HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.0_Annual General Plan Housing Report_PA2026-0004CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
March 5, 2026
Agenda Item No. 5
SUBJECT: General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports for 2025
(PA2026-0004)
PLANNER: Melinda Whelan, Assistant Planner
949-644-3221, mwhelan@newportbeachca.gov
SUMMARY
The General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports (Reports) are prepared
by City of Newport Beach staff each year and reviewed by the Planning Commission and
City Council. The Reports summarize the City’s progress with implementing the goals,
policies, and programs of the General Plan and specifically, the Housing Element. The
current Reports are presented for the Planning Commissions’ review and expansively
cover the City’s activities in calendar year 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
1)Find the review of the 2025 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress
Report is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
Section 15060(b)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14,
Division 6, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to
the environment, directly or indirectly;
2)Review and comment on the 2025 General Plan and Housing Element Annual
Progress Reports; and
3)Recommend the City Council review and authorize the submittal of the 2025 General
Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports to the California Office of Land
Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) and the submittal of the Housing Element portion to
the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
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DISCUSSION
2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
Government Code Section 65400 and City of Newport Beach (City) General Plan
Implementation Program Imp 1.3 require the preparation of an annual report on the status
and progress of the General Plan implementation. Following City Council review, the 2025
General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports (Reports) will be sent to the
Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), formerly the Office of Planning and
Research (OPR), and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD),
as required by State law. There is no standardized form or format for the preparation of
the Reports; however, the format and content follows the guidance provided by the APR
Memo Reporting Year 2025 and the HCD APR Instructions for Calendar Year 2018-2024,
including the updated APR form specific to the Housing Element portion.
The Reports (Attachment No. PC 1) reflect the status of the implementation measures
between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025 (Reporting Period), and do not reflect
changes or updates that may have been directed since. The Newport Beach General
Plan was adopted in November 2006 pursuant to available guidelines provided by the
State at that time pursuant to Government Code Section 65040.2 and consistent with
Section 65400(a)(2). Since initial adoption, the City has updated the Housing and
Circulation Elements in 2022, the Noise Element in 2023, and the Land Use Element in
2024. The Reports include a discussion of the status of each General Plan
Implementation Program (Appendix A of Attachment No. PC 1), a comprehensive status
on each Housing Element Implementation Program (Appendix B of Attachment No. PC
1), and an analysis on the degree to which the City’s existing General Plan complies with
criteria identified in LCI’s General Plan Guidelines. Staff believes the City has continued
to achieve substantial progress in the implementation of the General Plan and especially
the Housing Element. Some of the progress is evident in completed tasks such as the
comprehensive Zoning Code Update in 2010; however, most progress is illustrated
through ongoing tasks and long-term coordination efforts, with updates highlighted for
2025. The Reports also summarize identified priorities for land use decision making for
the Reporting Period.
General Plan Update
The City embarked on a comprehensive update of the General Plan in 2019 but pivoted
in 2020 to focus on preparing the 6th Cycle Housing Element (Housing Element), as well
as an update to the Circulation Element.
The City continued to focus its efforts, which ultimately led to City Council’s initial adoption
of the Housing Element on February 8, 2022. After several reviews and revisions with
HCD, the City Council re-adopted a refreshed Housing Element on September 13, 2022.
The update is a comprehensive statement of the City’s housing policies and serves as a
guide for the implementation of these policies. As required by state law, the update
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examines current housing needs, estimates future housing needs, and establishes goals,
policies, and programs pertaining to those needs while demonstrating capacity to
accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 4,845 new
housing units. Housing programs are responsive to current and future needs and
established within the context of available community, state, and federal economic and
social resources, realistic quantified housing objectives, and affirmatively furthering fair
housing (AFFH). On October 5, 2022, HCD determined the Housing Element is in full
statutory compliance.
On October 25, 2022, the City Council adopted an updated Circulation Element that
included several refreshed policies that are compliant with state law. For example, the
updated Circulation Element contains policies related to complete streets and vehicle
miles traveled. The policies were reviewed by the community through extensive outreach
and remain consistent with the community’s vision.
Simultaneous with the efforts to update the Housing Element and Circulation Element,
the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) began meeting in July 2022 to
restart the comprehensive update efforts. In November 2022, the City Council appointed
a 30-member General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to help represent the community
and guide potential policy changes.
In July 2023, the City contracted with Dudek to provide consulting services on the
comprehensive General Plan Update. “Phase One” outreach for the comprehensive
update to the General Plan was conducted from March 2024 to June 2024. The Phase
One Outreach Summary was published July 2024 and is available on the City’s project
website here. “Phase Two” outreach was conducted from October 5, 2024, to January 5,
2025. The Phase Two Outreach Summary was published in March 2025 and is available
here.
Starting in August 2025, several Draft General Plan Elements were published online for
review. “Phase Three” included an in-person General Plan Review Open House on
October 21, 2025, and a complementary virtual Open House on October 22, 2025. The
presentation made virtually is available online here, and provides an overview of the
hundreds of responses from Newport Beach residents and community members,
collaboration with the GPAC, background analysis from Phases One and Two, and how
this informed the draft elements for the 2050 General Plan. Comments on these drafts
were accepted through November 17, 2025.
Information regarding the General Plan update efforts to date, including the initiation,
evaluation, and overall process, draft elements, etc. can be found on the City’s website
and at Newport, Together.
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Housing Element Implementation
This comprehensive general plan update effort is on a parallel track alongside the City’s
implementation of the Housing Element. In November 2023, the City Council adopted an
amendment to the Noise Element to adjust the policy framework surrounding housing
proximate to John Wayne Airport. In July 2024, the City Council adopted an amendment
to the Land Use Element to revise the necessary goals and policies to support housing
production in the focus areas identified by the Housing Element. The Noise Element
revisions can be found in Exhibit A of Resolution No. 2023-72 and the Land Use Element
revisions can be found in Exhibit A of Resolution 2024-51.
Additionally, on September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted Zoning Code Amendments
required to implement the Housing Element. These amendments included adding
Housing Overlays into the Zoning Code (NBMC Section 20.28.050). The details are
provided below in the Policy Actions 1A through 1G Related to Housing
Implementation Section of this staff report.
2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Government Code Section 65400 requires that each city, including charter cities, provide
an annual progress report on the status of the Housing Element of its General Plan. HCD
has provided mandatory forms (Excel spreadsheets) and definitions for the housing
portion of the Report. The forms include six large tables (Tables A through F). Due to the
large size and format of the tables, only a summary of the contents of each table is
provided in the attached Report. The complete forms will be made available online at
https://www.newportbeachca.gov/APR and they will be submitted to HCD in electronic
format.
The annual report requires the City to report all housing applications submitted in 2025
including building permits (Table A in Report) and all housing applications with a net
increase in units approved and finalized in 2025 (Table A2 in Report). Table B includes
the number of units for which permits were issued to demonstrate progress in meeting
the City’s RHNA goal. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
prepared the RHNA for each jurisdiction within the SCAG region. SCAG, through the
RHNA process, assigned Newport Beach a share of the region’s new housing units needs
for the 2021 - 2029 planning period to be a total of 4,845 new dwelling units further broken
down by income category.
Housing production towards the 6th Cycle RHNA allocation is best summarized by Table
B, which is included in the Report and excerpted below.
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Table B Summary: Regional Housing Needs Allocation Progress
Permitted Units Issued by Affordability
Income
Level RHNA
06/30/
2021-
10/14/
2021
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
Total
to
Date
Very Low 1,456 13 8 11 9 15 56
Low 930 21 14 18 28 18 99
Moderate 1,050 3 1 11 13 19 12 59
Above
Moderate 1,409
2 31 7 1 33 64 138
Total
RHNA 4,845
Total
Units
Produced
5 66 40 43 89 109
352
Of the 109 permitted units contributing to RHNA, 38 units are accessory dwelling units
including above-moderate, moderate- and lower-income units.
The Housing Element portion of the Reports also includes status and/or progress of
implementing each Housing Element Policy Action for the Reporting Period (Appendix B
of Attachment No. PC 1). Appendix B includes a detailed status report for each Housing
Element Policy Action.
Efforts to Assist the Unhoused
The City continues to provide robust assistance to those who are unhoused in the
community. For this reporting period, the following was accomplished:
• From the streets and vehicles, the City’s homeless outreach and engagement
team permanently housed six people, reunited five people with family, and placed
four people into skilled nursing facilities.
• The Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter permanently housed six people and reunited three
people with family.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) continues to provide outreach and
engagement services as a contracted service provider. PATH completed 66
shelter intakes (some duplicate individuals) at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, the
County’s Yale Navigation Center, the Huntington Beach Navigation Center, the
Buena Park Navigation Center, and the Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim.
PATH, in coordination with the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) and the
City’s Homeless Services Manager, completed a street census in November 2025.
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13 people were surveyed and stated ties to Newport Beach. PATH continues to
connect the people to services and resources.
• The outreach and engagement team completed three notable permanent housing
placements in 2025. A person had over 80 contacts with the NBPD and City and
County staff over six years. In October 2025, that person decided to call his father
and reunified with him in another county. An older adult housed in a senior care
facility in the State of New York boarded a bus and traveled cross-country to
Newport Beach to locate her son. She experienced street-level homelessness
while the team located the senior care facility in New York. After medically clearing
her for travel, the team bought a return bus ticket, tracked her progress, and
confirmed she returned to her home. An older adult living in a vehicle was stranded
for a week before neighbors called the City for assistance. The team convinced
him to go to a hospital for treatment and an assessment. The man now resides in
a skilled nursing facility.
Significant Residential Development Projects with Affordable Units
Another highlight is significant residential projects that include an affordable housing
component on sites identified as underutilized. These projects, which are at different
stages of review, include: Newport Crossings Mixed-Use Project, Residences at 4400
Von Karman, Residences at Newport Airport Village, Newport Village Mixed-Use Project,
2510 West Coast Highway Mixed-Use Project, Residences at 1300 Bristol Street,
Residences at 1400 Bristol Street, Residences at 1600 Dove Street, Residences at 1401
Quail Street, Apartments at 1526 Placentia Avenue Apar, MacArthur Court Mixed-Use,
1470 Jamboree Road Mixed-Use, St. Michael’s Multi-Family, Residences at 12 Corporate
Plaza, Mixed-Use at 2332 West Coast Highway, Residences and 120 Newport Center
Drive, and Apartments at 1 Park Newport Drive. Cumulatively, these projects have the
potential to add 321 lower-income housing units and 15 moderate-income housing units
to the City. Each of these projects are detailed in the attached Reports.
Policy Actions 1A through 1G Related to Housing Implementation
Immediately after the Housing Element’s adoption in September 2022, the City began
efforts to implement the housing strategy. This predominantly included analyzing the
General Plan Land Use Element for necessary amendments needed for consistency,
drafting an overlay zoning text for the various focus areas, and creating objective design
standards. The goal was to rezone the housing opportunity sites appropriately for housing
development. The City worked with the General Plan Update Steering Committee and the
General Plan Advisory Committee on this effort, held study sessions with the Planning
Commission and City Council, and made draft documents available for public review and
input to ensure a transparent process that is representative of the community’s values.
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In July 2024, the City Council adopted a General Plan Amendment to revise the
necessary goals and policies within the City’s Land Use Element to support housing
production in the focus areas identified by the Housing Element. The Land Use Element
revised policies and goals can be found in Exhibit A of Resolution 2024-51.
On September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted Zoning Code Amendments to
implement the Housing Element by providing the necessary zoning. These amendments
included adding a Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zoning District (“Overlay”) to the
NBMC, Section 20.28.050, which provides procedures and development standards for
future housing projects. The Overlay provides allowed uses, maximum dwelling unit limits
for each subarea, and appropriate development standards such as height, parking,
setbacks, and open space requirements. The Overlay also provides a streamlined review
process for projects that include a minimum of 20% of units reserved for very low-and
low-income households, which serves to incentive the provision of affordable housing
through certainty and streamlined review.
Properties that are located within the Overlay are identified in the maps codified in Section
20.80.025 (Housing Opportunity Overlay Zoning Districts Maps) of the NBMC and
provided below:
HO-1 Airport Area Environs Area
HO-2 West Newport Mesa Area
HO-3 Dover-Westcliff Area
HO-4 Newport Center Area
HO-5 Coyote Canyon Area
HO-6 Existing 5th Cycle Sites
The Zoning Code Amendment also added Section 20.48.185 (Multi-Unit Objective Design
Standards to provide a minimum baseline design standard for all new multi-unit
development (See the Section Policy Action 3A: Objective Design Standards).
Lastly, the City Council authorized the submittal of a Local Coastal Program Amendment
(LCPA) to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to amend the City’s Coastal Land
Use Plan and Title 21 (Local Coast Program Implementation Plan) to apply the new
Overlay to applicable properties in the coastal zone. The City’s LCPA was deemed
complete in January 2025 and is tentatively scheduled for a hearing with the CCC in April
2026.
Since adoption of the Housing Overlay and during the Reporting Period, the City took in
10 projects on various sites within the identified HO Subareas. Two of these projects were
approved in 2025, with the rest continuing review into 2026. With the increase in housing
projects, the City is in progress of identifying process improvements and potential global
issues with these projects to improve efficiency and timelines.
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Policy Actions 1H, 1I, and 1J Related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
In 2025, the City pursued several efforts related to revising its regulations pertaining to
accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and incentivizing their development. The City adopted
revisions to its ADU Ordinance to comply with SB 477, AB 2533, and SB 1211 which went
into effect in 2024 and at the beginning of 2025. Among other things, these bills amended
Government Code Section 66310 through 66342 to impose new limits on the City to
regulate ADUs and JADUs. A summary of those updates and the bills that were
addressed through the code amendment can be found below:
• SB 477 made changes to the numbering of the sections of Government Code for
State ADU and JADU Laws.
• AB 2533 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code, § 66332) regarding
unpermitted ADUs, which the City currently implements through its existing SAFE
ADU Program. The City’s SAFE ADU program is an initiative designed to help
homeowners legalize existing unpermitted ADUs constructed before January 1,
2020. The program helps homeowners address potential code enforcement
issues, liability concerns, and safety risks associated with unpermitted units. This
bill went into effect on January 1, 2025, and the City’s SAFE ADU program has
already been updated to comply with the provisions.
• SB 1211 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code, §§ 66313, 66314,
66323) with regard to replacement parking and special streamlined units referred
to as “66323 Units” (described below) on lots with existing or proposed multifamily
dwellings. SB 1211 went into effect on January 1, 2025. This bill:
▪ Defines “livable space” as a space in a dwelling intended for human
habitation, as the term appears in Government Code sections 66313,
subdivision (e), and 66323, subdivision (a)(3)(A).
▪ Specifies that uncovered, off-street parking spaces demolished in
conjunction with the construction of an ADU do not need to be
replaced.
▪ Authorizes up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing
multifamily dwelling (previously limited to two), provided that the
number of ADUs does not exceed the number of existing units on the
lot.
▪ Prohibits a local agency from imposing any objective development
standards on 66323 Units that are not authorized by the provisions
of Government Code section 66323, subdivision (a).
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• SB 1211 also established “66323 Units” under Government Code Section 66323
and clarifies four categories of ADUs (and JADUs) that must be approved
ministerially and are not subject to standards set forth in Government Code
Sections 66314 through 66322 or the NBMC (i.e. “66323 Units”). These 66323
Units do not have to comply with the City’s objective development and design
standards, such as height, setbacks, and size limits. These ADUs must still comply
with building code and health and safety requirements.
Subsequent to the City Council adopting a revised ADU ordinance to comply with the bills
outlined above, the City Council authorized city staff to submit a Local Coastal Program
Amendment to its implementation plan to ensure that the revisions made to the city zoning
code (Title 20) are also reflected in the coastal zone through the implementation plan
(Title 21) and that it conforms with State Law Updates. City staff submitted a Local Coastal
Program Amendment at the end of 2025 to the California Coastal Commission. The
application is currently under review and City staff anticipates that the amendment will be
approved by the California Coastal Commission before the end of 2026.
In addition to the items mentioned above, city staff are preparing new code updates to
comply with State Law that was signed into Law in 2025 and went into effect in 2026 (SB
477, AB 435, AB 2533, and SB 1211). City staff anticipate processing these code
amendments in 2026 and sharing the updates with the CCC to ensure that the ADU
regulations in the coastal zone are consistent with State Law.
Website Enhancements: In Spring of 2023, the Community Development Department
launched a comprehensive update to the Newport Beach ADU webpage. The webpage
is intended to supplement the City’s outreach and foster interest in constructing ADUs.
The website continues to include a downloadable guidebook, interactive activities and
exercises to help homeowners plan their ADU, an online calculator to estimate costs, and
standard plans. The website also includes resources to help the homeowner understand
the different types of ADUs by providing links to development standards and processes.
External resources are available for potential finance and grant opportunities for
homeowners. Users can look up their property attributes including zoning and
approximate lot size. An interactive mapping application is also included for residents to
see the ADUs that are being constructed in their neighborhoods. The website is updated
on a regular basis. For example in 2025, updates were made regarding the revisions to
the ADU code to ensure that the website provides members of the public with the most
accurate information consistent with State Law. City staff is currently working on updates
to the ADU standard plans to reflect the recent building code cycle update. Those plans
are anticipated to be available on the website in spring of 2026. The Newport Beach ADU
website can be found at https://www.newportbeachca.gov/adu.
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In 2025, 61 ADUs were submitted for review. There were 38 ADUs that received building
permits, including two Safe ADUs, and those contributed towards RHNA; and nine that
received final inspections including one Safe ADU.
Policy Action 3A: Objective Design Standards
The Zoning Code Amendment that approved the Housing Overlays also added Section
20.48.185 (Multi-Unit Objective Design Standards to provide a minimum baseline design
standard for all new multi-unit development. The objective design standards are intended
to result in quality design of multi-unit residential and mixed-use development. Review
under the standards supports development that builds on context, contributes to the
public realm, and provides high quality and resilient buildings and public spaces. These
standards shall be applied uniformly and without discretion to enhance the built
environment for both affordable and market-rate multi-unit residential development. The
standards would apply to housing throughout the City that consists of a density of 20
dwelling units per acre or greater. Furthermore, the City prepared a Checklist for
applicants to help streamline review of the objective design standards. In 2025, two
Housing Overlay projects were approved with the Objective Design standards.
Additionally, seven Housing Overlay projects were in a preliminary or applied status by
the end of 2025. Four of the seven include affordable units.
Summary
These highlights demonstrate that the City continually strives to implement the General
Plan and is committed to compliance with State Housing Element law, including the
furtherance of all Housing Element goals and policies. The efforts outlined to update the
General Plan for compliance with all mandates and best practices demonstrate the City
is also committed to maintaining compliance with the latest General Plan Guidelines and
requirements therein issued by LCI. All implementation efforts are detailed in the attached
Reports and staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend the City
Council review and authorize the submittal of the 2025 General Plan and Housing
Element Annual Progress Reports to LCI and HCD.
Environmental Review
The review of the Reports is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060(b)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of
Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical
change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
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Public Notice
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the Planning Commission considers the item).
Prepared by: Submitted by:
LAW/msw
ATTACHMENTS
PC 1 General Plan Annual Progress Report including Housing Element Progress Report
2025
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Attachment No. PC 1
General Plan Annual Progress Report
2025
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City of Newport Beach
General Plan Annual
Progress Report
2025 Calendar Year
Approved For Submission
March XX, 2026
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
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Table of Contents
1.Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5
2.Presentation and Acceptance by Local Legislative Bodies ................. 5
3.General Plan Implementation ......................................................................... 5
4.Housing Element APR Report Requirements ............................................ 8
5.General Plan Compliance with LCI’s General Plan Guidelines .......... 20
6.Established Priorities for Land Use Decision-Making for 2025 ......... 21
List of Tables
Table 1 – Quick Status Update for Each Implementation Program
Table A Summary – 2025 Housing Development Applications Submitted
Table A2 Summary – 2025 Building Activity Summary – Net New Units
Table B Summary – Regional Housing Needs Allocation Progress
Appendices
Appendix A – General Plan Implementation Program Status
Appendix B – Table D. Housing Element Implementation Program Status
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
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1. Introduction
Consistent with Government Code Section 65400 and the City of Newport Beach (City)
General Plan Implementation Program Imp 1.3, the General Plan Annual Progress Report
(GP APR) was prepared using guidelines set forth by the California Office of Land Use
and Climate Innovation (LCI) formerly Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and
provides information for decision makers on the status of the General Plan and progress
on implementation during the 2025 calendar year (Reporting Period). While a
comprehensive update is underway and nearing completion, the current Newport Beach
General Plan was last comprehensively updated and adopted in November 2006
pursuant to guidelines provided in Government Code Section 65040.2, and consistent
with Section 65400(a)(2). There is no standardized form or format for the preparation of
the General Plan Annual Progress Report; however, the report format and content follows
the guidance provided by the APR Memo Reporting Year 2025 and the HCD APR
Instructions for Calendar Year 2018-2025, including the updated APR form for the
Housing Element Report.
2. Presentation and Acceptance by Local Legislative
Bodies
The GP APR was presented to the City’s Planning Commission on March 5, 2026, and
the City Council reviewed the report on March 24, 2026. At the conclusion of the review,
which included receiving public comments, the City Council authorized submission to LCI
and the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), as required
by State law.
