENINSULA PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
BALBOA PENINSULA
PLANNING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
(Revised October 11, 1995)
DESIGNATE BALBOA PENINSULA AS A SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT.
DEVELOP A PLAN FOR COMMERCIAL PLANNING AND RESIDENTIAL
POLICY ELEMENTS THAT MEETS BOTH TRANSITIONAL AND LONG-
TERM OBJECTIVES.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH POSITIVE
CHANGES.
1. Balboa Peninsula - Sense of Place: Provide specific plans that will
create a mission and sense of place to differentiate unique roles of
the four principal commercial areas:
• Lido - Civic Center
• McFadden Square
• Cannery Village
• Central Balboa
2. Mission Statement: Adhere to mission statement for a quality
community which would include:
• . Enhance and expand residential element.
• Consolidate and redevelop concentrated quality commercial
elements.
• Enhance landscape and streetscape for residential and
commercial elements.
• Consider Redevelopment Agency and comprehensive
Redevelopment Area plans.
• Revise planning and zoning ordinances to provide incentives
for both transitional and long term plan objectives.
-1-
3. Residential Compatibility:
• Encourage resident -compatible commercial -retail uses.
4. Strategy for Attracting Quality Visitors:
• Encourage uses that attract visitors who make a positive
economic and social contribution.
• Discourage uses that attract visitors who make a negative
economic and/or social contribution.
• Focus on key historical and cultural sites that provide greatest
improvement potential.
5. Crime and Security:
• Reduce and control quality of on and off sale liquor license
establishments.
• Consider limitations and restrictions on liquor stores, bars and
theater -nightclubs.
• Increase patrol levels.
• Consider highly visible police substation at or near Central
Balboa.
6. Parking Management Plan: Establish and implement a Peninsula
Parking Management Plan that:
• Restrict visitor parking in residential areas.
• Gives resident users priority privileges.
• Allocates financial burdens to high impact users which
adversely impact residential and commercial -retail businesses
and which provide little or no economic benefit to City.
-2-
• Prohibits credit for remote parking facilities in entitlement
process without appropriate mitigation (i.e., provision for
shuttle or transportation services).
• Reduce dependency for vehicular access and parking.
Encourage pedestrian access.
7. Oven Bay Front:
• Open bay front in Central Balboa and selected key areas for
visiting yacht facilities to provide access by bay and bring
tourists to area by water.
• Establish Bay Management Plan to enhance service and
control for yachting, recreational and resident users.
• Discourage negative influences and uses that interfere with
stated objectives.
8. Quality Hospitality:
• Establish Bed and Breakfast zones
• Establish key sites and incentives for quality lodging and
hospitality facilities
• Vigorously enforce short term lodging ordinance and establish
minimum hospitality quality standards as a condition to
permitting short term rentals.
9. Maintenance and Code Enforcement: Increase code enforcement
and establish a maintenance ordinance to address deferred and
declining commercial and residential elements.
10. New Sian Ordinance: Establish a comprehensive sign ordinance for
the Peninsula Villages.
11. Traffic Circulation: Develop a new traffic circulation plan which
recognizes:
• The necessity for a new circulation plan at McFadden Square.
-3-
• Peninsula capacity limitations and residents' necessity for
reasonable ingress, egress and compatible commercial -retail
elements.
12. Opportunities: Maximize opportunities and existing economic
strengths. Key examples:
• The Bay as an amenity.
• Marine sales and service industry.
• Visiting yachting and regatta participants.
• 15th Street Marina, hospitality, lodging and yachting center
potential.
13. Transfer Traffic and Parking Impacts: Transfer high traffic and
parking impact uses off Peninsula.
14. Community Issues Management: Institute a community issues
management strategy to clearly understand the community issues
and develop support for key elements of the plan. Prioritize the key
catalysts that stand for quality change. Coordinate planning program
with Economic Development Program.
15. Transitional Interim Measures: City Council must be willing to invoke
urgent transitional ordinances and zoning controls designed to:
• Prevent addition of commercial uses that are inconsistent with
stated objectives.
• Control expansion or transfer of existing undesirable uses.
• Proactively seek desirable uses for strategic sites.
• Control existing enforcement costs.
• Demonstrate to community at large that City is committed to
change.
(BPPAGI 5.PT)
52
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