HomeMy WebLinkAbout14 - Long Range Planning for Newport Center�EWOOgr CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Hearing Date: August 9, 1999
o` m COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC Agenda Item
DEVELOPMENT No.: 14
PLANNING DEPARTMENT Staff Person: Sharon Z. Wood
3300 NEWPORT BOULEVARD (949) 644 -3222
NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
(714) 644 -3200; FAX (714) 644 -3250
REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Public Input on Long Range Planning for Newport Center
SUGGESTED
ACTION: Authorize staff to contract for survey work.
At a joint study session of the City Council and Planning Commission on March 22, 1999, the
Council approved the Commission's suggested approach for Newport Center planning, and
directed the Commission and staff to develop a scope of work, budget and schedule, and meet
with property owners.
Staff has met with all property owners with an interest in developing their properties in the near
future and received their development requests. We :have retained the planning consulting firm
of Hogle - Ireland to manage the project, in response to the Council's direction not to delay
property owners who had initiated General Plan amendments, and because of staff's commitment
to other projects already in process. A project description and schedule for planning,
environmental review and public hearings has been prepared, we are meeting regularly with the
property owners, and are beginning the selection process for an environmental consultant.
In keeping with the Planning Commission's goals of addressing all of Newport Center, taking a
long -range view, and evaluating alternative visions for the area, their General Plan Update
Committee is recommending that a resident survey be used to provide early input into the
Newport Center plan. The survey is intended to elicit the community's views on how intensively
Newport Center should be developed, whether it should be considered Newport Beach's
"downtown," what services and amenities it should provide, what it should look like, etc. A
random sample, telephone survey is recommended as a scientifically valid way of reaching a
broad cross section of the community.
Preliminary discussions with professionals in the field indicate that this is a valid approach, and it
could be done in six to eight weeks, for a cost of $15,000 to $20,000. This amount is available in
the Planning Department professional services account. Staff believes the City should bear this
cost, because it is a small amount, the survey is intended to benefit the entire community, and the
major property owners in Newport Center will be paying for the more significant planning,
environmental review, and project management costs.
SHARON Z. WOOD
Assis City Manager