3. General Plan Implementation
Included in the General Plan is Implementation Program (Chapter 13) that includes
specific programs to carry out the goals and policies of the General Plan. Appendix A of
this report evaluates and provides the status of the General Plan organized by each
implementation program. The table below provides a quick status on each program:
Table 1 – Quick Status Update for Each Implementation Program
Programs Ongoing Complete Pending N/A
1.1
Ensure that Private Development and Capital
Improvements are Consistent with the General
Plan
✓
1.2 Update and Revise the General Plan to Reflect
Changing Conditions and Visions ✓
1.3 Prepare Annual General Plan Progress and
Housing Element Implementation Reports ✓✓
2.1 Amend the Zoning Code for Consistency with
the General Plan ✓
3.1 Preparation of New Specific Plans ✓
4.1 New “Planned Community” Development Plans ✓
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6
Table 1 – Quick Status Update for Each Implementation Program
Programs Ongoing Complete Pending N/A
5.1 Review and Revise Coastal Land Use Plan for
Consistency with the General Plan ✓
6.1 Review the Subdivision Ordinance for
Consistency with the General Plan ✓
7.1 Review Building and Construction Code for
Consistency with General Plan ✓
7.2 Revise Fair Share Traffic Contribution
Ordinance ✓
7.3 Review and Update Transportation Demand
Ordinance ✓
8.1 Review Codes and Ordinances for Consistency
with the General Plan and Update Periodically ✓
8.2 Prepare New Codes, Ordinances, and
Guidelines ✓
9.1 Review City Council Policy Manual for
Consistency with the General Plan ✓
10.1
Maintain Up-to-Date Comprehensive Database
(Data such as built land use and traffic should
be updated on a continuing basis, while data
that is stable, such as seismic hazard zones,
can be updated on a less frequent basis)
✓
10.2 Maintain Development Tracking and Monitoring
Program ✓
11.1 CEQA Review Development and Entitlement
Applications ✓
12.1 Evaluate Fiscal Benefits of Large Development
Proposals and Annexations ✓
12.2 Maintain and Update Fiscal Impact Model ✓
13.1 Process Development Agreements ✓
14.1
Adjoining Cities
(“Borders Committees” to collaborate with the
cities of Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Costa
Mesa)
✓
14.2 Coordinate with School Districts ✓
14.3 Coordinate with Orange County ✓
14.4 Coordinate with Orange County Transportation
Authority (OCTA) ✓
14.5 State of California Department of Housing and
Community Development (HCD) ✓
14.6 Coordinate with California Coastal Commission ✓
14.7
Coordinate with the California Resources
Agency, Department of Fish and Game (now
known as California Department of Fish and
Wildlife)
✓
14.8 Coordinate with the California Department of
Parks and Recreation ✓
14.9 Coordinate with the California Department of
Transportation (“Caltrans”) ✓
14.10 Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) ✓
14.11 California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) ✓
14.12 Coordinate with United States Army Corps of
Engineers (“Corps”) ✓
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
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Table 1 – Quick Status Update for Each Implementation Program
Programs Ongoing Complete Pending N/A
14.13 Coordinate with United States Fish and Wildlife
Service ✓
14.14 Coordinate with Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) ✓
14.15
Coordinate with United States Postal Service
(USPS) (for the relocation of Mariners’ Mile
distribution facility)
✓
14.16 Other Agencies ✓
15.1 Encourage Annexation of Banning Ranch Prior
to Development ✓
16.1 Improve Arterial Streets and Highways
According to Classification ✓
16.2 Monitor Traffic Conditions and Plan for and
Fund Improvements ✓
16.3 Construct Street and Highway Improvements ✓
16.4 Monitor Roadway Conditions and Operational
Systems ✓
16.5
Maintain Consistency with Regional
Jurisdictions (Caltrans and Orange County to
provide adequate roadway infrastructure plans
and design standards such as the Orange
County Master Plan of Arterial Highways)
✓
16.6 Local/Neighborhood Access Roads ✓
16.7 Traffic Control ✓
16.8 Provide Public Transportation ✓
16.9 Manage Truck Operations ✓
16.10 Improve Parking Supply and Management ✓
16.11 Maintain Trails ✓
16.12 Marine Transportation ✓
17.1
Maintain and Implement Urban Water
Management Plans and Encourage
Conservation
✓
18.1 Maintain and Implement Sewer Master Plan ✓
19.1 Maintain Storm Drainage Facilities ✓
20.1 Design, Fund, and Construct Streetscape
Improvements ✓
20.1 Design, Fund, and Construct Streetscape
Improvements (continued) ✓
20.2 Design, Fund, and Construct Waterfront
Promenade ✓
20.3 Fund and Construct Public View Sites ✓
21.1 Review and Update Harbor and Tidelands
Improvement Plans ✓
21.2 Develop Harbor Area Management Plan
(HAMP) ✓
21.3 Events Management and Programs ✓
21.4 Harbor Operations and Management ✓
22.1 Maintain and Enhance Police and Fire Facilities ✓
23.1 Maintain and Update Parks and Recreation
Facility Plans ✓
23.2 Maintain and Improve Parks and Recreation
Facilities ✓
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8
Table 1 – Quick Status Update for Each Implementation Program
Programs Ongoing Complete Pending N/A
23.3 Assess Recreation Needs ✓
23.4 Maintain Recreation Programs for Newport
Beach’s Residents ✓
23.5 Requirements for Residential Developers ✓
24.1 Adopt and Implement Strategic Plan for Fiscal
and Economic Sustainability ✓
25.1 Implement Housing Element Programs ✓
26.1 Enforce Codes and Ordinances ✓
27.1 Seismic Compliance ✓
28.1 Maintain Hazards Data Base ✓
28.2 Maintain Emergency Preparedness, Response,
and Recovery Programs ✓
29.1 Educate the Community ✓
29.2 Support of the Arts, Culture, and Historic
Resources ✓
29.3 Support Community Environmental and
Recreation Initiatives ✓
30.1 Maintain Annual Budgets for City Services and
Improvements ✓
30.2
Administer Impact and User Fees (Development
Impact Fees, Park Dedication and In-Lieu Fees,
and Tideland Revenue Fees)
✓
31.1
Consider the Establishment of Community
Facilities and Special Assessment
Districts
✓
4. Housing Element APR Report Requirements
Government Code Section 65400 requires that each city, including charter cities, prepare
an annual progress report (APR) on the status of the General Plan Housing Element. The
State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has provided
mandatory forms in an Excel workbook format and definitions for the reporting. The forms
include 12 tables (Tables A, A2, B, C, D, E, F, F2, G, H, J, K, and L). A summary of the
contents of each table is provided below. The complete forms are too large to include in
this report and are available online at www.newportbeachca.gov/APR. The City’s 6th
Cycle Housing Element (Housing Element) was originally adopted by City Council in
February 2022, subsequently revised and re-adopted on September 2022, and certified
as being statutorily compliant by HCD in October 2022. Table D includes the
Implementation Programs from the certified Housing Element 2021-2029. The complete
Table D is provided in Appendix B of this report.
Table A Summary – Housing Development Applications Submitted
Table A provides a complete listing of all housing applications, including discretionary and
ministerial permits, submitted during the Reporting Period. The following table is a
summary of the net totals of Table A.
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
9
Table A Summary – 2025 Housing Development Applications Submitted
Unit Type Affordability By Income Total Submitted Very Low Low Moderate Above Moderate
Accessory Dwelling
Units 18 31 20 1 70
Single-Unit 0 0 0 225 225
Multi-Unit 79 14 0 1,313 1,406
Total 97 45 20 1,539 1,701
Table A2 Summary – Annual Building Activity Summary
Table A2 is a comprehensive table that includes data on net new housing units and
developments that have received any one of the following forms of project readiness
during the Reporting Period: 1) an entitlement approval; 2) a building permit issued; or 3)
a certificate of occupancy issued. These projects are organized by affordability level.
Projects that result in a net zero or decrease in number of units are not reported in this
table.
Table A2 Summary - 2025 Building Activity Summary – Net New Units
Approved
Entitlements Building Permits Issued Certificates of Occupancy
Issued
Affordable
Above
Moderate
Income
Affordable
Above
Moderate
Income
Affordable
Above
Moderate
Income
49
Low
Income
(Deed
Restricted)
116 9 Very Low-Income
(ADU)
6 Very Low-Income
(Deed Restricted)
16 Low-Income
(ADU)
2 Low-Income
(Deed Restricted)
12 Moderate-Income
(ADU)
1 (ADU)
63 Units
2 Very Low-Income
(ADU)
4 Low-Income
(ADU)
4 Moderate-Income
(ADU)
0
Table B Summary – Regional Housing Needs Allocation Progress
Table B reports the number of units for which permits were issued to demonstrate
progress in meeting the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) prepared a RHNA to
identify the housing needs for each jurisdiction within the SCAG region. SCAG, through
the RHNA process, assigned Newport Beach a share of the region’s new housing units
that should be constructed in the 2021 - 2029 planning period to satisfy housing needs
23
10
resulting from projected growth in the region. To accommodate projected growth in the
region, SCAG determined the City’s share of RHNA to be a total of 4,845 new dwelling
units. This includes 1,456 dwelling units affordable to very low-income households, 930
dwelling units affordable to low-income households, 1,050 dwelling units affordable to
moderate-income households, and 1,409 dwelling units that are market rate or for above
moderate-income households. It is important to note that the City adopted its Housing
Element and received certification in September and October 2022, respectively.
In November 2023, the City Council adopted an amendment to the Noise Element to
adjust the policy framework surrounding housing proximate to John Wayne Airport. In
July 2024, the City Council adopted an amendment to the Land Use Element to revise
the necessary goals and policies to support housing production in the focus areas
identified by the Housing Element. The Noise Element revisions can be found in Exhibit
A of Resolution No. 2023-72 and the Land Use Element revisions can be found in Exhibit
A of Resolution 2024-51.
Additionally, the City Council adopted the necessary amendments to the Zoning Code
required to implement the Housing Element’s Housing Strategy. These amendments
included adding Housing Overlays into the Zoning Code (Section 20.28.050 of the
NBMC). The amendments also added Section 20.48.185 (Multi-Unit Objective Design
Standards to the NBMC to provide a minimum baseline design standard for all new multi-
unit development.
Table B Summary: Regional Housing Needs Allocation Progress
Permitted Units Issued by Affordability
Income
Level RHNA
06/30/
2021-
10/14/
2021
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
Total
to
Date
Very Low 1,456 13 8 11 9 15 56
Low 930 21 14 18 28 18 99
Moderate 1,050 3 1 11 13 19 12 59
Above
Moderate 1,409
2 31 7 1 33 64 138
Total
RHNA 4,845
Total
Units
Produced
5 66 40 43 89 109
352
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
11
Table C Summary - Sites Identified or Rezoned to Accommodate Shortfall Housing
Need
As noted, the City successfully rezoned all opportunity sites listed in Appendix B of the
Housing Element during the Reporting Period with exception of those located in the
Coastal Zone. The City’s Local Coastal Program Amendment application was deemed
filed by the California Coastal Commission’s staff in January 2025, and a hearing is
expected in March 2026 or soon thereafter. Table C largely reflects the data in the
Housing Element’s Appendix B.
Table D Summary - Program Implementation Status Pursuant to Government Code
Section 65583
Table D provides the status and/or progress of implementing each Housing Element
Policy Action for the Reporting Period. The Appendix B to this GP APR includes a detailed
status report of each Housing Element Program. Some highlights from 2025 are
excerpted below:
Efforts to Assist the Unhoused
The City continues to provide robust assistance to those who are unhoused in the
community. For this reporting period, the following was accomplished:
• From the streets and vehicles, the City’s homeless outreach and engagement
team permanently housed six people, reunited five people with family, and placed
four people into skilled nursing facilities.
• The Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter permanently housed six people and reunited three
people with family.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) continues to provide outreach and
engagement services as a contracted service provider. PATH completed 66
shelter intakes (some duplicate individuals) at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, the
County’s Yale Navigation Center, the Huntington Beach Navigation Center, the
Buena Park Navigation Center, and the Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim.
PATH, in coordination with the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) and the
City’s Homeless Services Manager, completed a street census in November 2025.
13 people were surveyed and stated ties to Newport Beach. PATH continues to
connect the people to services and resources.
• The outreach and engagement team completed three notable permanent housing
placements in 2025. A person had over 80 contacts with the NBPD and City and
County staff over six years. In October 2025, the person decided to call his father
and reunified with him in another county. An older adult housed in a senior care
facility in the State of New York boarded a bus and traveled cross-county to
Newport Beach to locate her son. She experienced street-level homelessness
25
12
while the team located the senior care facility in New York. After medically clearing
her for travel, the team bought a return bus ticket, tracked her progress, and
confirmed she returned to her home. An older adult living in a vehicle was stranded
for a week before neighbors called the City for assistance. The team convinced
him to go to a hospital for treatment and an assessment. The man now resides in
a skilled nursing facility.
Significant Residential Development Projects with Affordable Units
Table D1: Summary of Active Housing Projects with Affordable Units 2025
Project
Name
Location Project Description Affordable
Units
Key Dates / Status
Newport
Crossings
Mixed-Use
1660 Dove
Street
350 apartment units 78 low-income
units
Approved by Planning
Commission Feb 21,
2019; Plan check
submitted Nov 17,
2020; Permit-ready
Residences
at 4400 Von
Karman
4400 Von
Karman
Rezoning to mixed-
use; 299 market-rate
units; 1-acre public
park; jogging trail;
parking structure
13 very low-
income units
(1 studio, 9
one-bedroom,
1 two-
bedroom)
Development
Agreement recorded
Jan 23, 2025
Residences
at Newport
Airport
Village
4540,
4570,
4600, 4630
Campus
Dr; 4525,
4533, 4647
MacArthur
Blvd
444 dwelling units
(329 base + 115
density bonus);
202,989 sq. ft.
retail/office/airport
uses
37 very low-
income units
Planning Commission
approved Apr 18, 2024
(effective May 3, 2024);
Plan check submitted
Nov 2025
Newport
Village
Mixed Use
2000–2244
& 2001–
2241 West
Coast Hwy
17 condominiums;
181 apartments;
~60,000 sq. ft.
commercial; 20%
density bonus
9 very low-
income units
Application deemed
complete 2025;
Planning Commission
review anticipated
2026
Mixed-Use
at 2510
West Coast
Highway
2510 West
Coast Hwy
35 dwelling units;
35% density bonus (9
units); waivers
requested
3 very low-
income units
Approved by Planning
Commission Feb 18,
2021; City Council July
27, 2021; CCC
approved Oct 13, 2021;
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
13
Project
Name
Location Project Description Affordable
Units
Key Dates / Status
Permits issued Feb 22,
2024; Under
construction in 2025
Residences
at 1300
Bristol
Street
1300
Bristol
Street
193 apartment units
(50% density bonus);
multiple waivers &
concessions
requested
24 affordable
units (12 very
low-income; 12
low-income)
Entitlements approved
March 2022; In plan
check in 2025
Residences
at 1400
Bristol
Street
1400
Bristol
Street
229 apartment units
(50% density bonus;
64 units via GPA)
23 very low-
income units
Planning Commission
Dec 7, 2023; City
Council approved Apr
23, 2024; Demo
completed 2024; In
plan check in 2025
Residences
at 1600
Dove Street
1600 Dove
Street
282 units (94 density
bonus; 49 via GPA)
28 affordable
units
(anticipated
very low-
income)
Approved by City
Council Sept 9, 2024;
Future entitlements
pending
Residences
at 1401
Quail Street
1401 Quail
Street
67 condominium
units
8 affordable
units (6 very
low; 2 low-
income)
; City Council approved
Apr 9, 2024; Demolition
completed in Oct 2025
and nder construction
Apartments
at 1526
Placentia
Avenue
1526
Placentia
Ave
11-unit podium
apartment (7 base +
4 density bonus)
1 very low-
income unit
Submitted July 11,
2023; Zoning
Administrator approved
Jan 2025; Plan check
2025; Permits
anticipated early 2026
MacArthur
Court
Mixed-Use
(HO-1)
4665–4695
MacArthur
Ct; 4770
Campus Dr
700 residential units;
10,000 sq. ft. retail;
retain 2 office towers
& parking garage
Up to 49
affordable
units (7% of
700; site TBD)
City Council approved
Development
Agreement Oct. 2025;
Rough grading permit
issued Dec. 2025; Plan
check submittals
anticipated early 2026
27
14
Project
Name
Location Project Description Affordable
Units
Key Dates / Status
Mixed Use
at 1470
Jamboree
Road (HO-
4)
1470
Jamboree
Road
120 units; 11,600 sq.
ft. commercial
9 very low-
income; 9
moderate-
income units
Applied March 2025;
Deemed incomplete
April 2025 and
subsequently expired
St.
Michael’s
Multi-Family
(HO-4)
3233
Pacific
View Drive
90-unit senior
housing; 90
residential parking;
47 church parking
18 affordable
units
Deemed incomplete
Oct 2025; Full
application in process
12
Corporate
Plaza
Residences
(HO-4)
12
Corporate
Plaza
76 dwelling units 12 affordable
units (6 very
low; 6
moderate)
Deemed incomplete
March 2025 and
subsequentlyexpired
2332 West
Coast
Highway
Mixed Use
(HO-6)
2332 West
Coast Hwy
19 apartments (14
base + 5 density
bonus); ~2,000 sq. ft.
commercial
3 low-income
units
Application submitted
Sept 30, 2025; Under
review (pending CCC
approval). Preliminary
application in process.
Residences
at 120
Newport
Center
Drive (HO-
4)
120
Newport
Center
Drive
Allocation of future
dwelling units;
updated residential
standards; AHIP
Future
affordable
units (per
AHIP)
Approved by City
Council April 2025
Apartments
at 1 Park
Newport
Drive –
(HO-4)
1 Park
Newport
Drive
366 apartments 15 Very Low-
Income Preliminary application
deemed complete in
Jan. 2025; Regular
application anticipated
in 2026
Policy Actions 1A-1G: Focus Area Amendments for Housing Implementation
Immediately after the Housing Element’s adoption in September 2022, the City began
efforts to implement the housing strategy. This predominantly included analyzing the
General Plan Land Use Element for necessary amendments needed for consistency,
drafting an overlay zoning text for the various focus areas, and creating objective design
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
15
standards. The goal was to rezone the housing opportunity sites appropriately for housing
development. The City worked with the General Plan Update Steering Committee and the
General Plan Advisory Committee on this effort, held study sessions with the Planning
Commission and City Council, and made draft documents available for public review and
input to ensure a transparent process that is representative of the community’s values.
In July 2024, the City Council adopted a General Plan Amendment to revise the
necessary goals and policies within the City’s Land Use Element to support housing
production in the focus areas identified by the Housing Element. The Land Use Element
revised policies and goals can be found in Exhibit A of Resolution 2024-51.
On September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted Zoning Code Amendments to
implement the Housing Element by providing the necessary zoning. These amendments
included adding a Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zoning District (“Overlay”) to the
NBMC, Section 20.28.050, which provides procedures and development standards for
future housing projects. The Overlay provides allowed uses, maximum dwelling unit limits
for each subarea, and appropriate development standards such as height, parking,
setbacks, and open space requirements. The Overlay also provides a streamlined review
process for projects that include a minimum of 20 percent of units reserved for very low-
and low-income households, which serves to incentive the provision of affordable housing
through certainty and streamlined review.
Properties that are located within the Overlay are identified in the maps codified in Section
20.80.025 (Housing Opportunity Overlay Zoning Districts Maps) of the NBMC and
provided below:
HO-1 Airport Area Environs Area
HO-2 West Newport Mesa Area
HO-3 Dover-Westcliff Area
HO-4 Newport Center Area
HO-5 Coyote Canyon Area
HO-6 Existing 5th Cycle Sites
The Zoning Code Amendment also added Section 20.48.185 (Multi-Unit Objective Design
Standards to provide a minimum baseline design standard for all new multi-unit
development (See the Section Policy Action 3A: Objective Design Standards).
Lastly, the City Council authorized the submittal of a Local Coastal Program Amendment
(LCPA) to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to amend the City’s Coastal Land
Use Plan and Title 21 (Local Coast Program Implementation Plan) to apply the new
Overlay to applicable properties in the coastal zone. The City’s LCPA was deemed
complete in January 2025 and is tentatively scheduled for a hearing with the CCC in April
2026.
Since adoption of the Housing Overlay and during the Reporting Period, the City took in
nine projects on various sites within the identified HO Subareas. Two of these projects
29
16
were approved in 2025, with the rest continuing review into 2026. With the increase in
housing projects, the City is in progress of identifying process improvements and potential
global issues with these projects to improve efficiency and timelines.
Policy Actions 1H, 1I, and 1J Related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
In 2025, the City pursued several efforts related to revising its regulations pertaining to
accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and incentivizing their development. The City adopted
revisions to its ADU Ordinance to comply with SB 477, AB 2533, and SB 1211 which went
into effect in 2024 and at the beginning of 2025. Among other things, these bills amended
Government Code Section 66310 through 66342 to impose new limits on the City to
regulate ADUs and JADUs. A summary of those updates and the bills that were
addressed through the code amendment can be found below:
• SB 477 made changes to the numbering of the sections of Government Code for
State ADU and JADU Laws.
• AB 2533 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code, § 66332) regarding
unpermitted ADUs, which the City currently implements through its existing SAFE
ADU Program. The City’s SAFE ADU program is an initiative designed to help
homeowners legalize existing unpermitted ADUs constructed before January 1,
2020. The program helps homeowners address potential code enforcement
issues, liability concerns, and safety risks associated with unpermitted units. This
bill went into effect on January 1, 2025, and the City’s SAFE ADU program has
already been updated to comply with the provisions.
• SB 1211 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code, §§ 66313, 66314,
66323) with regard to replacement parking and special streamlined units referred
to as “66323 Units” (described below) on lots with existing or proposed multifamily
dwellings. SB 1211 went into effect on January 1, 2025. This bill:
▪ Defines “livable space” as a space in a dwelling intended for human
habitation, as the term appears in Government Code sections 66313,
subdivision (e), and 66323, subdivision (a)(3)(A).
▪ Specifies that uncovered, off-street parking spaces demolished in
conjunction with the construction of an ADU do not need to be
replaced.
▪ Authorizes up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing
multifamily dwelling (previously limited to two), provided that the
number of ADUs does not exceed the number of existing units on the
lot.
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
17
▪ Prohibits a local agency from imposing any objective development
standards on 66323 Units that are not authorized by the provisions
of Government Code section 66323, subdivision (a).
• SB 1211 also established “66323 Units” under Government Code Section 66323
and clarifies four categories of ADUs (and JADUs) that must be approved
ministerially and are not subject to standards set forth in Government Code
Sections 66314 through 66322 or the NBMC (i.e. “66323 Units”). These 66323
Units do not have to comply with the City’s objective development and design
standards, such as height, setbacks, and size limits. These ADUs must still comply
with building code and health and safety requirements.
• Subsequent to the City Council adopting a revised ADU ordinance to comply with
the bills outlined above, the City Council authorized city staff to submit a Local
Coastal Program Amendment to its implementation plan to ensure that the
revisions made to the city zoning code (Title 20) are also reflected in the coastal
zone through the implementation plan (Title 21) and that it conforms with State
Law Updates. City staff submitted a Local Coastal Program Amendment at the end
of 2025 to the California Coastal Commission. The application is currently under
review and City staff anticipates that the amendment will be approved by the
California Coastal Commission before the end of 2026.
• In addition to the items mentioned above, city staff are preparing new code updates
to comply with State Law that was signed into Law in 2025 and went into effect in
2026 (SB477, AB435, AB2533, and SB1211). City staff anticipate processing these
code amendments in 2026 and sharing the updates with the CCC to ensure that
the ADU regulations in the coastal zone are consistent with State Law.
• Website Enhancements: In Spring of 2023, the Community Development
Department launched a comprehensive update to the Newport Beach ADU
webpage. The webpage is intended to supplement the City’s outreach and foster
interest in constructing ADUs. The website continues to include a downloadable
guidebook, interactive activities and exercises to help homeowners plan their ADU,
an online calculator to estimate costs, and standard plans. The website also
includes resources to help the homeowner understand the different types of ADUs
by providing links to development standards and processes. External resources
are available for potential finance and grant opportunities for homeowners. Users
can look up their property attributes including zoning and approximate lot size. An
interactive mapping application is also included for residents to see the ADUs that
are being constructed in their neighborhoods. The website is updated on a regular
basis. For example in 2025, updates were made regarding the revisions to the
ADU code to ensure that the website provides members of the public with the most
accurate information consistent with state law. City staff is currently working on
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18
updates to the ADU standard plans to reflect the recent building code cycle update.
Those plans are anticipated to be available on the website in spring of 2026. The
Newport Beach ADU website can be found at
https://www.newportbeachca.gov/adu.
In 2025, 61 ADUs were submitted for review. There were 38 ADUs that received building
permits, including two Safe ADUs, and contributed towards RHNA; and nine that received
final inspections including 1 Safe ADU.
