HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/21/1944The Newport Beach City Planning Commission hold a regular meeting on Sept-
ember 21, 1844, at 7 %50 p.m., in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Newport
Beach, California. Chairman Hopkins presided.
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Commissioners presents Allen, Baltz, Campbell, Hopkins, Isbell, Johnson,`
Nelson, Patterson, and Seeger.
Commissioners absents Nome.
Commissioner Johnson moved, and Commissioner Allen seconded that the min -
sites of the meetings of August 17, 1944, and August 31, 1944, be approved
as read. Carried and so ordered.
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Secretary Seager read a letter, referred to the Planning Commission by COMMUNICATIONS
the City Council of Newport Beach, for consideration and action, from
Mr. Roy C. Beck, 117J Crystal Ave., Balboa Island, requesting a variance
for Lot 1, Block 145, Corona Del Mar; said lot being owned by Mrs. E. E.
Rhors, with a contemplated sale to Mr. Beck of 144s for the erection of a
two story building thereon.
After considerable discussion, Commissioner Allen moved, and Commissioner
Johnson seconded the motion that the request be denied as not permissible
under provisions of City Ordinance No. 525, and that the Secretary be in-
structed to write Mr. Beck of the Commissions action. Carried and so or-
dered.
TRAFFIC PLAN COM[ST.7iNE, COMMA &
Chairman Hopkins announced the meeting to be an open Public Hearing fcr A
the purpose of considering the report of the Traffic Plan Committee, and
Secretary Seeger stated that the meeting had been duly advertised, with
copy of said advertisement and affidavit of publication being on file.
Commissioner Pattersonp Chairman of the Traffic Plan Committee, presented
a concise report, together with map, designating certain streets within
the city limits, as being major traffic thoroferes of the City of Newport
Beach. Mr. Patterson explained that the idea and plan was that these streets
should follow a certain pattern for the ultimate Master Plan, and that it
did not mean that any improvements or changes were contemplated for the pre-
sent; that the plan was to allow for changes and it could be added to or
subtracted from at any time.
Commissioner Allen moved, and Commissioner Campbell seconded the motion that
the Commission approve the Major Traffic Thorofare Map, and that the Sec-
retary be instructed to recommend in a resolution this action for approval
and action by the City Council. The Chairman called for a roll call vote.
AUSs Allen, Baltz, Campbell, Hopkins, Isbell, Johnson, Nelson, Patter- BOLL..CALL VOTE
son, and Seeger.
NOES. None
Motion carried and,so ordered.
Commissioner 3eager read the report of the Master Plan Committee, static
that a detailed study had been made of the essential and desirable featWov
of a Civic Center for a municipality of the class and size of Newport Beach;
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that seven sites had been carefully considered and compared as to location,
areas and costs; and that after due consideration did recommend that the Com-
mission select and approve for recommendation to the City Council, the site de-
signated as "Site 4 A" or a site of comparable area of which "Site 4" should be
the principal portion thereof.
Much discussion of the seven sites followed among the members of the Commission,
after which Chairman Hopkins declared the meeting open, and a Public Hearing,.,
which the Secretary stated had been duly advertised as such, with copies of ad-
vertisement and affidavit of publication on file.
A large group of citizens were present and many entered into the discussion of
the advantages and disadvantages of the seven different sites. Among those fav-
oring "Site 4" or "Site 4 A "(west sidei.of Central Avenue at M Street) were E.
W. Biiggs, who also approved of Commissioner Patterson's suggestion for an audi-
toriva at 15th Street in combination with the proposed post -war American Legion
Hall for that site. Mr. Charles Crawford, of the Newport - Balboa Press, echoed
Mr;.-Briggs' suggestions, and Mr. H. M. Lane, realtor of Newport Beach for the
past 23 years also approved of "Site 4" or "Site 4 A ", though he said.that per-
sonally he couldn't help but favor the present City Hall site because of close
associations at that location for so many years; while his wife, Mrs. Lam,
stated that she favored "Site 2 "(Bay Front, between 15th and 16th Streets). as
that seemed now to be the center of population. Mr. Ralph Maskey favored
"Site 4" or "Site 4 A ", also the idea of an auditorium at 15th Street, that "we
should consider the conveniences of the people living here, therefore advisable
to have these things at the hub of population." Mr. W. M. Longmoor, past-pres-
ident of the Chamber of Commerce, brought out the thought of combining a Civic
Center with a Union Station —to tie in with the widening of Coast Boulevard,
and to incorporate the Chamber of Commerce, Internal Revenu9, Fish and Game
Commission Offices, Customs House Office, etc., —so favored "Site S "(present
Pacific Electric Station and Hayward Lumber Company location) as most acceptable,
with the added thought that when the Upper Bay is opened up that it would be a
great convenience to boat owners to have the Office of Motor Boat Registry at
Newport Beach also, so that Customs House numbers could be procured here. Art-
hur Pease thought the "Site 4" as "admirable", and Chariman Hopkins also approv-
ed of this site or "4 A°.
