HomeMy WebLinkAbout18 - Westside GPA in Costa MesaCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 18
March 28, 2006
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Planning Department
Patrick J. Alford, Senior Planner
(949) 644 -3235
palfordacity.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Comments on the Westside General Plan Amendment in the
City of Costa Mesa
ISSUE:
Should the City of Newport Beach comment on the traffic study for proposed
General Plan amendment for the Westside Urban Plan in the City of Costa Mesa?
RECOMMENDATION:
Direct staff to transmit comments to the City of Costa Mesa
DISCUSSION:
On April 4, 2006, the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa will consider a General
Plan amendment associated with the Westside Urban Plan. The General Plan
amendment includes revising the descriptions of commercial and industrial land use
designations to allow mixed -use development and /or residential land uses
(Attachment A map).
Staff has prepared a letter (Attachment B) commenting on the traffic study for
Westside Urban Plan General Plan Amendment. Although the traffic study estimates
an overall decrease in the number of average daily trips in comparison to the current
Costa Mesa General Plan, staff believes allowing mixed use will increase the
likelihood of a full build -out scenario than one under the current industrial entitlement.
The City's own traffic studies indicate a number of intersections on the boundary with
Costa Mesa operating at the upper limit of Level of Service (LOS) D, or above.
Therefore, even a small increase could be significant.
The Costa Mesa traffic study included a "constrained" network that deletes the
extension of State Route 55 freeway and the construction of a bridge over the Santa
Ana River at 19th Street. Since the traffic study includes the deletion of these two
regional projects under the Master Plan of Arterial Highways, staff believes that the
impact to the regional transportation system should be addressed by including
Costa Mesa Westside GPA
March 28, 2006
Page 2
impacts to roadway segments and intersections outside of Costa Mesa. Specifically,
staff is recommending that the boundary of the traffic study be expanded to include
the following roadway links and intersections:
• Newport Boulevard to and including Coast Highway
Superior Avenue to and including Coast Highway
Coast Highway from the proposed extension of 17th Street to Tustin Avenue
■ Newport Boulevard to and including Coast Highway
■ Superior Avenue to and including Coast Highway
■ Coast Highway from the proposed extension of 17th Street to Tustin Avenue
The attached letter requests that the City of Costa Mesa defer action on the
proposed amendments until this additional analysis is completed and the
environmental document is recirculated, if necessary.
Prepared by:
Patrick J. Alford
Senior Planner
Attachments:
A. Westside Urban Plan map.
B. Draft letter to the City of Costa Mesa
Submitted by:
Patricia L. Temple
Planning Director
DRAFT
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
March 28, 2006
The Honorable Allan R. Mansoor
Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
P.O. Box 1200
Costa Mesa, CA 92628 -1200
RE: WESTSIDE GPA
Dear Mayor Mansoor:
The City of Newport Beach has reviewed the proposed General Plan amendment
for the Westside Urban Plan. I would like to congratulate you on a fine planning
document. We do have some concerns regarding the traffic study, however.
The study analyzed impacts both with the Master Plan of Arterial Highways
(MPAH) network as well as a "constrained" network that deletes the extension of
State Route 55 freeway and the construction of a bridge over the Santa Ana
River at 19th Street. Since the traffic study includes the deletion of these two
regional projects, we believe that the impact to the regional transportation
system should be addressed; specifically, the impacts to roadway segments and
intersections outside of Costa Mesa. For example, the study should include an
analysis of the impacts of the deletion of the 19t Street Bridge on intersection of
Coast Highway and Superior in Newport Beach, on the intersection Coast
Highway and Brookhurst in Huntington Beach, and the overall ability of Coast
Highway to carry the additional traffic on a daily basis.
Our traffic studies indicate that a number of intersections on the boundary with
Costa Mesa with intersection capacity utilization (IC:U) values very close to the
upper limit of Level of Service (LOS) D, or above. In light of this, even a small
increase could be significant. We request the City of Costa Mesa to expand the
boundary of the traffic study area to include the following roadway links and
intersections:
1. Newport Boulevard to and including Coast Highway
2. Superior Avenue to and including Coast: Highway
3. Coast Highway from the proposed extension of 17th Street to
Tustin Avenue
City Hall • 3300 Newport Boulevard • Post Office Box 1768
Newport Beach Califomia 92658 -8915 • www.city.newport- beach.ca.us
The Honorable Allan R. Mansoor
March 28, 2006
Page 2
DRAFT
These segments and intersections should be analyzed in the same manner as the
rest of the study, both with the MPAH and the "constrained" network.
We are aware that the traffic study estimates an overall decrease in the number
of average daily trips in comparison to the current Costa Mesa General Plan.
However, it is also estimated that there would be a 136,058 ADT or nineteen
percent (19 %) increase over existing conditions. We believe that the increased
emphasis on residential development under the proposed plan makes a full build -
out scenario more likely than under the current industrial entitlement.
In conclusion, the City of Newport Beach respectfully requests that the City of
Costa Mesa defer action on the proposed amendment until this additional
analysis is completed and the environmental document is recirculated, if
necessary.
Sincerely,
Homer L. Bludau
City Manager