Policy Action 3A: Objective Design Standards
As previously stated, the Zoning Code Amendment that approved the Housing Overlays
also added Section 20.48.185 (Multi-Unit Objective Design Standards to provide a
minimum baseline designed standard for all new multi-unit development. The objective
design standards are intended to result in quality design of multi-unit residential and
mixed-use development. Review under the standards supports development that builds
on context, contributes to the public realm, and provides high quality and resilient
buildings and public spaces. These standards shall be applied uniformly and without
discretion to enhance the built environment for both affordable and market-rate multi-unit
residential development. The standards would apply to housing throughout the City that
consists of density of 20 dwelling units per acre or greater. Furthermore, the City
prepared a Checklist for applicants to help streamline review of the objective design
standards. In 2025, two Housing Overlay projects were approved with the Objective
Design standards. Additionally, seven Housing Overlay projects were in a preliminary or
applied status by the end of 2025. Four of the seven include affordable units.
Policy Action 6B: Repair Loans and Grant Programs for Seniors, Persons with
Physical and Developmental Disabilities and Lower-Income Households
The City’s Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program (SHARP) continues to
successfully assist low-income seniors. In 2025, Habitat for Humanity and OASIS staff
worked on two new projects and expended a total of $51,126.80. The projects involved
demolition and replacement of the roof, porch, and steps, as well as exterior/foundation
repairs. To date, the program has used $527,349.76 on a total of 22 projects.
Table E Summary – Commercial Development Bonus Approved Pursuant to
Government Code Section 65915.7
This table does not apply for this Reporting Period because the City did not approve any
commercial development bonus in exchange for the development of affordable housing
during the Reporting Period. Pursuant to State Density Bonus Law, a commercial
developer may be eligible for an increase in floor area, height, or other development
standard exception if they partner with an affordable housing developer to provide
affordable housing units.
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City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
19
Table F Summary – Units Rehabilitated, Preserved and Acquired for Alternative
Adequate Sites Pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.1(c)(2)
This table does not apply for this Reporting Period because the City did not approve any
eligible projects.
Table F2 Summary – Above Moderate Income Units Converted to Moderate Income
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65400.2
This table does not apply for this Reporting Period because the City did not approve any
eligible projects.
Table G Summary – Locally Owned Lands Included in the Housing Element Sites
Inventory that have been sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of pursuant to
Government Code Section 54230
This table does not apply for this Reporting Period because the City did not have any
relevant transactions.
Table H Summary – Locally Owned or Controlled Lands Declared Surplus Pursuant
to Government Code section 54221, or Identified as Excess Pursuant to
Government Code Section 50569
Effective August 22, 2024, the City entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement
(ENA) which establishes a period of time during which the City will cooperate with a
selected developer to refine the scope and terms of a lease agreement for a proposed
project to redevelop a portion of the City-owned property located at 829 Harbor Island
Drive, Newport Beach [APN 050-210-02]. The anticipated lease premises contains
approximately 17,500 square feet of land and was therefore declared “exempt surplus
land” by the City Council of the City of Newport Beach at its regular meeting on July 23,
2024, in compliance with SS 54221(b)(4) of the California Surplus Land Act (Government
Code SS54222). The City is still within the term of the ENA but no actions were taken in
2025.
Table J Summary – Student Housing Development for Lower Income Students for
which was Granted a Density Bonus Pursuant to Subparagraph (F) of Paragraph
(1) of Subdivision (b) of Section 65915
This table does not apply for this Reporting Period because the City did not approve any
eligible projects.
Table K Summary - Local governments are required to inform HCD about any local
tenant preference ordinance the local government maintains when the jurisdiction
submits their annual progress report on housing approvals and production, per
Government Code 7061 (SB 649, 2022, Cortese). Effective January 1, 2023, local
governments adopting a tenant preference are required to create a webpage on
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20
their internet website containing authorizing local ordinance and supporting
materials, no more than 90 days after the ordinance becomes operational.
This table does not apply for this Reporting Period because the City does not have a local
tenant preference.
Table L Summary – Historical Resources Any sites within jurisdiction that were
newly added to a National, State, or local register of historic places with the
reporting year.
This table does not apply for this Reporting Period because the City did not have any
sites that were newly added to historic registries.
5. General Plan Compliance with LCI’s General Plan
Guidelines
Newport Beach General Plan Implementation Program 1.3 provides that the GP APR
must specify the degree to which the General Plan complies with the General Plan
Guidelines published by LCI and the date of its last revision. The Newport Beach General
Plan was last comprehensively updated in 2006. It has since been amended 65 times,
including three major Housing Element updates (2007, 2014, and 2022). The LCI
published General Plan Guidelines pursuant to Government Code Section 65040.2 in
2017 to reflect more recent changes to Government Code Section 65302.
In February 2019, the City Council initiated a comprehensive review and update of the
General Plan with the goal to bring it up to date with the requirements of Government
Code Section 65302 consistent with the City’s changing vision to be identified through a
robust public outreach process. In January 2020, after the release of the draft Regional
Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocations, the City pivoted its efforts away from a
comprehensive update to focus on the Circulation Element and Housing Element. This
re-focus was necessary to ensure the City was able to meet the statutory deadline for
Housing Element Update adoption.
On September 13, 2022, the City Council re-adopted the 6th Cycle Housing Element. On
October 5, 2022, the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
determined the re-adopted Housing Element is statutorily compliant, including programs
that affirmatively further fair housing. On October 25, 2022, the City Council also adopted
an update to the Circulation Element mostly to refresh policy language for compliance
with state law. This included addressing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and complete
streets.
Thereafter, the City began working with the community (1) to implement the Housing
Element’s plan, and (2) to consider updates to the balance of the General Plan. In July of
2023, the City entered into an agreement with Dudek for consulting services on the
comprehensive General Plan Update.
34
City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
21
The August 2024 General Plan Update Technical Diagnostic Memo, prepared by Dudek,
analyzes the General Plan against State and Federal requirements. While it largely
complies, several required elements need updating. Two primary shortcomings are as
follows:
• The Safety Element does not fully address Climate Change as required by
Government Code Section 65302(g). The City will update the Safety Element as
part of the comprehensive update to address Climate Change in concert with an
update to the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• The General Plan currently does not address Environmental Justice as specified
by Government Code Section 65302(h). Including Environmental Justice policies
or adding a new separate element is not required until the City revises two or more
elements of the General Plan. Environmental Justice policy considerations will be
included in the updated elements, as appropriate.
The City is currently undertaking a comprehensive General Plan update discussed more
below in Section 6 of this report.
6. Established Priorities for Land Use Decision-Making
for 2025
In 2025, priorities on amendments and policies included the following and the status of
each can be found in the referenced Implementation Programs in Appendix A:
Update and Revision to the General Plan to Reflect Changing Conditions and
Visions (General Plan Implementation Program 1.2)
The General Plan was comprehensively updated in 2006. Staff reviews the General Plan
on an ongoing basis to ensure it is maintained to reflect current conditions, issues, and
visions.
As introduced in Section 5, the City embarked on a comprehensive update of the General
Plan in 2019 but pivoted in 2020 to focus on preparing the Housing Element update, as
well as an update to the Circulation Element.
The City continued to focus its efforts, which ultimately led to City Council’s initial adoption
of the Housing Element on February 8, 2022. After several reviews and revisions with
HCD, the City Council re-adopted a refreshed Housing Element on September 13, 2022.
The update is a comprehensive statement of the City’s housing policies and serves as a
guide for the implementation of these policies. As required by state law, the update
examines current housing needs, estimates future housing needs, and establishes goals,
policies, and programs pertaining to those needs while demonstrating capacity to
accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of 4,845 new
35
22
housing units. Housing programs are responsive to current and future needs and
established within the context of available community, state, and federal economic and
social resources, realistic quantified housing objectives, and affirmatively furthering fair
housing (AFFH). On October 5, 2022, HCD determined the Housing Element is in full
statutory compliance.
On October 25, 2022, the City Council adopted an updated Circulation Element that
included several refreshed policies that are compliant with state law. For example, the
updated Circulation Element contains policies related to complete streets and vehicle
miles traveled. The policies were reviewed by the community through extensive outreach
and remain consistent with the community’s vision.
Simultaneous with the efforts to update the Housing Element and Circulation Element,
the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) began meeting in July 2022 to
restart the comprehensive update efforts. In November 2022, the City Council appointed
a 30-member General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to help represent the community
and guide potential policy changes.
In July 2023, the City contracted with Dudek to provide consulting services on the
comprehensive General Plan Update. “Phase One” outreach for the comprehensive
update to the General Plan was conducted from March 2024 to June 2024. The Phase
One Outreach Summary was published July 2024 and is available on the City’s project
website here. “Phase Two” outreach was conducted from October 5, 2024, to January 5,
2025. The Phase Two Outreach Summary was published in March 2025 and is available
here.
Starting in August 2025, several Draft General Plan Elements were published online for
review. “Phase Three” included an in-person General Plan Review Open House on
October 21, 2025, and a complementary virtual Open House on October 22, 2025. The
presentation made virtually is available online here, and provides an overview of the
hundreds of responses from Newport Beach residents and community members,
collaboration with the GPAC, background analysis from Phases One and Two, and how
this informed the draft elements for the 2050 General Plan. Comments on these drafts
were accepted through November 17, 2025.
Information regarding the General Plan update efforts to date, including the initiation,
evaluation, and overall process, draft elements, etc. can be found on the City’s website
and at Newport, Together.
This effort has been conducted on a parallel track alongside the City’s Housing Element
implementation. In November 2023, the City Council adopted an amendment to the Noise
Element to adjust the policy framework surrounding housing proximate to John Wayne
Airport. In July 2024, the City Council adopted an amendment to the Land Use Element
to revise the necessary goals and policies to support housing production in the focus
areas identified by the Housing Element. The Noise Element revisions can be found in
Exhibit A of Resolution No. 2023-72 and the Land Use Element revisions can be found in
Exhibit A of Resolution 2024-51.
36
City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
23
On September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted Zoning Code Amendments to
implement the 6th Cycle of the Housing Element by providing the necessary zoning. These
amendments included adding a Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zoning District
(“Overlay”) to the NBMC, Section 20.28.050, which provides procedures and
development standards for future housing projects. The Overlay provides allowed uses,
maximum dwelling unit limits for each subarea, and appropriate development standards
such as height, parking, setbacks, and open space requirements. The Overlay also
provides a streamlined review process for projects that include a minimum of 20 percent
of units reserved for very low- and low-income residents, which serves to incentive the
provision of affordable housing by providing certainty and streamlined review. See
previous Section Policy Actions 1A-1G: Focus Area Amendments for Housing
Implementation for additional details.
Lastly, the City Council authorized the submittal of a Local Coastal Program Amendment
to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) to amend the City’s Coastal Land Use Plan
(and Title 21 [Local Coast Program Implementation Plan]) to apply the new housing
opportunities from the 6th Cycle Housing Element to applicable properties in the coastal
zone. The City filed the amendment application on August 16, 2024, with the CCC, and
received a letter from CCC staff on January 7, 2025, confirming the City’s application is
complete and pending a hearing date. The application was deemed complete in January
2025 and is tentatively scheduled for a hearing with the CCC in March 2026 or soon
thereafter.
Title 17 (Harbor Code) Update (Implementation Program 8.1)
The City includes 48 miles of water frontage with the majority of this land abutting the
harbor and bay. The management and updates of state of the art practices and
technologies to keep the cohesion of land and water uses running smoothly is an
important piece to General Plan Implementation. Safety of Harbor Uses:
Using funds from the CA State Vessel Turn In Program (VTIP) and Surrendered
or Abandoned Vessels (SAVE) grant programs, 20+ unwanted, abandoned,
unsafe, and unsightly vessels were removed from Newport Harbor. In addition,
the City successfully applied for and was granted $100K in the newest SAVE
cycle.
• A vessel entered the harbor in a dilapidated condition. The vessel continued to
deteriorate, became disabled, and began taking on water. The vessel was at
serious risk of sinking and creating a significant environmental hazard given its
condition and the presence of several forms of hazardous materials onboard.
The vessel was impounded and was declared “marine debris,” hastening its
removal, destruction and the elimination of any threat to human or marine life
health. The former occupant of the boat is now housed in a local motel while
he waits for a bed in a local shelter.
37
24
• The Southern California Unified Marine Working Group continued to convene,
led by the Harbor Department. The group includes representatives from 20+
harbors in Southern California as well as representatives from CA Division of
Boating and Waterways and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Code Enforcement efforts continued to be a significant focus in the calendar
year 2025, and specifically focused on the following: noise and other nuisance
conditions during night and early morning hours; navigation, lighting
enforcement, and dye-tabbing of visiting vessels, live-aboard permittees, and
mooring sub-permittees - multiple berthing situations that present potentially
unsafe conditions.
• Continued monitoring, testing, and repair when necessary, of the vessel
sanitation system pump-out equipment at the five City-owned pump-out
facilities and Marina Park.
• Conducted safety and water quality training drills independently as well as in
collaboration with the California National Guard Marine Command, US Coast
Guard and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Response.
Regulation and transfer of mooring permit applications and titles:
• The new Mooring License program continues to be popular and maintains full
utilization for when there is turnover between tenants. All 17 moorings in the
program are licensed and there is a waiting list of more than 80 people.
• The application for a pilot project to reorganize and optimize the utilization of the
C-Mooring Field was denied by the California Coastal Commission.
• The CA State Lands Commission has issued a draft letter offering guidance to the
City on how to improve its management of the tidelands in trust. The Commission
has expressed concern over the process related to transferability, equity between
mooring permittees and residential dock permittees, the presence of live-aboard
permits, and the methods by which rates for mooring permittees and residential
pier permits are quantified.
• More than 75 mooring permits were transferred in calendar year 2025. The transfer
price paid as reported on the transfer forms adds up to $1,247,400. Of the 75
transfers processed, 38 were reported at $0 because the transfer was between
family members or only involved adjusting the second permittee. Across the
transfers where a transfer price was paid and reported, the average price per lineal
foot paid was $923.32.
Title 20 (Zoning Code) Update Related to State Mandates (Implementation Program
8.2)
38
City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
25
The City continues to closely monitor changes in state legislation and strives to keep the
Newport Beach Municipal Code up to date. The following are three highlights that help
substantiate this.
• In November 2024, as discussed in detail in the previous section, the City Council
adopted Zoning Code Amendments required for implementation of the Housing
Element. These amendments included adding Housing Overlays into the Zoning
Code and objective design standards to provide a baseline standard for all new
multi-unit development. See the previous section for more details. In 2025, two
housing projects were approved under the new Housing Overlays and both
included the objective design standards. Eight housing projects within Housing
Overlays were in various stages of preliminary applications at the end of 2025.
• In 2025, the City adopted revisions to its ADU Ordinance to comply with SB 477,
AB 2533, and SB 1211 which had previously gone into effect in 2024 and at the
beginning of 2025. Among other things, these bills amended Government Code
Section 66310 through 66342 to impose new limits on the City to regulate ADUs
and JADUs. In December 2025, the City submitted an LCP Amendment No. LCP-
5-NPM-25-0077-1 for the ADU updates approved by City Council implementing SB
477, AB 2533, and SB 1211. A summary of these updates are provided under the
ADU section of this report. City staff also began preparations for a new code
amendment related to State Law updates that were signed into Law in 2025 and
went into effect in 2026 (SB477, AB435, AB2533, and SB1211). City staff
anticipate processing these code amendments in 2026 and sharing the updates
with the CCC to ensure the ADU regulations in the coastal zone are consistent
with State Law.
• Lastly, the City continued the comprehensive land use and mobility study (Study)
to consider ways to enhance and improve the Corona del Mar (CdM) commercial
corridor with the following actions:
o In August 2025, City staff held a successful community open house to share
draft goals and actions for the Study and obtain feedback from the residents,
business owners, and property owners.
o In October 2025, City staff held a community update meeting to share the Study
recommendations that were revised based on the feedback from the open
house. A draft of the Corridor Atlas was shared.
o In November 2025, the City Council held a study session for staff to present
the Study’s results and recommendations related to updating land uses,
parking solutions, safety and mobility improvements, and corridor identity. The
changes were well received and City Council directed staff to proceed with all
of the recommendations from the Study. Initiation of the related General Plan,
Local Coastal Program, and NBMC were scheduled for early 2026.
39
26
o All open house, community meeting, and study session materials along with
updates are provided on the Corona Del Mar Commercial Corridor Study
website.
Title 20 (Zoning Code) and Title 21 (Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan)
Update Related to Accessory Dwelling Units (Implementation Program 8.2)
Refer to the discussion on page 16 of this report regarding efforts related to revising the
City’s regulations pertaining to accessory dwelling units.
Maintaining Up-to-Date Comprehensive Database (Implementation Program 10.1)
The City’s Geographical Information System (GIS) data is updated regularly to provide
up-to-date, parcel-specific information including specific lot information, planning (zoning,
land entitlements, building, code enforcement, environmental layers, general information
[contours, assessor, easement, etc.]), general services, harbor, hazards including flood
and seismic, fire, police, public works, parking, street and utilities. New layers are added
whenever necessary and appropriate. For example, in 2025 the City added a layer to
identify the new Housing Opportunity Overlay properties.
Maintaining Development Tracking and Monitoring Program (Implementation
Program 10.2)
The City continues to fine-tune a parcel-specific database that accounts for all existing
development. The database includes statistics for non-residential floor area and
residential dwelling units. The database is used for site-specific information or compiled
to provide information by any geography needed, from a single lot to a neighborhood,
statistical area, or citywide. The land use data is available by Statistical Area as directed
by the General Plan. The data was used to update the land use inputs of the Newport
Beach Traffic Analysis Model (NBTAM) consistent with the Orange County Transportation
Analysis Model (OCTAM).
As required by Section 423 of the City Charter, the Planning Division tracks increases in
development limits approved by General Plan amendments (GPA) for a period of 10
years. If a proposed amendment exceeds the established thresholds of 40,000 square
feet of non-residential development, 100 dwelling units, 100 AM peak hour traffic trips or
100 PM peak hour traffic trips on its own or, when combined with 80% of previously
approved General Plan amendment(s) located in the same Statistical Area, the
amendment is considered a “major amendment.” Approval or denial of a “major
amendment” is determined by a vote of the electorate. The GPA/Charter Section 423
tracking tables are available for public review at the General Plan information page on
Newport Beach’s Community Development Department’s Planning Division website at
https://www.newportbeachca.gov/chartersection423.
Staff continues to update the database of all transfers of development rights in each
statistical area, as they occur. Land Use Element policies LU4.3 (Transfer of
40
City of Newport Beach General Plan 2025 Annual Progress Report
27
Development Rights), LU 4.7 (Redevelopment and Transfer of Development Rights), and
LU6.14.3 (Transfers of Development Rights – Newport Center) allow development rights
and intensity (e.g. square footage) to be transferred in certain circumstances without an
amendment to the General Plan. The policies are primarily implemented by Chapter 20.46
(Transfer of Development Rights) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code and the North
Newport Center Planned Community Development Plan.
The transfer of development tables are located at the following webpage:
https://www.newportbeachca.gov/developmenttransfertables.
41
INTENTIONALLY BLANK
P
A
G
E
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1
APPENDIX A. General Plan Implementation Program Status
Programs Status
1.1 Ensure that Private
Development and
Capital Improvements
are Consistent
with the General Plan
Ongoing
1. All private development projects require consistency with the General Plan. Consistency is ensured through the
application of zoning requirements. Discretionary applications require the adoption of a finding that the project is
consistent with the General Plan based upon facts.
2. In June 2025, the City Council confirmed that the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was
consistent with the General Plan when it approved the CIP with the adoption of the budget.
For reference, in November 2012 the residents approved Measure EE, a City Charter amendment. Section 707 of
the City’s Charter was amended eliminating the need for the Planning Commission to recommend any proposed
Public Works items to the City Council.
1.2 Update and Revise
the General Plan to
Reflect Changing
Conditions and
Visions
Ongoing
The General Plan was last comprehensively updated in 2006. Staff reviews the General Plan on an ongoing basis to
ensure it is maintained to reflect current conditions, issues, and visions. The City embarked on a comprehensive
update of the General Plan in 2019 but pivoted in 2020 to focus on preparing the 6th Cycle Housing Element update,
as well as an update to the Circulation Element.
The City continued to focus its efforts, which ultimately led to City Council’s initial adoption of the Housing Element
on February 8, 2022. After several reviews and revisions with HCD, the City Council re-adopted a refreshed
Housing Element on September 13, 2022. The update is a comprehensive statement of the City’s housing policies
and serves as a guide for the implementation of these policies. As required by state law, the update examines
current housing needs, estimates future housing needs, and establishes goals, policies, and programs pertaining to
those needs while demonstrating capacity to accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)
allocation of 4,845 new housing units. Housing programs are responsive to current and future needs and
established within the context of available community, state, and federal economic and social resources, realistic
quantified housing objectives, and affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH). On October 5, 2022, HCD
determined the Housing Element is in full statutory compliance.
43
2
Programs Status
On October 25, 2022, the City Council adopted an updated Circulation Element that included several refreshed
policies that are compliant with state law. For example, the updated Circulation Element contains policies related to
complete streets and vehicle miles traveled or “VMT.” The policies were reviewed by the community through
extensive outreach and remain consistent with the community’s vision.
Simultaneous with the efforts to update the Housing Element and Circulation Element, a new General Plan Update
Steering Committee (GPUSC) was appointed by City Council and began meeting in July 2022 to restart the
comprehensive update efforts. Shortly thereafter, the City Council established and appointed a 30-member General
Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to represent the community and provide advisory guidance on how the General
Plan should be refreshed and updated.
In July 2023, the City contracted with Dudek to provide consulting services on the comprehensive General Plan
Update. “Phase One” outreach for the comprehensive update to the General Plan was conducted from March 2024
to June 2024. The Phase One Outreach Summary was published July 2024 and is available on the City’s project
website here. “Phase Two” outreach was conducted from October 5, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The Phase Two
Outreach Summary was published in March 2025 and is available here.
Starting in August 2025, several Draft General Plan Elements were published online for review. “Phase Three”
included an in-person General Plan Review Open House on October 21, 2025, and a complementary virtual Open
House on October 22, 2025. The presentation made virtually is available online here, and provides an overview of
the hundreds of responses from Newport Beach residents and community members, collaboration with the GPAC,
background analysis from Phases One and Two, and how this informed the draft elements for the 2050 General
Plan. Comments on these drafts were accepted through November 17, 2025.
Information regarding the General Plan update efforts to date, including the initiation, evaluation, and overall
process, draft elements, etc. can be found on the City’s website and at Newport, Together.
1.3 Prepare Annual
General Plan
Progress and Housing
Element
Implementation
Reports
Ongoing – 2024 report completed and submitted; 2025 report pending
The Annual Report for 2024 was reviewed by the City Council and submitted to the Governors Office of Land use
and Climate Innovation (LCI) formerly the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and State of California
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in April 2025. Implementation Program 1.3 also states
that that the report must specify the degree to which the General Plan complies with the General Plan Guidelines
published by LCI and the date of its last revision. The Newport Beach General Plan was last comprehensively
updated in 2006. It has since been amended 65times, including three major Housing Element updates (2007, 2014,
44
3
Programs Status
and 2022). The LCI published General Plan Guidelines pursuant to Government Code Section 65040.2 in 2017 to
reflect more recent changes to Government Code Section 65302. In February 2019, the City Council initiated a
comprehensive review and update of the General Plan with the goal to bring it up to date with the requirements of
Government Code Section 65302 consistent with the City’s changing vision to be identified through a robust public
outreach process. In January 2020, after the release of the draft Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)
allocations, the City pivoted its efforts away from a comprehensive update to focus on the Circulation Element and
Housing Element. On October 5, 2022, HCD determined the Housing Element is in full statutory compliance. On
October 25, 2022, the City Council adopted an updated Circulation Element that included several refreshed policies
that are compliant with state law. See Program 1.2 for update.
