HomeMy WebLinkAboutS13 - Santa Ana River Trails Vision Plan ReportCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. S13
April 8, 2008
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: City Manager's Office
Homer Bludau, City Manager
949/644 -3000 or hbludau @city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: COUNCIL ACCEPTANCE AND FILING OF THE SANTA ANA RIVER
TRAILS VISION PLAN REPORT
ISSUE:
Does the City Council want to accept and file the Santa Ana River Trails Vision Plan
Report and direct the Committee to begin meeting with key stakeholders?
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept and file the report. Start meeting with key interest groups /stakeholders to solicit
feedback and start coordinating with other agencies which have also developed plans
for their segments of the Santa Ana River.
DISCUSSION:
Background:
The City of Newport Beach's Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee was appointed
by the City Council on August 1, 2006, to develop a concept plan for developing walking
and biking trails along the segment of the Santa Ana River within Newport Beach. The
Committee was composed of representatives from the City (Councilwoman Gardner)
and key stakeholders interested in the development of trails along the River for public
access. City staff (Kill, Marcarello, Dove) provided support to the Committee. The draft
plan before you was partially funded by a grant from the Wildlands Conservancy.
The draft plan provides an overview of the River and identifies key issues involved in
creating public access trails. A vision, goals and proposed actions are included in the
report.
Council Acceptance and Filing of the Santa Ana River Trails Vision Plan Report
April 8, 2008
Page 2
The report is still in draft form. The next step is for the Committee to meet with
stakeholders to review the draft and obtain input. Other cities along the Santa Ana
River have also been involved in developing concept plans for public trails within their
jurisdictions, so now is the time to review those plans and begin the process of
coordinating them into an overall master plan for River trails.
Should Council approve the recommendation, no money or approval of projects is
provided. Once the Committee works with other groups and a master trail plan is
developed, those concepts will come back to Council for review and action.
Environmental Review: The City Council's approval of this Agenda Item does not
require environmental review.
Public Notice: This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours
in advance of the meeting at which the Council considers the item).
Submitted by:
474W uda,�
HOMER L. B UDAU
City Manager
City of Newport Beach
Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee
SANTA ANA TIVLI?� TIAILS
VISION PLAN
February 26, 2008 (draft)
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IN TENTIONALLY
ACV,N01NLLD0LMLNT5
The City of Newport Beach's Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee was appointed by the Newport Beach
City Council on August 1, 2006. The committee recognizes the Council for their leadership and foresight:
Steven Rosansky, Mayor
Edward D. Selich, Mayor Pro Tem
Keith D. Curry, Council Member
Leslie Daigle, Council Member
Nancy Gardner, Council Member
Michael F. Henn, Council Member
Don Webb, Council Member
Homer Bludau, City Manager
SANTA ANA RIIVEIZTI�A[1-5
ADVI50RY COMMITTEE MEMBrR5
Nancy Gardner .......................................................................
............................... Council Member Representative
Ray Halowski ........................................................
............................... Newport Beach Coastal/Bay Water Quality
Citizens Advisory Committee
Chris Trapp ....... ...............................
.........................Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission
Dennis Baker ..........................................
............................... .........................Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends
Stephanie Barger .................................................
............................... ..........................Earth Resources Foundation
Dennis Bean .............................................
............................... .........................Orange County Bicycle Association
Philip Bettencourt ...........................................................................
............................... Bettencourt and Associates
-Gary Brown ..............................................................................
............................... Orange County Coastkeepers
HarryHuggins .................................................................
............................... .........................Orange County Parks
JerryKing ..........................................................
............................... ............................ The Wildlands Conservancy
D.P. Meyers .......................................................
............................... ............................ The Wildlands Conservancy
Ken Morris ..................................................................................
............................... US Army Corps of Engineers
Howard Rich ....................................
............................... .........................Newport Shores Community Association
Dana Rochat ..................................................................................
............................... The Wildlands Conservancy
Jan Vandersl oot ..............................................................................
............................... Community Representative
COMMITTEE STAFF
Dave Kiff ........................... ............................... ............................City of Newport Beach, Assistant City Manager
Chris Marcarello ............................................ ............................... City of Newport Beach, Administrative Analyst
Anne Dove ..... ............................... .......................National Park Service Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance
The Santa Ana River Vision Plan was partially funded by a grant from the Wildlands Conservancy. Thanks to
D.P. Myers and Dana Rochat for their support.
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Introduction and overview ....................................................................................................... ............................... 1
Existingconditions ..................................................................................................................... ...............................
Keyissues .................................................................................................................................. ...............................
Vision for the Santa Ana River through Newport Beach ........................................................... ...............................
Site- specific opport unities .......................................................................................................... ...............................
ProposedActions ....................................................................................................................... ...............................
Appendix A: Existing conditions, constraints and opportunities ............................................... ...............................
AppendixB: ............................................................................................................ I .................................................
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[ -Why this visioning process was undertaken and
Committee was formed
- General description of City of Newport Beach
and Santa Ana River and watershed
-What this report contains]
As one of the last remnants of natural open space
along the OC Coastline provides many opportuni-
ties for public recreation and allows the restoration
of the original habitats of the estuary, salt marsh-
lands, and coastal bluffs. The immediate challenge
is to develop a plan that provides an education
opportunity to all potential park users that will
inspire a sense of ownership, pride and respect for
the resources being protected.