Mr. H. E. Christler, of Balboa Island, went into a long dissertation in favor
of "Site'6"(Newport Heights - outside the city limits of Newport Beach at present)
stressing its esthetic and advertising'baluss, to "look a little fuathei.into
the future ". that "the strand, is a very fine asset,' but it should .be, considered
'for recreation rather than for a Civic Center ", and that within 26 years Newport
Beach would have "outgrown a Civic Center situated at "Site 4 " ". Mri.Christler,
asked further "if the Irvine property is opened up, could the Civic Center be
changed over, trimmed down to permit a change or move at some later date Y"
Commissioner Seeger moved, and Commissioner Allen seconded.the motion that the
Commission accept and approve the report of the Master Plan Committee, and dis-
miss the committee. Carried and so ordered. Then, Commissioner Johnson moved,
and Commissioner Allen seconded that the Secretary be instructed to address a
resolution recomm ending to the City Council the approval of the selection by
the Planning Commission of "Site 4 A ", or a site of comparable area of which
"Site 4" would be the principal portion thereof. Roll call vote called.
ROLL Ayes: Allen, Baltz, Campbell, Hopkins, Isbell., Johnson, Nelson, Patterson, and
" Seeger.
VOTE Boost None.
Motion carried and so ordered.
IN
Chairman Hopkins declared the Hearing on the application of Arthur H. F&M
Pease for the rezaning,of the two lots on the northeast corner,of Park HEARING
' Avenue and Agate Street from their present cleesifications of R-2 to C -11,
stating that this was the first hearing upon the matter. Secretary Seeger
stated that the matter had been duly advertised, filed and $10.00 had been
posted by Mr. Pease.
Mr. Pease explained that he had included everything in his original letter,
which was :pertinent, except that he had not realised that the zone for these
lots had been changed, for he had originally bought the.property for busi-
ness property.in 1939; and as a consequence ha was at present in stftbt vio-
lation of the ordinances by conducting, as he had been since 19419 a real
estate business, as well as having some additional space rented for storage -
cars, furniture, etc.
Commissioner Seager moved, and Commissioner Patterson seconded that the
Bearing be closed, and that it come to the second Public Hearing at the next
regular meeting of the City Planning Commission set for October 199 1944;
and that a committee be appointed.by the Chairman to further investigate the
matter. Carried and so ordered.
With the conclusion of the three Public Hearings, the Secretary pronounced RZORr_a� TIOti
the meeting the regular Reorganisation Meeting for the election of a Chair-
man and a Secretary for the forthcoming year, and called for discussion,
which resulted in the unanimous desire of all at the members of the Com-
mission for the re- election of C. Harold Hopkins, as.Chm;ftmn. Whereupon
Commissioner Johnson moved, and Commissioner Hopkins seconded the motion
that the Secretary act as.temporary chairman, Carried, and Commissioner
' Allen then moved, and Commissioner Patterson seconded that the Secretary
cast a unanimous vote for C. Harold Hopkins for Chairman.
For the 4Moe of Secretary, the Commissioners were again unanimous in their
t1ahes,rand Commissioner Patterson moved, and Commissioner Allen seconded
the motion that Chairman Hopkins assume the office of Secretary for the elect -
ion'of;.aecretary; after which Commissioner Alled made the motion, and Cam -
missioner Patterson seconded, that Commissioner Hopkins cast a unanimous
ballot for Commissioner Seeger for Secretary. Both motions carried and so
ordered, and Commissioners Hopkins and Seeger again took up their respect-
ive posts for another year.
Mr. R. G. Blake, again presented plans and elevations for a proposed. mu- BUD
.APPLI-
seum in Corona Del Mar, which was considered by the.Commission, after CATION
which Commissioner Patterson made the motion, seconded by Commissioner
Johnson, that the matter be laid on the table for further consideration.
Carried and so ordered. Commissioner Patterson then moved and Commissioner
Baltz seconded that the Chaitmen appoint a,member of the CoMmisaioa to act .
as the Chairman of an unofficial architectural committee, as required in
Ordinance No. 5259, Sec, 17. Carried and so ordered.
The subject of creating a. Corona Del Mar assesment district for the acgnis -NPR BUSINESS
ition of beach frontage was brought up by Councilw Earl Stanley, who was
present for the.Public Hearings. Mr. Stanley stated that it was his under-
standing that the State was interested in acquiring the frontage for the
creation of a State Park, in which case, the State would pay half of the
costs. After some discussion, Commissioner Campbell moved, and Commissioner
Alien seconded the motion, that the Chairman appoint a committee of three to
report back definite plan of procedure in connection with the matter. Carried.
Commissioner Isbell moved, Commissioner Patterson seconded. Carried.