2.1
Amend the Zoning
Code for Consistency
with the General Plan
Ongoing
A Comprehensive Zoning Code Update, consistent with the 2006 General Plan, was adopted by City Council in
October 2010. In July 2024, the City Council adopted a General Plan Amendment to revise the necessary goals and
policies within the City’s Land Use Element to support housing production in the focus areas identified by the 6th
Cycle Housing Element. The Land Use Element revised policies and goals can be found in the Resolution 2024-51
in Exhibit A.
On September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted Zoning Code Amendments to implement the Housing Element by
providing the necessary zoning. These amendments included adding a Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zoning
District (Overlay) to the NBMC , Section 20.28.050, which provides procedures and development standards for
future housing projects. The Overlay provides allowed uses, maximum dwelling unit limits for each subarea, and
appropriate development standards such as height, parking, setbacks, and open space requirements. The Overlay
also provides a streamlined review process for projects that include a minimum of 20 percent of units reserved for
very-low- and low-income residents, which serves to incentive the provision of affordable housing.
Properties that are located within the Overlay are identified in the maps codified in Section 20.80.025 (Housing
Opportunity Overlay Zoning Districts Maps) of the NBMC and provided below:
HO-1 Airport Area Environs Area
HO-2 West Newport Mesa Area
HO-3 Dover-Westcliff Area
HO-4 Newport Center Area
HO-5 Coyote Canyon Area
HO-6 Existing 5th Cycle Sites
45
4
Programs Status
The Zoning Code Amendment that approved the Housing Overlays also added Section 20.48.185 (Multi-Unit
Objective Design Standards to the NBMC, to provide a baseline set of objective standards that would apply to all
new multi-unit development consisting of at least 20 dwelling units per acre. Furthermore, the City prepared a
Checklist for applicants to help streamline review of the objective design standards. In 2025, two Housing Overlay
projects were approved with the Objective Design standards. Additionally, seven Housing Overlay projects were in a
preliminary or applied status by the end of 2025.
After the City completes its comprehensive update to the General Plan, the Zoning Code will be updated to ensure
any inconsistencies between the updated General Plan and the Zoning Code are resolved.
3.1 Preparation of New
Specific Plans
Pending in 2026
Within the Airport Area, Uptown Newport and Koll Center elected to meet their “regulatory plan” requirements
(General Plan Policy LU 6.15.10) through a Planned Community Development Plan as allowed pursuant to
Implementation Program 4.1.
In furtherance of Housing Element Policy Actions 1A (Airport Environs Sub Area), 4E (Airport Area Policy
Exceptions for Affordable Housing), and 4J (Airport Environs Sub Area Environmental Constraints) the City initiated
the preparation of a Specific Plan for the Airport Area in 2025. In May 2025, the City released a request for
proposals for consulting services to prepare the specific plan. After completing the evaluation, the City selected
Kimley-Horn and Associates as the consultant most qualified to perform the services and scheduled the contract for
approval by the City Council in early 2026. The City anticipates completion of the Specific Plan by early 2028.
Lastly, while not a specific plan, the City continued the comprehensive land use and mobility study (Study) to
consider ways to enhance and improve the Corona del Mar (CdM) commercial corridor with the following actions:
• In August 2025, City staff held a successful community open house to share draft goals and actions for
the Study and obtain feedback from the residents, business owners, and property owners.
• In October 2025, City staff held a community update meeting to share the Study recommendations that
were revised based on the feedback from the open house. A draft of the Corridor Atlas was shared.
• In November 2025, the City Council held a study session for staff to present the Study’s results and
recommendations related to updating land uses, parking solutions, safety and mobility improvements,
and corridor identity. The changes were well received and City Council directed staff to proceed with all
of the Recommendations from the Study. Initiation of the related General Plan, Local Coastal Program,
and NBMC were scheduled for early 2026.
46
5
Programs Status
• All open house, community meeting, and study session materials along with updates are provided on the
Corona Del Mar Commercial Corridor Study webpage.
4.1 New “Planned
Community”
Development Plans
Ongoing
The City will promote the establishment of planned community development plans when it is appropriate to do so for
future development that is consistent with the General Plan.
5.1 Review and Revise
Coastal Land Use
Plan for Consistency
with the General
Plan
Ongoing
The Coastal Land Use Plan (CLUP) was amended to be consistent with the 2006 General Plan in 2009. When the
City approves an amendment of the General Plan that affects property in the Coastal Zone, the City prepares
necessary amendments to the CLUP. The General Plan amendment is held in abeyance until the corresponding
CLUP amendment is certified by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) and accepted by the City Council.
On August 16, 2024, the City Council authorized the submittal of a Local Coastal Program Amendment to the
California Coastal Commission (CCC) to amend the City’s Coastal Land Use Plan and Title 21 (Local Coast
Program Implementation Plan) to apply the new Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay to applicable properties in the
coastal zone. The City’s application for the amendment was deemed complete in January 2025 and is currently
under review by the CCC. A hearing is anticipated March 2026 or soon thereafter.
6.1 Review the
Subdivision
Ordinance for
Consistency with the
General Plan
Complete
The Subdivision Code was reviewed and updated in 2009 and 2010 consistent with this program.
7.1 Review Building and
Construction Code for
Consistency with
General Plan
Ongoing
The City adopted, with some local amendments, the 2025 edition of the building codes in late 2025. The adopted
2025 code became effective January 1, 2026. The next updates will be in 2028 and effective in 2029.
47
6
Programs Status
7.2 Revise Fair Share
Traffic Contribution
Ordinance
Partially Complete and Ongoing
The City continues to adjust the fee annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), but will explore
opportunities to revise the ordinance, as deemed necessary.
7.3 Review and Update
Transportation
Demand Ordinance
Complete
The Transportation Demand Management Ordinance was reviewed and updated as a part of the comprehensive
Zoning Code Update in 2010 (see Chapter 20.44 [Transportation Demand Management Requirements] of the
Zoning Code).
8.1 Review Codes and
Ordinances for
Consistency with the
General Plan and
Update Periodically
Complete and Ongoing
Codes and Ordinances are revised for consistency with the General Plan on an as-needed basis. The Zoning Code
was comprehensively updated in 2010, and Subdivision Code was updated in 2009 and 2010 for consistency with
the General Plan. The following are specifically recommended (sections from the Implementation Measure are
italicized):
A) Requirements for live-aboard vessels pertaining to the integrity, quality, and safety of Harbor uses, environmental
protection, and impacts on the public, waterfront owners/lessees, and adjoining properties;
• Using funds from the CA State Vessel Turn In Program (VTIP) and Surrendered or Abandoned Vessels
(SAVE) grant programs, 20+ unwanted, abandoned, unsafe, and unsi
• ghtly vessels were removed from Newport Harbor. In addition, the City successfully applied for and was
granted $100K in the newest SAVE cycle.
• A vessel entered the harbor in a dilapidated condition. The vessel continued to deteriorate, became
disabled, and began taking on water. The vessel was at serious risk of sinking and creating a significant
environmental hazard given its condition and the presence of several forms of hazardous materials
onboard. The vessel was impounded and was declared “marine debris,” hastening its removal,
destruction and the elimination of any threat to human or marine life health. The former occupant of the
boat is now housed in a local motel while he waits for a bed in a local shelter.
• The Southern California Unified Marine Working Group continued to convene, led by the Harbor
Department. The group includes representatives from 20+ harbors in Southern California as well as
representatives from CA Division of Boating and Waterways and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Code enforcement efforts continued to be a significant focus in the calendar year 2025, and specifically
focused on the following: noise and other nuisance conditions during night and early morning hours;
48
7
Programs Status
navigation, lighting enforcement, and dye-tabbing of visiting vessels, live-aboard permittees, and mooring
sub-permittees - multiple berthing situations that present potentially unsafe conditions.
• Continued monitoring, testing, and repair when necessary, of the vessel sanitation system pump-out
equipment at the five City-owned pump-out facilities and Marina Park.
• Conducted safety and water quality training drills independently as well as in collaboration with the
California National Guard Marine Command, US Coast Guard and the CA Department of Fish and
Wildlife Office of Spill Response.
B) Regulation and transfer of mooring permit applications and titles – Managed by the City’s Harbormaster’s Office
on an ongoing basis.
• The new Mooring License program continues to be popular and maintains full utilization for when there is
turnover between tenants. All 17 moorings in the program are licensed and there is a waiting list of more
than 80 people.
• The application for a pilot project to reorganize and optimize the utilization of the C-Mooring Field was
denied by the California Coastal Commission.
• The CA State Lands Commission has issued a draft letter offering guidance to the City on how to improve its
management of the tidelands in trust. The Commission has expressed concern over the process related to
transferability, equity between mooring permittees and residential dock permittees, the presence of live-
aboard permits, and the methods by which rates for mooring permittees and residential pier permits are
quantified.
• More than 75 mooring permits were transferred in calendar year 2025. The transfer price paid as reported on
the transfer forms adds up to $1,247,400. Of the 75 transfers processed, 38 were reported at $0 because
the transfer was between family members or only involved adjusting the second permittee. Across the
transfers where a transfer price was paid and reported, the average price per lineal foot paid was $923.32.
C) Standards for the design and siting of bulkheads, pier, and similar structures to address their potential visual
impacts – Current City Council approved Harbor Standards state that the bulkhead height is required to be 10 feet
Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW). On March 23, 2021, the City Council approved updated Waterfront Project Design
Guidelines and Standards, Harbor Design Criteria Commercial & Residential Facilities. The guidelines require that
any structure permitted within the years 2021 through 2025 must have a minimum bulkhead elevation of 10.9 feet
(NAVD 88) with a design for adaptability elevation of 14.4 feet (NAVD 88).
D) Standards and policies specified by the Noise Element to protect sensitive noise receptors, residents and
businesses from unwanted noise impacts from traffic, JWA operations, construction activities, truck deliveries,
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special events, charter and entertainment boats, and similar sources – Reviewed and implemented on an ongoing
basis through project review consistent with the Airport Land Use Environs Plan (AELUP), by Code Enforcement,
Harbormaster’s Office, and building inspectors. In 2023, the City adopted amendments to the Zoning Code and
General Plan related to noise in the airport area, which were necessary to implement the 6th Cycle Housing
Element. The amendments included adding regulations to Section 20.30.080 (Noise) of the NBMC that would serve
to protect sensitive noise receptors from potential airport noise.
8.2 Prepare New Codes,
Ordinances, and
Guidelines
Ongoing
The comprehensive Zoning Code update was adopted in November 2010, by the City Council. The following are
specifically recommended (sections from the Implementation Measure are italicized):
A) A “commercial-residential” interface ordinance that regulates use, activity, and design of commercial properties
located on shallow parcels directly abutting residential neighborhoods - The Zoning Code includes development
standards that address the commercial and residential interface to minimize potential land conflicts.
B) Design guidelines for the renovation or reconstruction of housing in existing neighborhoods to assure that they
complement the character of existing development; these may be applied to specific neighborhoods or citywide –
The 2010 Zoning Code attempted to regulate third floor mass and bulk through the use of NBMC Section 20.48.180
(Residential Development Standards and Design Criteria), which includes third floor area limits, third floor step backs for
enclosed floor area, and open space standards to increase building modulation. However, the third floor limits did not
apply to unenclosed covered deck areas or unfinished attics, resulting in building designs with third levels (enclosed and
unenclosed) that visually appear larger and bulkier than the code intended. Furthermore, these standards did not apply
to Balboa Island (R-BI) and the Multiple Residential (RM) zoning districts. On November 24, 2020, the City Council
adopted Ordinance No. 2020-28 amending the residential design standards to reduce the bulk and mass associated
with future single-unit and two-unit developments by clarifying the definition of gross floor area, regulating covered third
floor decks, and expanding the application of third floor area and open volume standards.
C) An ordinance or guidelines for the preservation of historic buildings and/or properties; this shall be developed in
consideration of guidelines published by the State Historic Preservation Office – Staff continues to review projects
subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to address historic preservation. An ordinance has not
been prepared at this time due to competing priorities and staff resources.
D) An ordinance managing parking in commercial and mixed-use corridors and districts characterized by deficient
parking; this may provide for the establishment of parking districts in which new parking may be developed in public
or private shared facilities or structures or other facilities, as well as procedures for the funding of these
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improvements – The City has launched a comprehensive land use and mobility study (Study) to consider ways to
enhance and improve the Corona del Mar (CdM) commercial corridor. As detailed in Program 3.1, In November
2025, the City Council held a study session for staff to present the Study’s results and shared goals related to
updating land uses, parking solutions, safety and mobility improvements, and corridor identity. A key component of
the project was evaluating holistic parking solutions that balance the needs of all users, including residents, and
business and commercial property owners. The study recommendations were well received and City Council
initiation for the General Plan, Local Coastal Program, and NBMC amendments were scheduled for early 2026. All
open house, community meeting and study session materials along with updates are provided on the Corona Del
Mar Commercial Corridor Study website.
Also See Program 16.10 for an update on parking.
On February 12, 2019, the City Council adopted amendments to Title 20 and Title 21 necessary to address changes
in State law (Senate Bill 1069 and Assembly Bill 2299, Statutes of 2016, and Senate Bill 229 and Assembly Bill 494,
Statutes of 2017) that require jurisdictions to amend their local ordinances to conform to California Government
Code Section 65852.2. The ordinances expanded opportunities in the City for the conversion and construction of
new Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to any residential lot with existing or proposed single-unit development.
• In 2025, the City pursued several efforts related to revising the City’s regulations pertaining to accessory
dwelling units and incentivizing their development. In 2025, the City adopted revisions to its ADU Ordinance
to comply with SB 477, AB 2533, and SB 1211, which went into effect in 2024 and at the beginning of 2025.
Among other things, these bills amended Government Code Section 66310 through 66342 to impose new
limits on the City to regulate ADUs and JADUs. A summary of those updates and the bills that were
addressed through the code amendment can be found below:
o SB 477 made changes to the numbering of the sections of Government Code for State ADU and
JADU Laws.
o AB 2533 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code, § 66332) regarding unpermitted
ADUs, which the City currently implements through its existing SAFE ADU Program. The City’s SAFE
ADU program is an initiative designed to help homeowners legalize existing unpermitted ADUs
constructed before January 1, 2020. The program helps homeowners address potential code
enforcement issues, liability concerns, and safety risks associated with unpermitted units. This bill
went into effect on January 1, 2025, and the City’s SAFE ADU program has already been updated to
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comply with the provisions.
o SB 1211 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code, §§ 66313, 66314, 66323) with regard
to replacement parking and special streamlined units referred to as “66323 Units” (described below)
on lots with existing or proposed multifamily dwellings. SB 1211 went into effect on January 1, 2025.
This bill:
▪ Defines “livable space” as a space in a dwelling intended for human habitation, as the term
appears in Government Code sections 66313, subdivision (e), and 66323, subdivision
(a)(3)(A).
▪ Specifies that uncovered, off-street parking spaces demolished in conjunction with the
construction of an ADU do not need to be replaced.
▪ Authorizes up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing multifamily dwelling (previously
limited to two), provided that the number of ADUs does not exceed the number of existing
units on the lot.
▪ Prohibits a local agency from imposing any objective development standards on 66323 Units
that are not authorized by the provisions of Government Code section 66323, subdivision (a).
• SB 1211 also established “66323 Units” under Government Code Section 66323 and clarifies four
categories of ADUs (and JADUs) that must be approved ministerially and are not subject to standards
set forth in Government Code Sections 66314 through 66322 or the NBMC (i.e. “66323 Units”).
These 66323 Units do not have to comply with the City’s objective development and design
standards, such as height, setbacks, and size limits. These ADUs must still comply with building code
and health and safety requirements.
• Subsequent to the City Council adopting a revised ADU ordinance to comply with the bills outlined above,
the City Council authorized city staff to submit a Local Coastal Program Amendment to its implementation
plan to ensure that the revisions made to the city zoning code (Title 20) are also reflected in the coastal zone
through the implementation plan (Title 21) and that it conforms with State Law Updates. City staff submitted
a Local Coastal Program Amendment at the end of 2025 to the California Coastal Commission. The
application is currently under review and City staff anticipates that the amendment will be approved by the
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California Coastal Commission before the end of 2026.
• In addition to the items mentioned above, city staff are preparing new code updates to comply with State
Law that was signed into Law in 2025 and went into effect in 2026 (SB477, AB435, AB2533, and SB1211).
City staff anticipate processing these code amendments in 2026 and sharing the updates with the CCC to
ensure that the ADU regulations in the coastal zone are consistent with State Law.
• Website Enhancements: In Spring of 2023, the Community Development Department launched a
comprehensive update to the Newport Beach ADU webpage. The webpage is intended to supplement the
City’s outreach and foster interest in constructing ADUs. The website continues to include a downloadable
guidebook, interactive activities and exercises to help homeowners plan their ADU, an online calculator to
estimate costs, and standard plans. The website also includes resources to help the homeowner understand
the different types of ADUs by providing links to development standards and processes. External resources
are available for potential finance and grant opportunities for homeowners. Users can look up their property
attributes including zoning and approximate lot size. An interactive mapping application is also included for
residents to see the ADUs that are being constructed in their neighborhoods. The website is updated on a
regular basis, for example in 2025 updates regarding the revisions to the ADU code were made to ensure
that the website provides members of the public with the most accurate information consistent with state law.
City staff are currently working on updates to the ADU standard plans to reflect the recent building code
cycle update. Those plans are anticipated to be available on the website in spring of 2026. The Newport
Beach ADU website can be found at https://www.newportbeachca.gov/adu.
In 2025, 61 ADUs were submitted for review. There were 38 ADUs that received building permits, including two
SAFE ADUs, and contributed towards RHNA; and nine that received final inspections including 1 SAFE ADU.
9.1 Review City Council
Policy Manual for
Consistency with the
General Plan
Ongoing
In 2025, there were no City Council Policies amended.
10.1 Maintain Up-to-Date
Comprehensive
Database
(Data such as built
Ongoing
The City’s Geographical Information System (GIS) data is updated regularly to provide up-to-date parcel-specific
information including specific lot information (agreements), planning (zoning, land entitlements, building, code
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land use and traffic
should be updated on
a continuing basis,
while data that is
stable, such as
seismic hazard zones,
can be updated on a
less frequent basis)
enforcement, environmental layers, general information [contours, assessor, easement, etc.]), general services,
harbor, hazards including flood and seismic, fire, police, public works, parking, street and utilities. New layers are
added whenever necessary and appropriate. For example, in 2025 the City added a layer to identify the new
Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay properties.
10.2 Maintain
Development
Tracking and
Monitoring Program
Ongoing
The City continues to fine-tune a parcel-specific database that accounts for all existing development. The database
includes statistics for commercial floor area and residential dwelling units. The database is used for site-specific
information or compiled to provide information by any geography needed, from a single lot to a neighborhood to
statistical area, or citywide. The land use data is available by Statistical Area as directed by the General Plan. The
data is currently being used to update the land use portion of the Newport Beach Traffic Model (NBTAM).
As required by Section 423 of the City Charter, the Planning Division tracks increases in development limits
approved by General Plan amendments (GPA) for a period of 10 years. If a proposed amendment exceeds the
established thresholds of 40,000 square feet of non-residential development, 100 dwelling units, 100 AM peak hour
traffic trips, or 100 PM peak hour traffic trips on its own or, when combined with 80% of previously approved
General Plan amendment(s) located in the same Statistical Area, the amendment is considered a “major
amendment.” Approval or denial of a “major amendment” is determined by a vote of the electorate. The
GPA/Charter Section 423 tracking tables are available for public review at the General Plan information page on
Newport Beach’s Community Development Department’s Planning Division website at the following:
https://www.newportbeachca.gov/chartersection423
Land Use Element policies LU4.3 (Transfer of Development Rights), LU 4.7 (Redevelopment and Transfer of
Development Rights), LU6.14.3 (Transfers of Development Rights – Newport Center) allow development rights (e.g.
square footage) to be transferred in certain circumstances without an amendment to the General Plan. The policies
are primarily implemented by Chapter 20.46 (Transfer of Development Rights) of the Newport Beach Municipal
Code and the North Newport Center Planned Community Development Plan. The transfer of development tables is
located at the following webpage: https://www.newportbeachca.gov/developmenttransfertables
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11.1 CEQA Review
Development and
Entitlement
Applications
Ongoing
All private and public development projects and programs defined as a “project” pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) are reviewed and evaluated for compliance.
12.1 Evaluate Fiscal
Benefits of Large
Development
Proposals and
Annexations
Ongoing
The City continues to examine the fiscal benefits of large development proposals consistent with Implementation
Policy 12.1. No annexations were considered during the reporting period.
12.2 Maintain and Update
Fiscal Impact Model
Ongoing
The fiscal impact model was historically maintained by Applied Development Economics, Inc. on behalf of the City.
The model calculates public service impacts for specific land uses that support the residential population, the
employment base and the visitor population in the City. It also calculates the public revenues that each type of land
use typically generates for the City, including property taxes, sales taxes, and other taxes, as well as a variety of
user charges and fees. The output from the fiscal impact model can be modified to address these circumstances for
each individual project and the fiscal year the project is proposed. In 2025, maintenance of the fiscal impact model
was transferred to a new consultant, Keyser Martson Associates, Inc. It will continue to be refined and updated on
an as-needed basis.
13.1 Process
Development
Agreements
Ongoing
The City requires Development Agreements for projects in accordance with Chapter 15.45 of the Municipal Code
and where required by the General Plan. In 2025, the City completed negotiations on two development agreements
including the Residences at MacArthur Court Mixed-Use Project and the North Newport Center Planned Community
Amendments. Additionally, the City initiated negotiations on two other projects including the Fairway 3 Project and
1300 Dove Residences. Negotiations are ongoing with the Saunders Self Storage Project.
14.1 Adjoining Cities
(“Borders
Committees” to
collaborate with the
cities of Irvine,
Huntington Beach,
and Costa Mesa)
Ongoing
The City continues to provide robust assistance to those who are unhoused in the community. For this reporting
period, the following was accomplished:
• From the streets and vehicles, the City’s homeless outreach and engagement team permanently housed six
people, reunited five people from the streets with family, and placed four people into skilled nursing facilities.
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• The Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter permanently housed six people and reunited three people with family.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) continues to provide outreach and engagement services as a
contracted service provider. PATH completed 66 shelter intakes (some duplicated individuals) at the Costa
Mesa Bridge Shelter, the County’s Yale Navigation Center, the Huntington Beach Navigation Center, the
Buena Park Navigation Center, and the Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim. PATH, incoordination with the
Newport Beach Police Department and homeless services manager, completed a street Census in
November 2025. 13 people were surveyed and stated ties to Newport Beach. PATH continues to connect
the people to services and resources.
• The outreach and engagement team three notable permanent housing placements in 2025. A person had
over 80 contacts with the Newport Beach Police Department and City and County staff over six years. In
October 2025, the person decided to call his father and reunified with him in another county. An older adult
housed in a senior care facility in the State of New York boarded a bus and traveled cross-county to Newport
Beach to locate her son. She experienced street-level homelessness while the team located the senior care
facility in New York. After medically clearing her for travel, the team bought a return bus ticket, tracked her
progress, and confirmed she returned to her home. An older adult living in a vehicle was stranded for a week
before neighbors called the City for assistance. The team convinced him to go to a hospital for treatment and
an assessment. The man now resides in a skilled nursing facility.
14.2 Coordinate with
School Districts
Ongoing
Staff works with Newport Mesa Unified School District, Santa Ana Unified School District, and Coast Community
College District (“School Districts”) on the identification and acquisition of potential school sites and expansion of
existing facilities on an as-needed basis. Should the need arise, Public Works staff will monitor traffic conditions at
school locations. The City works with the School Districts on joint-use agreements for public recreational uses of
school properties on an as-needed basis. School fees are assessed during the issuance of building permits when
applicable.
14.3 Coordinate with
Orange County
Ongoing
The City continues to work with Orange County on various programs affecting land use and development, affordable
housing, transportation, infrastructure, resource conservation, environmental quality, fire risk reduction efforts,
management of Newport Harbor and Upper Newport Bay; and John Wayne Airport operations and improvement
plans on an as-needed basis.
14.4 Coordinate with
Orange County
Ongoing
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Transportation
Authority (OCTA)
The Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer is on the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for OCTA, which
meets monthly and consists of most of the Public Works Directors in Orange County, to discuss and make
recommendations to the OCTA and its board on the allocation of funding. Additionally, Staff attends OCTA Traffic
Forums along with other Orange County agencies on a biannual basis to discuss regional traffic items and traffic
signal synchronization.
14.5 State of California
Department of
Housing and
Community
Development (HCD)
Ongoing
The 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report, including the Housing Element Report, will be sent to HCD on or
prior to the deadline in April 2026.
14.6 Coordinate with
California Coastal
Commission
Ongoing
• Big Canyon Restoration - Phase 3 (formerly 2B/C). This proposed project at the mouth of Big Canyon Nature
Park contains jurisdictional wetlands and requires permits from the California Coastal Commission, Army
Corps of Engineers with concurrence from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Water Quality Control
Board, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Construction started in November 2025 and the
project is expected to be complete by July 2026. CEQA has been completed, and all permits have been
obtained. Under an agreement currently in preparation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,
City will manage the construction and pay the contractor. The City will be reimbursed from grants funds
awarded to the project. The project is estimated to cost seven million dollars.
• Planning and Public Works staff routinely communicate directly with Coastal Commission staff on an as-
needed basis regarding implementation of the Local Coastal Program. The following are Coastal
Commission Actions related to LCP Amendments in 2025:
o On April 11, 2023, the City received a letter from the California Coastal Commission requiring the
installation of protection fencing and monthly bird monitoring. The fence was installed mid November
2023 along with informative signs on the fence. Since then, the City has complied with the cease and
desist order. The City consulted with Glenn Lukos Associates to conduct bi-monthly monitoring of the
plovers during the monitoring season (July through March). The City reported back to the Coastal
Commission on a monthly basis with a report of the two separate visits during the month. The info
includes the total number of plovers and where they were observed. It also included weather
conditions. The City fulfilled the second year of monitoring and continued to comply with the cease
and desist order. In March 2025, the 2024/2025 monitoring concluded with no further action
requested by the California Coastal Commission. The City will continue to comply with the cease and
desist order by consulting with Glenn Lukos Associates to conduct bi-monthly monitoring of the
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plovers during the monitoring season for 2025/2026.
o On September 11, 2023, the City submitted a two-part LCP Amendment (LCP-5-NPB-23-0039-3) to
the Coastal Commission for their review and approval. The two parts include: Part A) Request to
amend the certified Implementation Plan (IP) of the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) revising
regulations pertaining to commercial parking; and, Part B) Request to amend the Implementation
Plan (IP) of the City’s certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) to establish the Special Flood Hazard
(VE) Overlay District. The amendment was deemed incomplete by the California Coastal
Commission on January 5, 2024, deemed complete on April 14, 2024, and a one-year extension
granted on June 14, 2024. Part A Amendment was approved by the Coastal Commission in June
2025 and adopted by City Council in July 2025. Part B Amendment was approved by the Coastal
Commission in July 2025 with modifications and adopted by City Council in October 2025.
o On, February 28, 2023, the City submitted request to the Coastal Commission for Coastal
Development permit (CDP) jurisdiction for lands meeting the criteria of Coastal Act Section 30613.
This would provide the City with increased and consolidated CDP issuing authority for properties that
are currently bisected with Coastal Commission jurisdiction, eliminating lengthy and costly reviews by
both agencies. Throughout 2024, City and Coastal Commission staff have conducted regular working
sessions to refine the jurisdiction boundaries and finalize the request. Completion of this project is
anticipated in 2026.
o On October 4, 2023, the City submitted a coastal development permit request to reconfigure the 5.5-
acre Mooring Field C from single-row to double-row moorings. Mooring Field C currently has 55
moorings and may have up to 62 moorings upon completion of the proposed Project. The application
was deemed complete by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on July 19, 2024. City staff
worked extensively with CCC staff addressing concerns and ultimately received a positive staff
recommendation in support of the project. When deemed complete, the application was more than
3,500 pages. The CCC denied the project at the February 2025 hearing due to public comments
raised regarding safety and liability.
o On February 8, 2024, the City submitted a three-part LCP Amendment (LCP-5-NPB-24-0004-1) to
the Coastal Commission for their review and approval. Part A Amendment - Establishing regulations
permitting short term lodging within the MU-W2 (Mixed-Use Water) and MU-CV/15th Street (Mixed-
Use Cannery Village and 15th Street) coastal zoning districts; changing the maximum cap of short
term lodging permits from 1,550 permits Citywide to: 1) 1,475 permits in residential districts; and 2)
75 permits within the MU-W2 and MU-CV/15th Street zoning districts; and correcting an
inconsistency in the definition and use of short term lodging and bed and breakfast inn to mean a
rental of 30 days or less. Part B Amendment - Allow land use changes to a previously approved
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mixed-use project which consists of a tennis club, hotel, and residential components. The
amendment includes: 1) modifying the density and intensity limit for the number of tennis courts from
7 to 4 courts and adds 14 pickleball courts; 2) converting 3 of the 5 allowed single-family residences
to attached residential condominium units; 3) establishing new development standards for attached
residential condominiums; and 4) revising the density and intensity limits for the hotel from 27 to 41
short-term guest rental rooms. Additionally, the maximum allowable gross floor area increases from
28,300 to 47,484 square feet, and square footage for ancillary hotel uses are included. Part C
Amendment (Code Cleanup) - 1) Deletion of Chapter 21.34 (Conversion or Demolition of Affordable
Housing); 2) Creating a coastal development permit (CDP) exemption for tentative parcel maps
involving the subdivision of airspace within multi-unit dwellings for condominium purposes; 3)
Correcting, updating and/or clarifying the references to State law throughout; 4) Changing references
from “Building Director” or “Planning Director” to “Community Development Director”; and, 5)
Clarifying the definition of “Code” to mean the Newport Beach Municipal Code. The amendment was
deemed complete on February 23, 2024, and an extension granted on May 8, 2024. The California
Coastal Commission approved Part A (with modifications), B (with modifications) and C (with
modifications) in May 2025. Final approval by the City Council was in August 2025.
o On August 8, 2024, the City submitted an LCP Amendment (LCP-5-NPB-24-0004-2) to the Coastal
Commission for their review and approval for a request to amend the Implementation Plan (IP) and
the Coastal Land Use Plan (CLUP) of the City’s certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) to establish
the Housing Opportunity (HO) Coastal Zoning Districts in the Coastal Zone. The project was deemed
incomplete and resubmitted in December 2024, then deemed complete January 2025. A hearing with
the California Coastal Commission is anticipated in March 2026 or soon thereafter.
o In December 2025, the City submitted an LCP Amendment No. LCP-5-NPM-25-0077-1 (Accessory
Dwelling Unit Regulations) for the ADU updates approved by City Council implementing SB 477, AB
2533, and SB 1211. See update in Program 8.2.
14.7 Coordinate with the
California Resources
Agency, Department
of Fish and Game
(now known as
California
Department of Fish
and Wildlife)
Ongoing
1. Planning and Public Works staff routinely communicate with California Department of Fish and Wildlife with
regards to the management of Upper Buck Gully and the upper Newport Bay.
2. Recreation and Senior Services staff continues to work as a partner with the University of California, Irvine;
Orange County Public Health; OC Parks; California Department of Fish and Wildlife; and the Back Bay Science
Center.
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14.8 Coordinate with the
California
Department of Parks
and Recreation
Ongoing
The City, through its Natural Resource Division of the Recreation and Senior Services Department, coordinates with
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, the County, education, and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) to protect natural resources through implementation of state and local legislation,
enforcement, monitoring, and to provide education programming at Big Corona del Mar and Little Corona del Mar
State Beach, Crystal Cove, and Upper Newport Bay. Coordination highlights from 2025 include the following:
1. Natural Resource Division continued to work with various City departments on issues concerning natural
resources and strategies to inform and educate the public.
2. Natural Resource Division continued to work with the MPA Watch (Marine Protected Area Watch Program -
Human Use), along with serving as an active member of the Orange County Marine Protected Area Council
(OCMPAC).
3. The Natural Resource Division staff engaged with the public at our tidepool areas within the Marine Protected
Area, in order to discourage illegal collecting and educate visitors about the rules of the protected area.
4. The Natural Resource Division partnered with other City departments, Newport Bay Conservancy, Newport
Dunes Resort and Marina, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Coastal Commission to run
the Fostering interest in Nature (FiiN) program. The program is a three-day, two-night science camp program
located within the Upper Newport Bay MPA for Title I fifth grade students. In the Fall of 2025, 431 students
attended during the 8-week program.
14.9 Coordinate with the
California
Department of
Transportation
(“Caltrans”)
Ongoing
The City’s Public Works Department coordinates with Caltrans on an as-needed basis for the review of
improvements to the State Highway System or impacts on the system by development, construction and/or special
events:
• The City continues to coordinate with Caltrans in review of upcoming projects and as a project team member
for current construction projects including the ongoing SR-55 (Newport Blvd/Hospital Rd) traffic signal
upgrade (completed - 2024), and SR-1 (Coast Hwy) pavement and traffic signal rehabilitation projects.
West Coast Highway Coordination with Caltrans Paving Project (completed 2025):
• Caltrans paved Coast Highway from the Santa Ana River to Jamboree Road.
• The City implemented the new Caltrans policy and lowered all manholes/valve covers prior to paving
• The City also coordinated with Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) to have their facilities lowered and
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raised to grade along with the City’s facilities.
Newport Boulevard Project
• Caltrans is working on a multi-agency project spanning from Coast Highway to north of SR-55.
• The work in Newport Beach includes striping class-2 bike lanes from Industrial Way to Coast Highway, fiber
optics, and minor signal upgrades.
14.10 Transportation
Corridor Agencies
(TCA)
Ongoing
City staff continually works with the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) regarding the San Joaquin Hills (SR-
73) Toll Road and continuously implements TCA’s Major Thoroughfare and Bridge Fee Program through the
Municipal Code. Impact fees are collected by the City when a building permit is issued. Councilmember Grant is the
city representative on the TCA board. TCA conducted a pricing analysis and the result determined they do not
recommend any reduction in pricing at this time due to a minimal increase in number driver utilization toll.
14.11 California Public
Utilities Commission
(CPUC)
Ongoing
The City works with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to explore funding for the undergrounding of
utilities. To date, the City has adopted several underground utility districts, including property owner funded
assessment districts, to provide funding for undergrounding projects. Most of the funding for undergrounding in the
City has come from these assessment districts using CPUC Rule 20B. In years past, the City received funding
allocation from Southern California Edison (SCE) for Rule 20A undergrounding projects. In 2013, the City Council
adopted a Utility Undergrounding District on Balboa Boulevard from Coast Highway to 23rd Street and directed staff
to proceed with Rule 20A, an undergrounding project along Balboa Boulevard. However, the 20A program was
suspended by the CPUC at their June 8, 2021, commission meeting. SCE will only complete “Active” 20A
underground projects; Balboa Boulevard being the last City project, which was completed in 2024. The City Council
approved four Rule 20B Utility Underground Assessment Districts in the past several years, upon a positive resident
vote: one adjacent to the Balboa Boulevard Rule 20A project (AD-111), and a 2018 approved district for the west
side of Balboa Island (AD-113), and two districts approved in 2021 for the remaining portions of Balboa Island (AD-
124) and a small area on Santa Ana Avenue near Cliff Drive (AD-120-2). All these assessment districts are in
various stages of completion. AD-111 on the Balboa Peninsula and AD-113 in west Balboa Island were completed
in 2024 and AD-120 was completed in 2025. The remaining AD-124 is scheduled for completion in 2028. Staff
also continues to work with other resident groups in Balboa Peninsula, Harbor Highlands, Newport Heights and
Corona del Mar for possible other Rule 20B projects, though activity has somewhat slowed with only Newport
Heights having any momentum.
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14.12 Coordinate with
United States Army
Corps of Engineers
(“Corps”)
Ongoing
City staff regularly coordinates with the Corps. The following list provides highlights of more recent coordination
efforts or coordinated projects:
1. Public Works staff continues to strategize and coordinate with the Corps on the next phase of dredging the
Lower Bay and Balboa Yacht Basin to the federally authorized and approved depths. The City completed all
of the pre-project planning including sediment testing/approval, design, engineering, environmental review
and permitting (with Corps input). Dredging began in December 2025.
2. Big Canyon Restoration - Phase 2A. Complete.
3. Big Canyon Restoration – Phase 3 (formerly called Phase 2B/C). This proposed project is at the mouth of Big
Canyon Nature Park and contains a wetlands Design and permits are complete. Project construction began
in November 2025. Project is expected to be substantially complete by July 2026. Under an agreement
currently in preparation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, City will manage the construction
and pay the contractor. City will be reimbursed from grants funds awarded the project. The project is
estimated to cost seven million dollars. Big Canyon Restoration Phase 3 has also provided an educational
opportunity for both the community and for local environmental programs. Recently, the Newport Bay
Conservancy hosted environmental graduate students from UC Irvine to visit the site, observe construction
and speak to City engineers.
4. San Diego Creek Interceptor (formerly called the Newport Bay Water Wheel) – The Trash Interceptor is in
San Diego Creek just upstream of the Jamboree Road Bridge and was completed in March 2025. The
Interceptor is actively collecting and removing floating trash and debris. The facility is managed by staff from
Public Work’s Municipal Operation Division.
14.13 Coordinate with
United States Fish
and Wildlife Service
Ongoing
Big Canyon Habitat Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Project – Phase 2A and Phase 3 contains
jurisdictional wetlands and requires permits from the California Coastal Commission, Army Corps of Engineers with
concurrence from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Water Quality Control Board and California Department
of Fish and Wildlife. Phase 2A was completed in early 2022. For Phase 3 - Project began in November 2025.
Project is expected to be substantially complete by July 2026. CEQA has been completed, and all permits have
been obtained. Under an agreement currently in preparation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,
City will manage the construction and pay the contractor. City will be reimbursed from grants funds awarded the
project. The project is estimated to cost seven million dollars.
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Western Snowy Plover (WSP) Habitat Management Plan – Planning Division staff is in the process of creating a
management plan for the portions of ocean-facing beach designated as critical habitat. Coordination with U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and the California Coastal Commission has occurred and will continue to occur for the
preparation of a revised draft plan. In the interim, the City has installed protective fencing and is conducting monthly
monitoring and reporting the California Coastal Commission.
14.14 Coordinate with
Environmental
Protection Agency
(EPA)
Ongoing
The City coordinates with the U.S. EPA in collaboration with other resource agencies in the protection of terrestrial
and marine resources and sediment disposal sites for future dredging projects on an as-needed basis when projects
are within the U.S. EPA jurisdiction.
14.15 Coordinate with
USPS (for relocation
of the Mariners’ Mile
distribution facility)
Complete
The USPS distribution facility was relocated to Santa Ana and Anaheim. The USPS maintains a location in the
Mariners’ Mile area offering typical retail mail services.
14.16 Other Agencies Ongoing
The City continuously works with the following agencies that are involved in the development of capital improvement
and conservation programs:
• Energy providers, such as Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Company
• Telecommunications service providers on a case-by-case basis
• Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
• Metropolitan Water District
• South Coast Air Quality Management District
• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
• California State Parks
• National Marine Fisheries Service
15.1 Encourage
Annexation of
Banning Ranch Prior
to Development
Ongoing
The City’s goals and policies encourage the annexation of the entire Banning Ranch property prior to any
development. However, it is notable that in 2023, most of Banning Ranch was acquired by a private party for use
and conservation as permanent open space, referred to as the Randall Preserve. The Randall Preserve, via the
Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), are currently working on resource management plans,
coastal resiliency strategies, public access plans, and tribal access and engagement plans.
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16.1 Improve Arterial
Streets and
Highways According
to Classification
Ongoing
This is an ongoing effort that is citywide; however, a recent example is the West Coast Highway (SR-1) and Old
Newport Boulevard Intersection Improvements – The project will improve West Coast Highway at Old Newport
Boulevard to provide for a third westbound through lane, a right turn lane, and a bike lane. The project’s
environmental document (IS/ND) was adopted in 2018. The City applied and received OCTA Measure M2 grant
funding for right-of-way acquisition and construction. The City is working on final design and permitting.
16.2 Monitor Traffic
Conditions and Plan
for and Fund
Improvements
Ongoing
1. Traffic Engineering Staff continues to operate the Traffic Management Center to monitor and respond to
traffic issues during and after normal work hours, Holidays, peak summer season, special events and
construction projects.
2. Traffic Signal Rehabilitation Programs (see Program 16.4).
3. Installation of additional CCTV Cameras includes field surveillance cameras for integration into the City
Traffic Management Center to monitor and change the traffic signal system depending on traffic conditions.
4. The City participates in a multi-agency Bristol Street signalized intersection corridor upgrade which is being
led by the City of Santa Ana and includes the City Costa Mesa. The project is funded through the OCTA
2025 call for projects. The design phase is scheduled to start in the second half of 2026.
16.3 Construct Street and
Highway
Improvements
Ongoing
Refer to Program 16.1 for discussion regarding the West Coast Highway (SR-1) and Old Newport Boulevard
Intersection Improvements.
The City maintains a Pavement Management Plan and performs roadway pavement resurfacing projects to maintain
roadways at a high level. Roadways are improved through replacement of deteriorated roadway surfaces with new
concrete or asphalt pavement, including new traffic striping and traffic sign cleanup. Local and neighborhood
streets are maintained through the annual roadway slurry seal program.
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16.4 Monitor Roadway
Conditions and
Operational Systems
Ongoing
The City continues to monitor and improve traffic flow through proactive maintenance and updates to the City’s
modern traffic signal system.
The City has teamed up with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the City of Irvine to update
traffic signal communication, control equipment and coordination along MacArthur Boulevard, through the Measure
M2 grant-funded projects. These projects are being led by the City of Irvine and are in the Operation and
Maintenance phase.
16.5 Maintain Consistency
with Regional
Jurisdictions
(Caltrans and
Orange County to
provide adequate
roadway
infrastructure plans
and design standards
such as the Orange
County Master Plan
of Arterial Highways)
Ongoing
The City monitors the regional Arterial Program, OCTA’s Master Plan of Arterial Highways, and the Countywide
traffic model to ensure consistency. Public Works staff coordinates with regional jurisdictions on an as-needed
basis. The City is scheduled to update the Circulation Element in 2026 including updates to adapt to OCTA’s MPAH
requests.
The City has been working with private property owners along West Coast Highway in Mariner’s Mile to dedicate
property for the future buildout of the roadway in compliance with the Orange County MPAH. Individual projects with
large frontages will be required to improve the roadway as well.
16.6 Local/Neighborhood
Access Roads
Ongoing
Public Works staff works with local neighborhood groups on an as-needed basis when traffic issues arise. The City
maintains standards that ensure safe and efficient access for emergency vehicles.
The City maintains the Pavement Management Plan and performs roadway pavement resurfacing projects to
maintain roadways at a high level. Roadways are improved through replacement of deteriorated roadways surfaces
with new concrete or asphalt pavement, including new traffic striping and traffic sign cleanup. Local and
neighborhood streets are maintained through the annual roadway slurry seal program.
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16.7 Traffic Control Ongoing
The following projects were implemented to improve traffic congestion through conventional and innovative methods
of traffic control:
1. The Annual Traffic Signal Rehabilitation Program will rehabilitate traffic signals along the Balboa Peninsula
(completed February 2025).
2. The Annual Traffic Signal Rehabilitation Program will rehabilitate traffic signals within the airport area and
anticipate the work to be completed by June 2026.
3. The Public Works Department maintains the traffic signal system through an ongoing Traffic Signal Maintenance
agreement with a contractor that specializes in traffic signal maintenance.
4. Roadway signage and striping is maintained as needed by the City’s Municipal Operations Division of the Public
Works Department. Large-scale signage and striping maintenance/replacement is accomplished through the
Capital Improvement Program.
16.8 Provide Public
Transportation
Ongoing
The City continuously looks for opportunities to support the upgrade and enhancement of existing facilities, as well
as encourage the development of additional public transportation services and facilities. The City provides shuttle
bus services for the Oasis Senior Center clients on an as-needed basis. The City also continuously works with the
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for countywide bus services.
The City operates the Balboa Peninsula Trolley (Trolley), a local transit service, on the Balboa Peninsula during the
summer. The free service generally runs from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial
Day weekend through Labor Day, as well as on July 4, making 22 stops along the peninsula. The program is
partially funded by the OCTA Measure M2 (Project V) program. The program finished it’s seventh and final year in
2024. However, the City applied for and was awarded additional Project V grant funds to facilitate procurement of
five new trolley vehicles and continue operating the Trolley program for another seven years (2025-2031). The new
trolleys may be used to expand trolley services to other areas of the City, including CdM.
16.9 Manage Truck
Operations
Ongoing
Trucks are required to obtain a Haul Route Permit through Public Works required to use designated haul routes.
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16.10 Improve Parking
Supply and
Management
Ongoing
Parking availability can be challenging especially during the summer when many thousands of people visit coastal
areas. West Newport, Balboa Peninsula, Mariners’ Mile, and Corona del Mar experience high parking demand.
Parking conflicts can hold back commercial and economic activities. Creating new parking requires larger parcels of
land and is often expensive. To help manage parking, the City requires new development to provide off-street
parking in accordance with the Zoning Code and Local Coastal Program thereby ensuring adequate parking supply.
On April 17, 2019, the City submitted a Local Coastal Program Amendment (LC2017-001) to the California Coastal
Commission to add the Balboa Village Parking Management Overlay District to the certified Local Coastal Program
Implementation Plan. On February 23, 2021, the City Council approved modifications to the Balboa Village overlay
provided by the California Coastal Commission. Near the end of 2021, the City prepared a parking management
plan for the Balboa Village overly (PM-1) and it was approved by Coastal Commission in 2022.
Building off the Balboa Village effort, the City Council directed staff in 2021 to study the development of Parking
Management Overlay Districts in other activity nodes within the City. The City retained a parking consulting firm to
assist with this effort and is actively studying other parking management tools such as curbside management and
code updates to address parking requirements in light of the increase in rideshare and other alternative forms of
transportation. Because the efforts dovetailed with Corona del Mar Study at a Council Study Session, the contract
with the consultant was modified to pivot study to support the Corona del Mar Planning effort. As previously
discussed under Program 8.2, the City launched a comprehensive land use and mobility study (Study) to consider
ways to enhance and improve the Corona del Mar (CdM) commercial corridor including parking solutions that
balance the needs of all users.
In 2023, the City Council adopted an ordinance to adjust commercial parking requirements. The City submitted the
accompanying Local Coastal Program Amendment in the fourth quarter of 2023 to the California Coastal
Commission. The Local Coastal Program Amendment was approved by the California Coastal Commission in June
2025 and City Council in July 2025. The amendments streamlined certain waivers of commercial parking
requirements by allowing the Community Development Director to approve shared parking agreements and minor
waivers of parking when curb space is available or shared mobility options are provided. The amendments also
modified parking requirements for certain uses such as restaurants and fast casual restaurants.
16.11 Maintain Trails Ongoing
The City continues to maintain existing bike paths and trails that are within the City’s jurisdiction. The City continues
to review and expand bicycle facilities during roadway reconstruction projects. The City continues on-street bike
lane maintenance and improvements via roadway reconstruction projects.
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16.12 Marine
Transportation
Complete
The City’s Harbor Commission studied the feasibility of a water taxi in the harbor. A fixed route and an on-demand
system were examined. Constraints include providing appropriate accessible locations to pick-up and drop-off
passengers in a safe manner. Due to the size of the harbor, number of vessels, and cost, the fixed route model was
deemed infeasible. The on-demand system was deemed infeasible due to low demand for the service. Either way, a
significant public subsidy was identified and there was no funding source. As a result, further study of a water
transportation service was abandoned.
17.1 Maintain and
Implement Urban
Water Management
Plans and Encourage
Conservation
Ongoing
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows a shift from “abnormally dry” to “no drought”.
A new Water Use Objective was signed into law late 2024 requiring water use reporting for the previous fiscal year
for all water suppliers beginning January 2025. This report defines a water use objective. This calculation is based
upon the water need in its service area for efficient indoor residential water use, outdoor residential water use,
commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) irrigation with dedicated meters. The calculation will include reasonable
amounts of system water loss, along with consideration of other unique local uses (i.e., variances) and “bonus
incentive,” or credit, for potable water reuse, using the standards adopted by the Board.
Efficient water use is the most cost-effective way to achieve long-term conservation goals, as well provide the water
supply reliability needed to adapt to the longer and more intense droughts climate change is causing in California.
Although it does not impose individual mandates for homeowners or businesses, the mandates will focus on urban
water suppliers – not customers. Specifically, the bills call for creation of new urban efficiency standards for indoor
use, outdoor use, and water lost to leaks, as well as any appropriate variances for unique local conditions.
For more information, visit:
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/publications_forms/publications/factsheets/docs/water_efficiency_bill_factsheet.pdf
One component to achieving water use standards and minimizing water loss, is the large investment the City made
in installing automated metering Infrastructure [AMI metering]. Along with deploying AMI, the City and its customers
are able to track their respective water usage in hourly increments. Armed with this information, leaks are detected
quickly, and customers are informed of how much water they use. As a complement to the AMI installations, the City
has partnered with Aquatrax, a web and mobile application portal allowing each customer to visualize their
respective water consumption and historical trends.
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18.1 Maintain and
Implement Sewer
Master Plan
Ongoing
The Public Works Department continues to implement the adopted Sewer Master Plan with projects throughout the
City.
A vigorous sanitary system overflow (SSO) prevention plan, which includes good investments in our Wastewater
Master Plan, use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) program to monitor the system, and an aggressive lift-station
cleaning program continues.
19.1 Maintain Storm
Drainage Facilities
Ongoing
The City provides an annual budget allocation for ongoing maintenance of the City’s storm drain system.
Additionally, the City identifies additional system enhancements in the City’s Capital Improvement program.
Storm drain facility improvements are estimated at $18M. Projects include:
1. Newport Bay Trash Interceptor –Completed in March 2025.
2. Big Canyon Project Phase 3A– Under construction, anticipated completion 2026.
3. Balboa Island Storm Drain Improvements – In September 2024, the City Council adopted the Mitigated
Negative Declaration and the design and permitting is underway.
4. Street sweeping program consisted of 35,107 curb miles swept, removing 5,663 tons (dry) of debris.
5. The City’s 86 tidal valves are operated/maintained on a regular basis.
6. Six miles of channel and 3,240 catch basins were cleaned, yielding 650 tons of debris. A total of 435 Inlet
Guards were re-installed after the winter season to assist in keeping trash/debris from entering the storm
drain system/bay/ocean.
20.1 Design, Fund, and
Construct
Streetscape
Improvements
Ongoing
This is an ongoing effort that is budgeted through the City’s Capital Improvement program.
MacArthur Boulevard Pavement Rehabilitation and Median Improvements on MacArthur Boulevard from Jamboree
Road to Campus Drive. Design began in 2024, and construction scheduled to start in June 2026 with anticipated
completion in July 2027:
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• City is designing the new medians with landscaping on MacArthur Boulevard from Jamboree Road to
Campus Drive, to improve the appearance of the street as it serves as an entrance to the City.
• The median construction will include planting trees and shrubs. The new trees will consist of Forest Pansy,
African Tulip, and Date Palms. The new understory plants will consist of California-friendly drought-tolerant
plants such as Natal Plum, colorful Red Yucca accents, Blue Glow agave, Coast Rosemary, and Vitex
Purpurea.
• These efforts will create an inviting corridor for visitors entering the City and create a sense of arrival into
Newport Beach.
20.2 Design, Fund, and
Construct Waterfront
Promenade
On Hold
A plan was created in 2005 for a walkway from Mariners’ Mile to Lido Village along Newport Harbor; however, the
plan is on hold due to lack of funding. The City continues to require private property owners to provide vertical and
lateral access to the water as properties are developed and there is a nexus.
20.3 Fund and Construct
Public View Sites
Ongoing
Public Works is working with the ad hoc committee for the development of a passive park at Lower Castaways.
Lower Castaways offers views of the Back Bay. Public Works began working on a design anticipated to be
presented to the ad hoc in early 2026.
21.1 Review and Update
Harbor and
Tidelands
Improvement Plans
Ongoing
The Tidelands Capital Plan (TCP) was originally implemented in 2012. The TCP is now called the Harbor and
Beaches Master Plan. It is a living document managed by the Public Works Department, and it is that is annually
reviewed and approved by the Harbor Commission and Finance Committee. It is updated and refined by staff
throughout each year, including 2025.
21.2 Develop Harbor Area
Management Plan
(HAMP)
Complete
In November 2010, the City Council approved the HAMP.
21.3 Events Management
and Programs
Ongoing
Chamber of Commerce, Harbor Resources, and Orange County Harbor Patrol continuously work together to plan
and implement special events that take place in the Harbor such as the annual Christmas Boat Parade. City staff
usually teams up with the Orange County Water District to provide education on how to protect our coast and
waterways from trash at the Children’s Water Education Festival which was held April 23-24, 2025.
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21.4 Harbor Operations
and Management
Ongoing
A joint City/County study that evaluates the costs and efficiency of current services provided by the City and County
in Newport Harbor and opportunities to realign these to reduce costs was considered in 2021 and had support from
the LAFCO organization. The study did not move forward based on guidance from County leadership who felt the
study was not needed at this time. A new study may be prioritized in the future based on needs and funding.
22.1 Maintain and
Enhance Police and
Fire Facilities
Ongoing
Newport Beach Police and Fire Departments annually maintain and periodically update facilities and personnel to
provide a high-level of service. This process is implemented through the City’s budget process. Additionally,
response times are monitored, and changes are proposed through the budget process.
In September of 2024, the City Council approved a Coastal Development Permit for the demolition of an existing
City fire station and library at 100 East Balboa Boulevard, and construction of a new 5,400 two-story City fire station
(Fire Station No.1) and an attached 3,700 one story library (Balboa Branch Library). However, the project was
appealed to the California Coastal Commission in October of 2024. Updates including are as follows:
• Community Development Department Director approved a staff approval for landscape changes in July 2025
• September 18, 2025, the Planning Commission upheld the director's determination
• October 28, 2025, the City Council upheld Planning Commission approval
• The California Coastal Commission had their hearing on December 10, 2025 where they found no
substantial issue on the original CDP approved by the City Council in September 24, 2024
23.1 Maintain and Update
Parks and
Recreation Facility
Plans
Ongoing
The Recreation and Senior Services Department reviews the status of the park system on an ongoing basis and
improvements are recommended in the City’s annual Capital Improvement Plan. Capital improvement plans
approved in 2025 include:
1. Replace synthetic turf and upgrade athletic field lights to LEDs at Bonita Creek Park
2. Install LED lighting at Newport Ridge Park Pickleball courts
3. Renovate Newport Island Park playground
4. Replace park assets identified in the Parks Maintenance Master Plan including fencing and shade elements.
23.2 Maintain and
Improve Parks and
Recreation Facilities
Ongoing
In 2025, the City accomplished the following:
1. Ongoing maintenance of existing facilities;
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2. Completed construction of fully accessible playground at San Miguel Park
3. Completed playground renovation at Newport Elementary School (city property)
4. Design for Spyglass Hill Park and Bonita Canyon Sports Park playgrounds (scheduled to be completed in
2026)
5. Replaced carpet at OASIS Community Center and Mariners Vincent Jorgenson Room
6. OASIS Community Center LED retrofit Phase 2 (design in progress)
7. Construction of Witte Lecture Hall (scheduled to be completed in 2026)
8. Resurfaced tennis courts at San Joaquin Hills Park and basketball courts at San Miguel Park
9. Install 15 AEDs at 13 youth sports athletic fields to comply with AB1467 by Jan 1, 2027
15th Street Restrooms: In 2025, the existing public restrooms at the end of 15th Street have been identified as in
need of replacement. A consultant was retained to provide public outreach, construction documents, and permit
assistance for the replacement facility. The next steps will be an approval from State Parks and California Coastal
Commission and building permits.
23.3 Assess Recreation
Needs
Ongoing
The Recreation and Senior Services Department continuously analyzes enrollment numbers in existing recreation
programs and periodically initiates community surveys to assess the current needs of the community.
23.4 Maintain Recreation
Programs for
Newport Beach’s
Residents
Ongoing
The Recreation and Senior Services Department provides recreation programs citywide. The Newport Navigator is a
recreation guide for all recreation programs and services provided by the City. The Newport Navigator is produced
quarterly in addition to a digital summer issue. Additionally, OASIS Newsletter is published monthly to promote
Senior programs and services. The Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission (PB&R) acts in an advisory
capacity to City Council for all matters pertaining to parks, beaches, recreation, parkways, and street trees. The
following are Commission highlights from 2025:
• Community Service Awards: Judy Aprile, Fostering interest in Nature (FiiN) Partners: Newport Bay Conservancy
and Newport Dunes;
• Bench Donation– M Street Park;
• City Park Signage Ad Hoc Subcommittee Preliminary Recommendations and Pilot Program Update;
• The Great Rescue of 1925 Plaque;
• Ocean Boulevard Vision Plan Conceptual Design;
• 15th Street Restroom Renovation and Boardwalk Improvements Concepts;
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• Presentation on Parks and Trees Operations;
• Big Canyon Eagle Scout Project;
• Light request for Newport Mesa Soccer Club (Bonita Canyon Sports Park Field #5); Pateadores (Bonita Creek
Park Soccer/Football Field); Slammers Futbol Club (Arroyo Park);
• General Plan Update: Harbor, Bay and Beaches Element, Natural Resources Element, and Recreation Element;
• Presentation on Urban Forest Inventory Update for Corona del Mar and Citywide Canopy Cover Analysis;
• Four Tree Reforestations Requested;
• Ad-Hoc Committee appointments; and
• Elections– Chair, Anne Yelsey & Vice Chair, Amy Waunch
23.5 Requirements for
Residential
Developers
Ongoing
Park fees are assessed for all new residential subdivisions pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act and the City’s
Subdivision Code. Additionally, in the Airport Area all residential projects including for-rent products are required by
General Plan Policy to dedicate a half-acre of parkland or pay in-lieu fees. Last adjusted in 2007, Resolution No.
2020-95 approved by City Council on November 10, 2020, adjusts the park fees pursuant to an appraisal. The
adjusted rate went into effect January 9, 2021, and was phased-in over two years.
In October of 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution 2024-75 which adjusted the park fees pursuant to an
updated appraisal. The adjusted rate was phased in over one year.
In November 2024 the City Council approved ordinances, a Nexus Study, Fee Schedule, and established a
Development Impact Fee (DIF) Program (see Imp. Program 30.2) that will be applied to new development projects
meeting certain criteria. The DIF program includes fees for Police, Fire, Recreation, Water, and Sewer facilities. The
fees became effective in January 2025 and are adjusted annually for inflation.
24.1 Adopt and Implement
Strategic Plan for
Fiscal and Economic
Sustainability
Ongoing
In June 2009, the City Council updated its Strategic Plan for Fiscal and Economic Stability through the Economic
Development Committee (EDC). The Strategic Plan is designed to serve as a work program for the City Council,
City staff, and the EDC to promote and sustain fiscal and economic vitality in Newport Beach. It is intended, in part,
as a companion document for the General Plan (adopted in 2006), to assist the City in implementing portions of the
General Plan that affect economic development in the City. The Strategic Plan includes goals and objectives to
enhance the business climate in the community and focuses on a shorter time frame (three to five years) than does
the General Plan, since economic conditions and priorities can change more rapidly than do planning goals related
to community character and land use patterns. The Strategic Plan calls for regular reviews of progress and re-
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assessments of priorities. The Strategic Plan continues to be reviewed and implemented each year.
25.1 Implement Housing
Element Programs
Ongoing
The City implements Housing Element Programs through review of proposed residential projects. Programs are
reviewed in the Housing Element Progress Report, provided as a part of the Annual General Plan Progress Report
in Appendix B.
26.1 Enforce Codes and
Ordinances
Ongoing
The City enforces all Municipal Code Sections including but not limited to health and safety and zoning to implement
the General Plan primarily on a complaint-driven basis.
27.1 Seismic Compliance Ongoing
The City continuously implements the Municipal Code and the California Building Code through the Building
Division, which requires seismic retrofitting and strengthening to minimize damage in the event of a seismic geologic
hazard.
28.1 Maintain Hazards
Data Base
Ongoing
The Police Department maintains a crime statistics database to keep track of the type and occurrence of criminal
activities. The Fire Department relies on the Disaster Preparedness Division under the City’s Emergency
Management Program (see Program 28.2 and 29.1) for the planning of facilities, personnel assignments, and
emergency response programs as related to natural hazards. Additionally, the City maintains hazard information in
its Geographic Information System (GIS).
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28.2 Maintain Emergency
Preparedness,
Response, and
Recovery Programs
Ongoing
On March 12, 2025, the City participated in the Statewide Tsunami Communications Drill. Representatives from
Fire, Police, Lifeguards and the Harbor Department gathered at the City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and
discussed protocols and communication resources to be utilized during a tsunami event.
On July 4, 2025, the Police Department Operations Center (DOC) was activated to support the field operations and
interdepartmental coordination. Several briefings were held to ensure all departments were sharing intelligence and
coordinating.
On October 9, 2025, Orange County’s Regional Emergency Notification System, AlertOC, was tested with the help
of 25 jurisdictions (24 cities and the County unincorporated areas) including Newport Beach, in conjunction with
National Preparedness Month. The primary objective of the regional exercise was to test Alert OC’s capability,
capacity, and effectiveness to deliver emergency notifications to the public during a major disaster, and to
encourage residents to register their cell phone numbers. Approximately 33,000 (mostly landline) phone numbers
were called during the test. The City’s public hotline received over 400 calls from residents. The hotline was staffed
with representatives from the Police Department.
The City’s Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) is comprised of representatives from each department and
meets quarterly. The EPC works collaboratively to plan, train, and address all city emergency management threats.
29.1 Educate the
Community
Ongoing
The Police Department continued the use of the Newport Notified alert system for disseminating general and
emergency information directly to the community. It is used to notify residents and subscribers about issues
impacting safety, such as traffic advisories, crime alerts, and community updates. It is also used for emergency
notifications related to power outages, evacuations, tsunamis, and other hazards where public safety is at risk.
The City continuously educates the community through its various City Departments on services, programs, and key
issues including land use zoning and development processes; development fees; code compliance; property and
building maintenance and improvement techniques; financial assistance and affordable housing programs, public
transportation; ride-sharing, energy conservation methods, waste reduction and recycling programs; hazards and
emergency/disaster preparedness, evacuation, and response protocols and procedures; natural resources and their
value; educational and cultural events and venues; parks and recreation, health and safety, and seniors and youth
programs; and access to government services and elected officials. Significant events include:
• Emergency Siren System Test (1/3/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (2/7/25)
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• Emergency Siren System Test (3/7/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (4/4/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (5/2/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (6/6/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (7/4/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (8/1/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (9/5/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (10/3/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (11/7/25)
• Emergency Siren System Test (12/5/25)
The Disaster Preparedness Division implemented several community outreach programs as they relate to
emergency and disaster preparedness including AlertOC, which is a mass notification calling system for staff,
residents, and businesses, The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program to certify residents as
Disaster Service Workers, School Emergency Response Team (SERT) training sessions in public schools and
private schools, and Business Emergency Response Team training sessions.
29.2 Support of the Arts,
Culture, and Historic
Resources
Ongoing
The following list highlights relevant updates from 2025:
Concerts on the Green. Three concerts were held during Summer 2025 with thousands of residents and guests in
attendance during the series. Featured bands were Cassie B and Tijuana Dogs and after a seven-year hiatus, the
City welcomed back the Pacific Symphony. Concerts took place in Civic Center Park.
Cultural Arts Grants. In 2025, arts organizations were awarded a total of $30,000 of grant funding to provide arts
programs to the local community.
Exhibits in the Central Library. The City Arts Commission maintains exhibit space at the Central Library. The
Commission’s Art in Public Places Ad Hoc Subcommittee meets periodically to review artist's submissions for the
exhibition in the Central Library Lobby Gallery. Six artists’ works of art were displayed in the gallery space during
2025.
Halloween Spooktacular. The City Arts Commission hosted a pumpkin painting booth at the 8th Annual Halloween
Spooktacular presented by the Recreation and Senior Services Department. Over 400 pumpkins were decorated at
the event.
Holiday Ornament. The City Arts Commission gave out commemorative holiday ornaments to the Marina Park
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Community Center Family Fun Night attendees in December.
Marina Park Concert. In October, residents and guests attended the annual Concert at Marina Park which featured
805 Social Club performing pop music numbers spanning the decades.
Newport Beach Art Exhibition. The 58th Annual Newport Beach Art Exhibition took place in June 2025. The event
featured 244 pieces of artwork by 139 artists. Attendees of the one-day art show enjoyed visiting with local artists
and hearing live music with refreshments available in the Pavilion on the Civic Center Green. Children’s art
activities were also offered to allow young artists an opportunity to express their own artistic creativity.
Newport Beach Arts Foundation. The Newport Beach Arts Foundation, a private non-profit 501 (c) (3)
organization, is dedicated to supporting the purposes and objectives of the arts programs of the City of Newport
Beach. Their annual Art in the Park fine arts and artisans fair took place in September 2025.
Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park. With the 2024 change to a three-year exhibition period, Phases VIII
and IX of the Sculpture Exhibition remained on display in Civic Center Park in 2025.
Student Art Exhibition. The Newport Beach Student Art Exhibition opened to pre-K through 12th grade students
Fall 2025. A total of 103 young artists participated in the program. Submitted artwork was displayed at the Central
Library early 2026 and an awards ceremony recognizing exhibition winners was held during the City Arts
Commission’s February 2026 regular meeting.
In addition, the Witte Lecture Hall, which will enhance the City’s arts and culture programming, remains under
construction as of 2025 and will include:
• Auditorium with approximately 275 seats at the Central Library site.
• Construction underway in 2025, anticipated completion is mid-year 2026.
29.3 Support Community
Environmental and
Recreation Initiatives
Ongoing
The City supports any private groups’ efforts to acquire property to improve and enhance public access and
recreational opportunities. The City has supported the Coastal Corridor Alliance’s efforts to acquire the Banning
Ranch property (now the Randall Preserve) to preserve it as open space while advocating for development of
approximately 10% of the site for housing including affordable housing to assist the City’s efforts to meet the 6th
Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation.
The Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center ran by the Newport Bay Conservancy and Orange County Parks is a
10,000 square foot educational facility built into the side of one of the bluffs on the north side of the Bay. It is open
daily with fee admission, provides exhibits and interactive displays on the nature and history of the Bay. Visitors
learn about life in and around an estuary and why Upper Newport Bay is important. The knowledge and
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understanding gained gives people an even greater appreciation of the Bay when they take guided walking and
water tours or explore the Bay on their own. The Interpretive Center provides community events throughout the year
such tours and education events, and environmental clean-up events (The Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center).
In 2024, the City began the process to explore establishing a community pool facility possibly at the Lower
Castaways Park site. The following is a 2025 update:
• The ad hoc decided to identify alternate locations for the aquatic facility, and to RFP a developer to ground
lease and build a passive park with some ancillary retail/food uses at Lower Castaways.
• One proposal was received from the RFP. The ad hoc reviewed that proposal as well as a staff alternative to
develop the park and lease the retail/restaurant pads.
• Public Works is working a design for the City to perform the project. The designs will go back to the ad hoc in
the beginning of 2026 and then to the full City Council before the project proceeds.
30.1 Maintain Annual
Budgets for City
Services and
Improvements
Ongoing
Annual budgets are maintained and reviewed by the City Council annually. A Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is
included in the annual budget approved by City Council each year. In June 2025, the City Council approved the
budget and CIP for the Fiscal Year 2025-26. In June 2025, the City Council approved the budget for the Fiscal Year
2025-26.
30.2 Administer Impact
and User Fees
(Development Impact
Fees, Park
Dedication and In-
Lieu Fees, and
Tideland Revenue
Fees)
Ongoing
1. Development impact fees including fair share traffic fees are assessed for each development project. The
completion of updating the Fair Share Traffic Fee has been put on hold (see Program 7.2).
2. In November 2024 and effective 2025, the City Council approved a Nexus Study, Fee Schedule, and established
a Development Impact Fee (DIF) Program. The fee schedule and DIF program was approved with no opposition
from the development community. More information on this program and fees can be found in the Staff Report.
The program will apply to new residential development planned in the 6th Cycle Housing Element and new
nonresidential development. For nonresidential, language is included that incentivizes neighborhood serving
uses and tax generating uses.
3. Park fees are assessed for all new residential subdivisions pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act and the City’s
Subdivision Code. Additionally, in the Airport Area all residential projects including for-rent products are required
by General Plan Policy to dedicate a half-acre of parkland or pay in-lieu fees. Last adjusted in 2007, Resolution
No. 2020-95 approved by City Council on November 10, 2020, adjusts the park fees pursuant to an appraisal.
The adjusted rate went into effect January 9, 2021, and was phased-in over two years. In October of 2024, the
City Council adopted Resolution 2024-75 which adjusted the park fees pursuant to an updated appraisal. The
adjusted rate was phased in over one year.
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4. Annually in January, the fees for onshore and offshore moorings escalate based on the Consumer Price Index.
The new fees were implemented with the billing cycle beginning January 1, 2025.
5. Annually, the services of the Harbor Department and associated fees are evaluated. In 2025, the rate structure
for mooring permits was proposed by the City Council and is still under review by the State Lands Commission.
6. In 2025 the City initiated a fee study for planning application fees. The results of the fee study are expected to
be presented in 2026 for consideration.
31.1 Consider the
Establishment of
Community Facilities
and Special
Assessment
Districts
Ongoing
City staff has been evaluating the potential need to establish a Community Facilities District for the Airport Area to
potentially support additional public safety equipment and personnel. As an alternative to establishing financing
districts, the City Council initiated a study of Development Impact fees as a way to fund future facility needs. The
study was started in 2021 and completed in November 2024, and fees became effective in January 2025.
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APPENDIX B.
Government Code Section 65400 requires that each city, including charter cities, prepare an annual progress report (APR)
on the status of the Housing Element of its General Plan. The State Department of Housing and Community Development
provides mandatory forms (Excel spreadsheets) and definitions to meet State law reporting requirements. The forms include
six large tables (Tables A through F). The complete Table D is provided below but the forms are too large to copy for this
report and are available online at the following link: www.newportbeachca.gov/APR.
Table D - 2022 Housing Element Implementation Status Pursuant to Government
Code Section 65583
Policy Action Policy Status
1A:
Airport Environs
Area
The City will establish a housing
opportunity overlay district, or similar
rezoning strategy, in the Airport Environs
area for 172 acres of land to provide for
the accommodation of at least 2,577
housing units in the Very Low, Low,
Moderate and Above Moderate-income
categories.
Complete, pending Local Coastal Program Amendment
(LCPA) Approval
Immediately after the Housing Element’s adoption in September
2022, the City began efforts to implement the housing strategy. This
predominantly included analyzing the General Plan Land Use
Element for necessary amendments needed for consistency,
drafting an overlay zoning text for the various focus areas, and
creating objective design standards. The goal was to rezone the
housing opportunity sites appropriately for housing development.
The City worked with the General Plan Update Steering Committee
and the General Plan Advisory Committee on this effort, held study
sessions with the Planning Commission and City Council, and
made draft documents available for public review and input to
ensure a transparent process that is representative of the
community’s values.
In July 2024, the City Council adopted an amendment to the Land
Use Element to revise the necessary goals and policies to support
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Policy Action Policy Status
housing production in the focus areas identified by the Housing
Element. The Land Use Element’s revised policies and goals can
be found in Exhibit A of Resolution 2024-51.
On September 24, 2024, the City Council adopted Zoning Code
Amendments to implement the Housing Element by providing the
necessary zoning. These amendments included adding a Housing
Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zoning District (Overlay) to the NBMC ,
Section 20.28.050, which provides procedures and development
standards for future housing projects. The Overlay provides
allowed uses, maximum dwelling unit limits for each subarea, and
appropriate development standards such as height, parking,
setbacks, and open space requirements. The Overlay also
provides a streamlined review process for projects that include a
minimum of 20 percent of units reserved for very-low- and low-
income residents, which serves to incentive the provision of
affordable housing. The Zoning Code Amendment also added
Section 20.48.185 (Multi-Unit Objective Design Standards to
provide a baseline standard for all new multi-unit development (See
the Status listed for Policy Action 3A).
These amendments included adding Housing Overlays into the
Zoning Code (Section 20.28.050) The following map is of the
Airport Environs Area of the Overlay Areas: HO-1 Airport Area
Environs Area
The City Council also authorized the submittal of a Local Coastal
Program Amendment to the California Coastal Commission (CCC)
to amend the City’s Coastal Land Use Plan and Title 21 (Local
Coast Program Implementation Plan) to apply the new Overlay to
applicable properties in the coastal zone. The amendment was
deemed complete in January 2025 and remains under review by
the CCC.
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Policy Action Policy Status
Additionally, in furtherance of Housing Element Policy Actions 1A
(Airport Environs Sub Area), 4E (Airport Area Policy Exceptions for
Affordable Housing), and 4J (Airport Environs Sub Area
Environmental Constraints) the City initiated the preparation of a
Specific Plan for the Airport Area in 2025. In May 2025, the City
released a request for proposals for consulting services to prepare
the specific plan. After completing the evaluation, the City selected
Kimley Horn and Associates as the consultant most qualified to
perform the services and scheduled the contract for approval by the
City Council in early 2026. The City anticipates completion of the
specific plan by early 2028.
1B:
West Newport
Mesa
The City will establish a housing
opportunity overlay, or similar rezoning
strategy, in the West Newport Mesa area
for 47 acres of land to provide for the
accommodation of at least 1,107 housing
units in the Very Low, Low, Moderate and
Above Moderate-income categories.
Complete
Please refer to the status listed for Policy Action 1A. These
amendments included adding Housing Overlays into the Zoning
Code (Section 20.28.050) The following map is of the West
Newport Mesa of the Overlay Areas: HO-2 West Newport Mesa
Area
Two properties identified in the HO-2 Subarea are within the
Coastal Zone and are in the City’s Deferred Certification Area or
“DCA.” As such, those are likely to be removed from the Coastal
Commission’s consideration of the City’s LCPA. Any housing
projects on those properties must pursue separate authorization
from the Coastal Commission.
1C:
Newport Center
The City will establish a housing
opportunity overlay, or similar rezoning
strategy, in the Newport Center area for
163 acres of land to provide for the
accommodation of at least 2,439 housing
units in the Very Low, Low, Moderate and
Above Moderate-income categories.
Complete, Pending LCPA Approval
Please refer to the Status listed for Policy Action 1A. These
amendments included adding Housing Overlays into the Zoning
Code (Section 20.28.050) The following map is of the Newport
Center of the Overlay Areas: HO-4 Newport Center Area
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Policy Action Policy Status
1D:
Dover/Westcliff
The City will establish an overlay, or
similar rezoning strategy, in the Dover /
Westcliff area for 20 acres of land to
provide for the accommodation of at least
521 housing units in the Very Low, Low,
Moderate and Above Moderate-income
categories.
Complete, Pending LCPA Approval
Please refer to the Status listed for Policy Action 1A. These
amendments included adding Housing Overlays into the Zoning
Code (Section 20.28.050) The following map is of the Dover-
Westcliff area of the Overlay Areas: HO-3 Dover-Westcliff Area
1E:
Banning Ranch
The City will continue to pursue
residential opportunities on a portion of
the Banning Ranch site, consistent with
existing General Plan policies to provide
opportunities for up to 1,475 residential
units at an average density of 50 dwelling
units per acre.
On Hold
In late 2022, the City began working with a consultant and the
community to update the Land Use Element to support the adoption
of an overlay zoning with objective design standards for the housing
opportunity sites in accordance with the Implementation Actions of
Subsection B in Section 4 (Housing Plan) of the Housing Element.
In 2023, the majority of Banning Ranch was acquired by a private
party for conservation purposes. While it remains a housing
opportunity site due to pre-existing development intensity
authorized by the current General Plan, it is not considered a site
for the purpose of satisfying the City’s RHNA allocation.
1F:
Coyote Canyon
The City will rezone at least 34 acres of
land on the Coyote Canyon site, as
shown in Appendix B, to accommodate
up to 1,530 housing units at an average
density of 60 dwelling units per acre.
Complete
Please refer to the Status listed for Policy Action 1A. These
amendments included adding Housing Overlays into the Zoning
Code (Section 20.28.050) The following map is of the Coyote
Canyon area of the Overlay Areas: HO-5 Coyote Canyon Area
1G:
5th Cycle Housing
Element Sites
To comply with State law, the City will
amend Title 20 of the Newport Beach
Municipal Code (NBMC) to permit
residential uses by-right for housing
development projects in which at least
20% of the units are affordable to lower-
income households.
Complete, Pending LCPA Approval
Please refer to the Status listed for Policy Action 1A. These
amendments included adding Housing Overlays into the Zoning
Code (Section 20.28.050) The following map is of the Existing 5th
Cycle Sites of the Overlay Areas: HO-6 Existing_5th_Cycle_Sites
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Policy Action Policy Status
1H:
Accessory
Dwelling Unit
Construction
The City will aggressively support and
accommodate the construction of at least
240 ADUs by a variety of methods.
Ongoing
In 2025, the City pursued several efforts related to revising its
regulations pertaining to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and
incentivizing their development. The City adopted revisions to its
ADU Ordinance to comply with SB 477, AB 2533, and SB 1211
which went into effect in 2024 and at the beginning of 2025. Among
other things, these bills amended Government Code Section 66310
through 66342 to impose new limits on the City to regulate ADUs
and JADUs. A summary of those updates and the bills that were
addressed through the code amendment can be found below:
o SB 477 made changes to the numbering of the sections of
Government Code for State ADU and JADU Laws.
o AB 2533 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code,
§ 66332) regarding unpermitted ADUs, which the City currently
implements through its existing SAFE ADU Program. The City’s
SAFE ADU program is an initiative designed to help
homeowners legalize existing unpermitted ADUs constructed
before January 1, 2020. The program helps homeowners
address potential code enforcement issues, liability concerns,
and safety risks associated with unpermitted units. This bill went
into effect on January 1, 2025, and the City’s SAFE ADU
program has already been updated to comply with the
provisions.
o SB 1211 made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code,
§§ 66313, 66314, 66323) with regard to replacement parking
and special streamlined units referred to as “66323 Units”
(described below) on lots with existing or proposed multifamily
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Policy Action Policy Status
dwellings. SB 1211 went into effect on January 1, 2025. This
bill:
▪ Defines “livable space” as a space in a dwelling intended for
human habitation, as the term appears in Government Code
sections 66313, subdivision (e), and 66323, subdivision
(a)(3)(A).
▪ Specifies that uncovered, off-street parking spaces
demolished in conjunction with the construction of an ADU
do not need to be replaced.
▪ Authorizes up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an
existing multifamily dwelling (previously limited to two),
provided that the number of ADUs does not exceed the
number of existing units on the lot.
▪ Prohibits a local agency from imposing any objective
development standards on 66323 Units that are not
authorized by the provisions of Government Code section
66323, subdivision (a).
o SB 1211 also established “66323 Units” under Government
Code Section 66323 and clarifies four categories of ADUs (and
JADUs) that must be approved ministerially and are not subject
to standards set forth in Government Code Sections 66314
through 66322 or the NBMC (i.e. “66323 Units”). These 66323
Units do not have to comply with the City’s objective
development and design standards, such as height, setbacks,
and size limits. These ADUs must still comply with building code
and health and safety requirements.
Subsequent to the City Council adopting a revised ADU ordinance
to comply with the bills outlined above, the City Council authorized
city staff to submit a Local Coastal Program Amendment to its
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Policy Action Policy Status
implementation plan to ensure that the revisions made to the city
zoning code (Title 20) are also reflected in the coastal zone through
the implementation plan (Title 21) and that it conforms with State
Law Updates. City staff submitted a Local Coastal Program
Amendment at the end of 2025 to the California Coastal
Commission. The application is currently under review and City
staff anticipates that the amendment will be approved by the
California Coastal Commission before the end of 2026.
In addition to the items mentioned above, city staff are preparing
new code updates to comply with State Law that was signed into
Law in 2025 and went into effect in 2026 (SB477, AB435, AB2533,
and SB1211). City staff anticipate processing these code
amendments in 2026 and sharing the updates with the CCC to
ensure that the ADU regulations in the coastal zone are consistent
with State Law.
Website Enhancements: In Spring of 2023, the Community
Development Department launched a comprehensive update to the
Newport Beach ADU webpage. The webpage is intended to
supplement the City’s outreach and foster interest in constructing
ADUs. The website continues to include a downloadable
guidebook, interactive activities and exercises to help homeowners
plan their ADU, an online calculator to estimate costs, and standard
plans. The website also includes resources to help the homeowner
understand the different types of ADUs by providing links to
development standards and processes. External resources are
available for potential finance and grant opportunities for
homeowners. Users can look up their property attributes including
zoning and approximate lot size. An interactive mapping application
is also included for residents to see the ADUs that are being
constructed in their neighborhoods. The website is updated on a
regular basis. For example in 2025, updates were made regarding
the revisions to the ADU code to ensure that the website provides
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Policy Action Policy Status
members of the public with the most accurate information
consistent with state law. City staff is currently working on updates
to the ADU standard plans to reflect the recent building code cycle
update. Those plans are anticipated to be available on the website
in spring of 2026. The Newport Beach ADU website can be found
at https://www.newportbeachca.gov/adu.
1I:
Accessory
Dwelling Units
Monitoring
Program
The City will annually monitor its progress
in permitting an average of 30 ADUs
annually, for a total of 240 ADUs during
the planning period, in conjunction with
Annual Housing Element Progress
Report.
Ongoing
In 2025, 61 ADUs were submitted for review. There were 38 ADUs
that received building permits, including two Safe ADUs; and nine
that received final inspections including 1 Safe ADU. The ADUs that
received permits in 2025 will be counted towards the 6th Cycle
RHNA.
1J:
Accessory
Dwelling Units
Amnesty Program
The City will establish a program to allow
owners with existing unpermitted ADUs to
obtain permits to legalize the ADUs
during the 2021-2029 planning period.
Complete
In 2024, the City rolled out its Safe ADU program consisting of
informational materials (i.e. webpage and public handout) advising
property owners of the benefits of legalizing unpermitted units and
the new opportunities (i.e., SB 897) and incentives (i.e., current fee
waiver) available to them. The City’s ADU webpage now includes
a dedicated page to this effort where the attached flyer can also be
obtained: https://www.newportbeachadu.org/safeadu. The flyer
was also distributed in City water bills to notify property owners of
the program.
Additionally, the City was ready for changes to the Safe ADU
program pursuant to AB2533 that went into effect on January 1,
2025. The City’s Safe ADU program has already been updated to
comply with the provisions. Two Safe ADU permits were issued and
one finaled in 2025.
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Policy Action Policy Status
1K:
Inclusionary
Housing Policy
The City will investigate inclusionary
housing policy options as an additional
means to provide a variety of housing
types and opportunities for very low, low-
and moderate-income households in
Newport Beach.
In Progress
In 2022, the City retained Keyser Marston Associates, Inc. (KMA)
to prepare a financial evaluation for prospective inclusionary
housing program options in the City. The City Council has held
study sessions and continues to explore the appropriate policy
choice that will encourage and not hinder affordable housing
development. As a related action in 2023, the City Council revised
the inclusionary requirement for the Residential Overlay in the
Airport Area, reducing it from 30% to 15%. KMA’s report showed
that the 30% requirement could hinder housing production
altogether. The City continued to study inclusionary housing in
2025 with technical support from KMA, including a study of
inclusionary housing for a for-sale product in the Airport Area.
2A:
Neighborhood
Preservation
The City will continue to improve housing
quality and prevent deterioration of
existing neighborhoods by strictly
enforcing applicable Building Code, Fire
Code, and Zoning Code regulations and
abating Code violations and nuisances.
Ongoing
Building Inspectors and Code Enforcement Officers continually
enforce code regulations, abatement violations, and nuisances. A
quarterly report on code enforcement activities is available and kept
on file at the City. The City Council awarded funding for the Senior
Home Assistance Repair Program. (See Program 6B.)
2B:
Residential
Building Record
Program
The City will maintain and continue to
implement the Residential Building
Records (RBR) program to reduce and
prevent violations of building and zoning
ordinances
Ongoing
During the fourth quarter of 2023, the City Council opted to
streamline real estate transactions through removal of the
Residential Building Record (RBR) Program requirement.
However, the Program remains available on a voluntary basis. This
report allows the City to verify that its residential buildings meet
zoning, building code, and life safety requirements as set forth by
the City's Municipal Code and fulfill the State's requirement that all
homes have both smoke detectors and seismic strapping of water
heaters (California Health and Safety Code, Section 19211). In
2025, there were 111 RBRs processed.
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Policy Action Policy Status
2C:
Preservation of At-
Risk Units
The City will proactively seek to preserve
as many affordable units as possible by
reaching out to owners that want to opt
out of Section 8 contracts and work with
them to incentivize keeping the units as
affordable.
Ongoing
The City registered as a Qualified Preservation Entity with HCD as
of 2012. When notification is received, City staff will evaluate the
potential use of monies to preserve the affordable units. In
December 2025, the City re-registered as a Qualified Preservation
Entity with HCD.
Pamphlets informing prospective tenants and landlords about the
Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) Section 8 program have
been made available in the public lobby and information is posted
on the City website.
3A:
Objective Design
Standards
The City of Newport Beach will review
existing entitlement processes for
housing development and will eliminate
discretionary review for all housing
development proposals that include a
minimum affordable housing component.
Complete
The Zoning Code Amendment that approved the Housing
Overlays also added Section 20.48.185 (Multi-Unit Objective
Design Standards to provide a minimum baseline design standard
for all new multi-unit development. The objective design standards
are intended to result in quality design of multi-unit residential and
mixed-use development. Review under the standards supports
development that builds on context, contributes to the public realm,
and provides high quality and resilient buildings and public spaces.
These standards shall be applied uniformly and without discretion
to enhance the built environment for both affordable and market-
rate multi-unit residential development. The standards would apply
to housing throughout the City that consists of a density of 30
dwelling units per acre or greater.
3B:
SB 35
Streamlining
The City will establish written procedures
to comply with California Government
Code Section 65913.4 and publish those
procedures for the public, as appropriate,
to comply with the requirements of SB 35,
Chapter 366 Statues 2017.
In Progress
The City has not yet created written procedures; however, inquiries
related to SB 35 are promptly and consistently responded to.
According to HCD’s online determination, City is currently exempt
from the streamlining provisions of SB35.
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3C:
Preservation of
Rental
Opportunities
The City will continue to maintain rental
housing opportunities by restricting
conversions of rental units to
condominiums in a development
containing 15 or more units unless the
rental housing vacancy rate in Newport
Beach is 5% or higher, and unless the
property owner complies with
condominium conversion regulations
contained in Newport Beach Municipal
Code Chapter 19.64.
Ongoing
A vacancy rate survey is completed upon receiving an application
for the conversion of 15 or more rental units to condominiums. No
such projects of 15 or more units were submitted in 2025.
3D:
Priority of
Affordable
Housing
The City will continue to take all feasible
actions to ensure expedient construction
and occupancy for projects approved with
lower- and moderate-income housing
requirements.
Ongoing
In 2025, the City received and expeditiously processed nine
different preliminary applications for residential development. The
City also continues to offer multi-departmental preliminary
application meetings (Development Review Committee[DRC]) to
assist in streamlining entitlement processes. DRC is a service that
is offered free of charge to the development community.
3E:
Mortgage
Revenue Bonds
The City will continue to participate with
the County of Orange in the issuance of
tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds to
facilitate and assist in financing,
development, and construction of
housing affordable to low and moderate-
income households.
Ongoing
The City has continued its coordination with the County of Orange.
3F:
Annual Reporting
Program
The City will conduct an annual
compliance-monitoring program for units
required to be occupied by very low-, low-
, and moderate-income households.
Ongoing
Annual compliance monitoring has been conducted for 2025 and
the report for the City’s income- and rent-restricted units by Michael
Baker International (consultant) found all units in compliance. The
consultant also worked with landlords on compliance with rents and
approving eligible rent increases under their agreements.
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3G:
Entitlement
Assistance
The City will provide entitlement
assistance, expedited entitlement
processing, and waive application
processing fees for developments in
which 5% of units are affordable to
extremely low-income households.
Ongoing
The City provides strong staffing presence at the public counter to
expeditiously field any development inquiries. The City also
continues to offer multi-departmental preliminary application
meetings (Development Review Committee) to assist in
streamlining entitlement processes and to facilitate an easier
entitlement review. Development Review Committee is a service
that is offered free of charge to the development community. In
2025, the City did not receive any applications for multi- unit
developments that include extremely low-income households.
3H:
Prioritization of
Affordable
Housing Funds
The City will give highest priority for use
of Affordable Housing Fund monies to
affordable housing developments
providing units affordable to extremely-
low-income households and senior
households.
Ongoing
The City did not receive any applications in 2025 related to this
Policy Action.
3I:
Public Information
About Affordable
Housing
The City will continue to maintain a
brochure of incentives offered by the City
for the development of affordable housing
including fee waivers, expedited
processing, density bonuses, and other
incentives.
Ongoing
A brochure is maintained and provided on the City website and in
the public lobby. Additionally, during 2025, several developers took
advantage of the City’s various incentives for affordable housing
including through the granting of density bonus, parking reductions,
development standard waivers, and fee waivers.
3J:
Priority in Kind
Assistance for
Affordability
The City shall provide more assistance
for projects that provide a higher number
of affordable units or a greater level of
affordability.
Ongoing
No projects proposed a larger number of affordable units than the
minimum nor at greater affordability levels during the 2025
reporting period. However, in late 2024, the City adopted the
Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zoning District (Section
20.28.050 of the NBMC), which includes a provision to allow
significant streamlining opportunities for housing development
applications that include a higher proportion of affordable housing.
Since adoption nine projects have submitted under the Overlay
Zoning Districts and two project have been approved.
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3K: Coastal Zone
Development
Affordability
The City shall follow Government Code
Section 65590 and implement Municipal
Code Titles 20.34 and 21.34 “Conversion
or Demolition of Affordable Housing” for
new developments proposed in the
Coastal Zone areas of the City.
Complete
On October 29, 2019, the Community Development Director
determined that Newport Beach Municipal Code (NBMC) Chapters
20.34 and 21.34 (Conversion of Demolition of Affordable Housing)
are no longer required. These chapters of the NBMC implement the
Mello Act (Government Code Sections 65590 - 65590.1 Low- and
Moderate-Income Housing Within the Coastal Zone). The
regulations require the replacement of housing units lost within the
coastal zone that are occupied by low- and moderate-income
households under certain circumstances when feasible. Both the
NBMC and the Mello Act provide when there is less than 50 acres
in aggregate, of privately owned, vacant land available for
residential use within the City’s coastal zone, and three miles
therefrom, the replacement requirement is not required.
The Planning Division completed a land use inventory to determine
if 50 aggregate acres of privately owned, vacant land is available
for residential use within the City’s coastal zone and within three
miles inland of the coastal zone. The inventory conducted in
October 2022, found less than 50 qualifying acres.
3L: Proactive
Education and
Outreach to
Prospective
Developers
The City will continue to advise and
educate existing landowners and
prospective developers of affordable
housing development opportunities
available within Banning Ranch, the
Airport Area, West Newport Mesa, Dover-
Westcliff, Newport Center, Mariners’ Mile,
and Balboa Peninsula areas.
Ongoing
City Community Development staff provides information to
landowners and developers about affordable housing opportunities
and staff encourage the inclusion of affordable housing units in new
projects. There has been significant interest from landowners and
developers within the various focus areas, including the submittal
of development applications and preliminary applications,
demonstrating that the City has provided effective outreach.
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3M:
Regional
Coordination of
Housing Issues
The City will continue to participate in
other programs that assist production of
housing.
Ongoing
The City of Newport Beach is a participating member of the Orange
County Housing Authority (OCHA). OCHA receives, distributes and
monitors the Section 8 Vouchers for the City. OCHA has many
housing programs that are offered and available to City residents
and promote housing production. City Planning staff participate in
in communication with the OCHA to stay up to date on all the
programs, projects, and vouchers.
City staff also actively participates on the Orange County Council
of Governments (OCCOG) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC),
which undertakes issue of regional importance, including housing
production and affordability.
3N:
Housing Impact
Studies
The City will continue to study housing
impacts of proposed larger-scale,
significant commercial/industrial projects
during the development review process.
Ongoing
The City rarely sees large commercial or industrial development
that could significantly affect housing. The City will conduct a
housing impact analysis when preparing an environmental impact
report for a significant large-scale commercial or industrial project
that includes a significant number of employees.
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3O: Single
Resident
Occupancies
(SROs)
Use State and federal funding to continue
to provide assistance and make
provisions for development of single-
room occupancy (SRO) housing and
other forms of housing for people
experiencing homelessness in the City.
Ongoing
In December 2024, the City Council authorized the City Manager
and City Clerk to execute the Affordable Housing Loan Agreement
between the City of Newport Beach and American Family Housing,
LLC, (AFH) to loan $3,000,000 to convert an existing Travelodge
North Motel property at 1400 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa to
permanent supportive housing for those experiencing or at risk of
homelessness. AFH’s project to convert an existing 120-unit motel
property into 78 total units of housing - 76 units of permanent
supportive housing and two manager’s units (Project) is under
construction with an expected completion date in the third quarter
of 2026. Twelve studio units at the Project will be leased to eligible
tenants with a connection to Newport Beach.
PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) continues to provide
outreach and engagement services as a contracted service
provider. PATH completed 66 shelter intakes (some duplicated
individuals) at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, the County’s Yale
Navigation Center, the Huntington Beach Navigation Center, the
Buena Park Navigation Center, and the Bridges at Kraemer Place
in Anaheim. PATH, in coordination with the Newport Beach Police
Department and homeless services manager, completed a street
Census in November 2025. 13 people were surveyed and stated
ties to Newport Beach. PATH continues to connect the people to
services and resources.
3P: Residential
Care Facilities
The City will review and amend the
permitting procedures, application
requirements, and development
standards applicable to residential care
facilities for persons of seven or more to
ensure consistency with state and federal
laws to promote objectivity and greater
approval certainty.
In Progress
City staff has continued to coordinate with HCD on this Policy
Action. A relevant update to the Municipal Code is anticipated by
the middle of 2026.
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4A: Affirmatively
Furthering Fair
Housing
The City will affirmatively further fair
housing by taking meaningful actions in
addition to resisting discrimination, that
overcomes patterns of segregation and
fosters inclusive communities free from
barriers that restrict access to opportunity
based on protected classes, as defined
by State law.
In Progress
The City intends to emphasize meaningful actions to overcome
patterns of segregation and to foster inclusive communities free
from barriers that restrict access to opportunity based on protective
classes, as defined by State law. The City continues to maintain a
contract for fair housing services with the Fair Housing Foundation
and will participate in an update to the Orange County Regional
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing when the next update
occurs. The City is also collaborating with neighboring jurisdictions
through the Orange County Council of Government (OCCOG) and
its Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) on-call services bench,
as there is an effort to streamline various housing element
implementation program actions, including AFFH efforts,
regionally.
4B: Streamlined
Project Review
The City will provide a streamlined “fast-
track” development review process for
proposed affordable housing
developments.
Ongoing
The City provides a prioritized and expedited development review
process for all affordable housing projects. In 2025, this included
entitlement approval of the following project that included
affordable units:
• Placentia Avenue Apartments – 1 very low-income
affordable unit.
The following projects were also provided with an expedited review
of development rights for future housing projects that include
affordable units:
• MacArthur Court Mixed-Use - 49 affordable units (off-site)
• 120 Newport Center Drive - Development Agreement and
Affordable Housing Implementation Plan for the future
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development of affordable units in the North Newport
Center Planned Community (PC-56)
Additionally, three projects submitted preliminary applications
under the City adopted the Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay
Zoning District (Section 20.28.050 of the NBMC). The Overlay also
includes a provision to allow significant streamlining opportunities
for housing development applications that include a higher
proportion of affordable housing (i.e., 20%) which applies to the St.
Michael’s Multi-Family:
• 1470 Jamboree Road Mixed Use – 9 very low affordable
units and 9 moderate affordable units (subsequently
expired).
• St. Michael’s Multi-Family – 18 affordable units in senior
housing development (now a full application in process).
• 12 Corporate Plaza Residences – 6 very low affordable
units and 6 moderate affordable units (subsequently
expired).
4C: Density Bonus
and Incentives for
Affordable
Housing
The City will update its Density Bonus
Ordinance (Newport Beach Municipal
Code Chapter 20.32) to be consistent
with State Law, as amended.
Complete and Ongoing
The City continuously monitors changes to state density bonus law.
The most recent amendment was to the Implementation Plan (IP)
of the City’s certified Local Coastal Program to incorporate
standards and establish an approval process for considering
density bonuses with housing development projects in the coastal
zone. These amendments are required to ensure the City’s
regulations are in compliance with State law. The California Coastal
Commission approved the amendment with suggested
modifications on April 12, 2024. The City Council adopted the
amendment on September 25, 2024.
Additionally, monitoring efforts for compliance and consistency will
continue in 2026.
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4D: List of Pre-
Approved
Development
Incentives
The City will develop a pre-approved list
of incentives and qualifications for such
incentives to promote the development of
affordable housing.
In Progress
The City established a permit and plan check fee waiver program
to incentivize the development of accessory dwelling units that
continued through the end of 2024. Other potential incentives for
affordable housing development, including ADUs, is in progress.
4E: Airport Area
Policy Exceptions
for Affordable
Housing
The City shall maintain an exception to
the minimum 10-acre village requirement
for projects that include a minimum of
30% of the units affordable to lower-
income households in the Airport Area.
Ongoing
In 2023, the Newport Place Planned Community (PC-11)
Development Plan was amended to modify the inclusionary
requirement from 30% to 15% for residential projects. A report from
KMA demonstrated that a 30% inclusionary requirement may
hinder housing development. Therefore, the City maintained the
exception to the minimum 10-acre village requirement for projects
with affordable units.
In furtherance of Housing Element Policy Actions 1A (Airport
Environs Sub Area), 4E (Airport Area Policy Exceptions for
Affordable Housing), and 4J (Airport Environs Sub Area
Environmental Constraints) the City initiated the preparation of a
Specific Plan for the Airport Area in 2025. In May 2025, the City
released a request for proposals for consulting services to prepare
the specific plan. After completing the evaluation, the City selected
Kimley Horn and Associates as the consultant most qualified to
perform the services and scheduled the contract for approval by the
City Council in early 2026. The City anticipates completion of the
specific plan by early 2028.
4F: Encourage
Development of
Opportunity Sites
The City will continue to encourage and
facilitate residential and/or mixed-use
development on sites listed in Appendix B
by providing technical assistance to
interested developers with site
identification and entitlement processing.
Ongoing
Since adoption of the Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zoning
District (Overlay), City staff has met with several property owners,
prospective developers, and real estate brokers or agents to
provide assistance and explanation of the overlay, including the
development review process.
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4G: Annual RHNA
Sites Inventory
Monitoring
The City will monitor and evaluate the
development of vacant and
underdeveloped parcels on an annual
basis and report the success of strategies
to encourage residential development in
its Annual Progress Reports required
pursuant to Government Code 65400.
Ongoing
4H: Review Mixed-
Use Zones
The City will review established mixed-
use land use categories and
corresponding zoning regulations in the
City and recommend policy or code
changes to the City Council that reduce
regulatory barriers and incentivize mixed-
use residential development.
In Progress
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
previously issued grant funds to the Orange County Council of
Governments (OCCOG) to establish a technical consultant bench
that would support OCCOG member agencies in completing
Housing Element Implementation Programs. The partnership is
referred to as the “Subregional Partnership Program 2.0.” In March
2025, the City applied to OCCOG for technical assistance to
complete Housing Element Policy Action 4H: Review Mixed-Use
Zones (Project), which is intended to review and identify
opportunities to improve existing zoning regulations related to
Mixed-Use zoning districts.
In May 2025, OCCOG selected the City to receive technical
assistance to complete the project. The City Council formally
accepted assistance from OCCOG in January 2026 and will
complete this study by mid-2026.
4I: Establish
Mixed-Use Resort
Opportunities
The City will consider policies, regulations
and/or interpretations to establish mixed-
use resort opportunities.
Complete
In 2021, the Community Development Director issued Director’s
Determination No. DD2021-001 Interpreting Accessory Residential
as an Allowed Use within Resort Hotels (PA2021-096). DD2021-
001 determined that residential uses are permitted as an accessory
use to hotels subject to certain conditions.
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4J: Airport
Environs Sub Area
Environmental
Constraints
The City will take actions to address
potential environmental constraints in the
Airport Environs Sub Area and ensure
continued feasibility of sites, particularly
for lower-income RHNA.
In Progress
In 2023, the City adopted amendments to the Zoning Code and
General Plan related to noise in the airport area, which were
necessary to implement the 6th Cycle Housing Element. The
amendments included adding regulations to Section 20.30.080
(Noise) of the NBMC that would serve to protect sensitive noise
receptors from potential airport noise.
In furtherance of Housing Element Policy Actions 1A (Airport
Environs Sub Area), 4E (Airport Area Policy Exceptions for
Affordable Housing), and 4J (Airport Environs Sub Area
Environmental Constraints) the City initiated the preparation of a
Specific Plan for the Airport Area in 2025. In May 2025, the City
released a request for proposals for consulting services to prepare
the specific plan. After completing the evaluation, the City selected
Kimley Horn and Associates as the consultant most qualified to
perform the services and scheduled the contract for approval by the
City Council in early 2026. The City anticipates completion of the
specific plan by early 2028.
4K: West Newport
Mesa
Environmental
Constraints
The City will take actions to address
environmental constraints and ensure
feasibility of sites, particularly for lower-
income RHNA, in the West Newport
Mesa Area with regards to noise and
pollutants.
In Progress
Monrovia Townhomes were approved in 2025 under the Housing
Overlay HO-2, for 89 residential townhomes within a
predominately industrial area. The following conditions of approval
were included in the adopted Resolution to mitigate potential
noise issues with the existing surrounding uses:
• Residential structures shall be sound attenuated to provide
interior noise levels acceptable for residential uses
including a acoustic study.
• A disclosure required to be provided to each prospective
and future buyer of each residential unit on the site advising
of the potential noxious characteristics including but not
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limited to increased ambient noise
levels, odors, operations, deliveries, etc., of the nearby
industrial uses which could adversely affect the prospective
owner' s enjoyment of the property. The disclosure
statement shall be included and recorded with the
Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions
(CC&Rs).
4L: Coyote
Canyon
Environmental
Constraints
The City will take actions to address
environmental constraints on the Coyote
Canyon landfill site.
In Progress
The City has been actively supporting the County and it prospective
developer on an as-needed basis while they have considered
development potential on the closed Coyote Canyon Landfill.
5A: Preservation of
Affordability
Covenants
The City will contact owners of 19
affordable units approaching the
expiration of affordability covenants to
obtain information regarding their plans
for continuing affordability on their
properties, inform them of financial
resources available, and to encourage
the extension of the affordability
agreements for the developments listed
beyond the years noted.
Ongoing
Refer to the discussion under 2C above. The City will continue
outreach efforts in 2025 to preserve affordability covenants.
5B: Section 8
Participation
The City shall maintain information on the
City’s website and prepare written
communication for tenants and other
interested parties about Orange County
Housing Authority Section 8 opportunities
and to assist tenants and prospective
tenants acquire additional understanding
of housing law and related policy issues
Ongoing
The City continues to maintain a contract for fair housing services
with the Fair Housing Foundation. The City maintains a robust
housing webpage with information regarding housing opportunities
and contact information for affordable housing providers and the
Fair Housing Foundation.
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5C: Incentivize for
Preserving of
Affordability
Covenants
The City will investigate the potential for
providing additional incentives or modify
its current policy to incentivize property
owners to maintain the affordability of
units on their property during the 6th
Cycle.
Ongoing
5D: Mobile Home
Park Conversions
The City will continue to employ the
provisions of NBMC Title 20 provision of
the Mobile Home Park Overlay to
maintain and protect mobile home parks
in a stable environment with a desirable
residential character.
Ongoing
City Community Development staff continues to inform property
owners and developers of the provisions of the City’s MHP overlay.
The City has used and will continue to make available the Senior
Housing Assistance Repair Program (SHARP) funds to help senior
residents repair their mobile homes if it is necessary to abate
substandard living conditions.
5E: Orange
County Housing
Authority Advisory
Committee
The City of Newport Beach will continue
to participate as a member of the Orange
County Housing Authority (OCHA)
Advisory Committee and work in
cooperation with the OCHA to provide
Section 8 Rental Housing Assistance to
residents of the community.
Ongoing
Staff attends and maintains active communication with the OCHA
Cities Advisory Committee. Staff continually works in cooperation
with the County to provide Section 8 rental housing assistance to
residents.
A link to the Orange County Housing Authority website has been
placed on the City website to provide information on the Section 8
program.
5F: Water
Efficiency for
Residential
Projects
The City will continue to implement and
enforce the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance and Landscape and Irrigation
Design Standards in compliance with AB
1881 (Chapter 559 Statutes 2006).
Ongoing
All new development projects are reviewed for compliance with the
City’s Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. The annual report on
the City’s Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance for 2025 was
submitted to California Department of Water Resources on January
30, 2026.
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5G: Energy
Efficiency in
Residential
Projects
The City will continue to require that any
affordable housing developments that
receive City assistance from Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds
or from the City’s Affordable Housing
Fund shall be required, to the extent
feasible, to include installation of energy
efficient appliances and devices that will
contribute to reduced housing costs for
future occupants of the units.
Ongoing
No affordable housing projects received funding via CDBG or the
City’s Affordable Housing Fund during the 2025 reporting period.
6A: Homeless
Program
Assistance
The City will continue to apply annually
for United States Department of Urban
Development Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) funds and allocate a
portion of such funds to sub-recipients
who provide shelter and other services for
the homeless as well as submit Annual
Action Plan to HUD in May of each year.
Ongoing
The City applied for a grant allocation for the 2025 reporting period.
The City submitted its Action Plan in May of 2025 and allocated a
portion of the grant for the provision of homeless services –
Families Forward and the Newport Beach Police Department Motel
Voucher Program.
6B: Repair Loans
and Grant
Programs for
Seniors, Persons
with Physical and
Developmental
Disabilities and
Lower-Income
Households
The City, with OASIS Senior Center and
Habitat for Humanity Orange County, has
developed a Senior Home Repair
Assistance Program (SHARP).
Additionally, the City will continue to
cooperate with the Orange County
Housing Authority (OCHA) to pursue
establishment of a Senior/Disabled or
Limited Income Repair Loan and Grant
Program to underwrite all or part of the
cost of necessary housing modifications
and repairs. Cooperation with OCHA will
include continuing City of Newport Beach
participation in the County Continuum of
Care and continuing to provide CDBG
funding.
Ongoing
The City’s Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program (SHARP)
continues to successfully assist low-income seniors. In 2025,
Habitat for Humanity and OASIS staff worked on two new projects
and expended a total of $51,126.80. The projects involved
demolition and replacement of the roof, porch, and steps, as well
as exterior/foundation repairs. To date, the program has used
$527,349.76 for a total of 22 projects.
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6C: Leverage
CDGB and other
Federal Formula
Grant Funding
The City shall make every effort to
leverage CDBG and Federal formula
grant annual funds from various agencies
to further the City’s housing goals; these
include, but are not limited to, State,
Regional and private resources. The City
of Newport Beach will continue to
maintain a list of “Public and Private
Resources Available for Housing and
Community Development Activities” and
maintain a list of resources on City
website and update as necessary in the
6th Cycle.
Ongoing
6D: Child Daycare
Facilities
The City will continue to encourage the
development of daycare centers as a
component of new affordable housing
developments and grant additional
incentives in conjunction with the review
and approval of density bonus projects
pursuant to NBMC Chapter 20.32
(Density Bonus).
Ongoing
City Community Development Department staff requests
developers include child daycare facilities in developments that
include affordable housing.
The City did not receive any applications in 2025 that included
daycare centers.
6E: Housing
Assistance for
Seniors
The City shall continue to encourage
senior citizen independence through the
promotion of housing and services
related to in-home care, meal programs,
and counseling, and maintain a senior
center that affords seniors opportunities
to live healthy, active, and productive
lives in the City
Ongoing
The City supports a Meals on Wheels program that provides home-
delivered meals to individuals who are homebound due to age,
illness, or disability. Funding is provided through the CDBG
program on a yearly basis.
The Meals on Wheels program provides home-delivered meals to
individuals who are homebound due to age, illness, or disability.
The City also operates the OASIS Senior Center. Services include:
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• A multi-purpose center owned and operated by the City in
partnership with the Friends of OASIS nonprofit dedicated
to meeting needs of senior citizens and their families.
• Classes in art, health & fitness, music & dance, foreign
languages, technology, enrichment, and much more.
• A state-of-the-art fitness center for those age 50 and older
which provides a safe, comfortable, senior-friendly exercise
environment for the active older adult including access to
hire a personal trainer for individualized programs.
Separate membership is required to join.
• Regularly scheduled low-cost special events/socials such
as luncheons, concerts, barbecues, and holiday parties.
• Travel department coordination of day and overnight trips.
• Curb-to-curb transportation program for residents of
Newport Beach age 60 and older who are no longer driving
to use for medical appointments, grocery shopping,
banking, and to attend OASIS classes (fee required).
• Social services information and referral for seniors and their
families dealing with a need for caregiver services, housing,
transportation, legal matters, and more. Informational and
supportive counseling is available to seniors and their family
members on an individual basis.
• Various health resources and screenings for seniors,
including flu shots, blood pressure, memory screenings,
medication review, and health insurance counseling
services.
• Regularly scheduled support group meetings at the Center
to help senior citizens and their families cope with stress,
illness, life transitions, and crises.
• Congregate lunch program for seniors age 60 and older that
is funded by the federal government through the Older
Americans Act. A donation is requested for meals, which
are provided by Meals on Wheels OC.
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6F: Emergency
Shelters,
Transitional and
Supportive
Housing
The City of Newport Beach will amend
certain sections of its Municipal Code in
order to comply with State law to address:
'Supportive Housing Streamlined
Approvals', 'Emergency and Transitional
Housing Act of 2019', amending NBMC
definitions to comply with California
Government Code, and amending NBMC
to ensure proper zoning of emergency,
transitional, and supportive housing
according to State law.
In Progress
City staff has continued to coordinate with HCD on this Policy
Action. A relevant update to the Municipal Code is anticipated by
the middle of 2026. Staff intends to implement this Policy Action in
conjunction with the amendments necessary to implement Policy
Action 3P: Residential Care Facilities.
6G: Senior
Housing Priority
Program
The City seeks to develop explore the
feasibility and appropriateness of
proactive policies and programs to
address and prioritize the needs of its
senior population.
Ongoing
7A: Supportive
Housing/ Low
Barrier Navigation
Centers
To comply with State law, the City of
Newport Beach will adopt policies,
procedures, and regulations for
processing this type of use to establish a
non-discretionary local permit approval
process that must be provided to
accommodate supportive housing and
lower barrier navigation centers per State
law.
Pending
7B: Transitional
and Supportive
Housing
In compliance with Senate Bill 2 (Chapter
364, Statutes 2017) and SB 745 Chapter
185, Statutes 2013) the City will ensure
the Zoning Code is amended to
encourage and facilitates emergency
shelters and limits the denial of
emergency shelters and transitional and
supportive housing under the Housing
Accountability Act.
Ongoing
City staff has continued to coordinate with HCD on this Policy
Action. A relevant update to the Municipal Code is anticipated by
the middle of 2026. Staff intends to implement this Policy Action in
conjunction with the amendments necessary to implement Policy
Action 3P: Residential Care Facilities.
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7C: Housing for
Persons with
Developmental
Disabilities
To accommodate residents with
developmental disabilities, the City will
review and prioritize housing construction
and rehabilitation including supportive
services targeted for persons with
developmental
disabilities.
Ongoing
During the 2025 reporting period, no projects were proposed that
targeted the provision of housing or services for persons with
developmental disabilities.
7D: Fair Housing
Services
The City of Newport Beach will continue
to contract with an appropriate fair
housing service agency for the provision
of fair housing services for Newport
Beach residents.
Ongoing
The City contracted with the Fair Housing Foundation (FHF) to
provide these services. The Fair Housing Foundation provided the
following trainings, seminars, and outreach activities for the City in
2025:
• Fair Housing Workshops – 2/6/25 & 9/3/25
• Contacts regarding FHF Services – 2/6/25 Newport Beach
Police Department & Coastline College-Newport Beach
Campus, 9/3/25 Boys & Girls Club of Newport Beach
• Public Service Announcement – City of Newport Beach TV
– 5/15/25
• Literature Distribution – 2,559
• Booths-5/17/25 Oasis Senior Center, 6/17/25 Newport
Beach Public Library
The City maintains flyers provided by the FHF at the permit counter
in the Civic Center. Additionally, the City’s housing website includes
links and contact information for the FHF.
8A: Annual
Reporting
Program
The City of Newport Beach shall report on
the status of all housing programs as part
of its annual General Plan Review and
Annual Progress Report (APR).
Ongoing
This report is intended to satisfy this Policy Action for the 2025
reporting period.
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8B: Water and
Sewer Service
Providers
Pursuant to SB 1087, Chapter 727,
Statues of 2005, the City of Newport
Beach is required to deliver its adopted
housing element and any amendments
thereto to local water and sewer service
providers.
Pending
The City received notice from HCD of the certification of the City’s
6th Cycle Housing Element in October of 2022. Copies of the
certified Housing Element were sent to all local water and sewer
utility providers that supply the City.
The Residences at 120 Newport Center development vesting rights
approved by City Council in April 2025, included an amended
Development Agreement and Affordable Housing Implementation
Plan for future residential units and also approved a Water Supply
Assessment (WSA) to evaluate the water supply availability for a
project including more than 500 dwelling units pursuant to Section
21151.9 of the Public Resources Code (PRC) and Section 10910
et seq. of the Water Code and as contemplated in the City’s
Housing Implementation Program Final Program EIR.
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March 5, 2026, Planning Commission Item 5 Comments
These comments on a Newport Beach Planning Commission agenda item are submitted by:
Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach 92660 (949-548-6229).
Item No. 5. ANNUAL GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING PROGRESS
REPORTS (PA2026-0004)
I hope to find time to review this more carefully before the meeting, but in relation to Item 2 on
the present agenda (the 300 Newport Center Drive Condominiums, PA2025-0102), which claims
to be proposed on a General Plan 6th Cycle Housing Opportunity Site, that property is
composed of three parcels: APN 449-091-16 (the central 2.35 acre developed area addressed
as 210 and 300 Newport Center Drive), APN 449-091-12 (the 1.75 acre parking lot), and APN
449-161-16 (a 0.20 acre fragment on the west, with no address).
In Table C of housing-element-annual-progress-report_2025.xlsx, the HCD-mandated
spreadsheet referenced in the report, which is supposed to show “Sites Identified or Rezoned to
Accommodate Shortfall Housing Need and No Net-Loss Law,” of the PA2025-0102 parcels, I
was able to find only APN 449-091-16, which seemed to be mischaracterized as consisting of
1.422895 acres used for parking, and on which, at a density of 50 du/ac, it thought reasonable
to expect a yield of 71 units, of which 10 would be very low income, 11 low income, 7 moderate
and 43 above moderate.
Planning Commission - March 5, 2026
Item No. 5a Additional Materials Received Annual General Plan and Housing Progress Reports (PA2026-0004)