On , Newport Beach City Council
authorized the City to participate in the and
to accept a grant from The Wildlands Conservancy
to support this effort as part of a broader regional
movement to enhance and revitalize the Santa
Ana River. City Council appointed a "Santa
Ana River Trails Advisory Committee" to create
a vision document that addresses miles
along the Santa Ana River through Newport
Beach. Nine other cities spanning three counties
have undertaken similar processes to envision
their respective reaches of the Santa Ana River,
including the nearby Cities of Costa Mesa and
Huntington Beach.
The Santa Ana River begins in San Bernardino
County, California in the San Bernardino National
Forest. After traveling nearly 100 miles through
San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties,
it eventually reaches its terminus between Newport
Beach and Huntington Beach where it flows into
the Pacific Ocean. Despite much of the river being
channelized in recent times, it still represents one
of the largest river systems in Southern California.
The Santa Ana River's watershed is the largest
coastal river system in Southern California at 3000
square miles of mountains, foothills, and valleys.
The Watershed is home to more than 4.5 million
people and contains four Resource Conservation
Districts, the Orange County Water District, and
several participating agencies. This watershed
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee
area spans portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, San
Bernardino, and Orange Counties.
In Orange County, the Santa Ana River travels
through seven cities. The last communities
through which the river flows are Huntington
Beach to the west and Newport Beach to the east,
each of which adjoins the River.
Located at the outflow and to the east of the Santa
Ana River floodplain, Newport Beach is [insert
statistics and general community description here].
In 2007, the population of Newport Beach was
84,218.
Santa Ana River
The portion of the Santa Ana River that extends
through Orange County and Newport Beach is
part of a coastal plain through which the river
would meander and shift course, often scouring the
landscape during major rain events. Considering
the river's watershed drains over 3000 square
miles, one can imagine the immense power of the
river to shape the landscape at its lower reaches
over hundreds of years. The river's historic
floodplain is visible from the toe of the bluffs
in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach to the south
extending northwest to Huntington Beach. From
Fairview Park, the marshes and estuaries that once
characterize the zone in between where the river
would meet the ocean are also visible.
As many of the communities of Orange County
evolved first into burgeoning agriculture -based
communities and then into more developed,
populated cities, the interface between human
settlement and the dynamic Santa Ana River
system were in conflict through successive floods.
In response to public concerns, various flood
management projects occurred over many years
to stabilize the river through the construction of
channels that would protect adjacent areas. While
reducing the impacts of flood to communities, the
alteration of the river systems natural dynamics
had the side effect of creating ecosystem changes
Santa Ana River Trails Vision Plan (2126108 DRAFT)
This map shows the "Abel Stearns ranches, " La Habra,
Los Coyotes, San Juan Cajon, Las Bolsas, and La Bolsa
Chica,which were located to the northwest of present day
Newport Beach. This map illustrates the Santa Ana River
as a rancho boundary as well as the historic drainage of
the river into adjacent wetlands to the north and south
of the river's present day outflow. Image: The Bancroft
Library, University of California, Berkeley.
that reduced the historic wetlands and associated
habitat.
In the 1970's, interest grew in seeing the levees
of the Santa Ana River used for multiple purposes
beyond their original use for flood protection. As
a result, planning efforts began to transform the
river corridor into a parkway that would include
a trail and associated enhancements that would
enable users to walk, ride or bike from the ocean
to the mountains at the headwaters of the Santa
Ana River. In Orange County, the resulting Santa
Ana River Trail was completed and in 1976, 15.7
miles of the trail were designated as the "Santa
Ana River National Recreation Trail" and became
part of the National Trail System.
Moving forward to more recent history, a
resurgence of interest in completing the remaining
portions of the Santa Ana River Trail gained
momentum in the early 2000's and largely through
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SANTA ANA RIVER
WATERSHED CITIE:
The Santa Ana River watershed, which includes all of the land that drains into the river and its tributary streams and
creeks, is one of the largest river systems in Southern California, encompassing approximately 3000 square miles. Costa
Mesa is located near the outflow of the watershed, where the river flows intothe Pacific Ocean. Image: Santa Ana Wa-
tershed Project Authority (SAWPA).
the leadership and support of The Wildlands
Conservancy, many cities have undertaken
visioning processes to create and/or reinvigorate
their respective reaches of the river trail corridor.
At the same time, the cities of Costa Mesa,
Huntington Beach and Newport Beach were
engaged with discussions with the County of
Orange and a number of non -profit organizations
such as the Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks
to plan for the Orange Coast River Park, the 1000+
acres of parks, wetlands, open space and river
corridor around the lower reach of the Santa Ana
River.
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 9
Alvde
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SANTA ANA RIVER
WATERSHED CITIE:
The Santa Ana River watershed, which includes all of the land that drains into the river and its tributary streams and
creeks, is one of the largest river systems in Southern California, encompassing approximately 3000 square miles. Costa
Mesa is located near the outflow of the watershed, where the river flows intothe Pacific Ocean. Image: Santa Ana Wa-
tershed Project Authority (SAWPA).
the leadership and support of The Wildlands
Conservancy, many cities have undertaken
visioning processes to create and/or reinvigorate
their respective reaches of the river trail corridor.
At the same time, the cities of Costa Mesa,
Huntington Beach and Newport Beach were
engaged with discussions with the County of
Orange and a number of non -profit organizations
such as the Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks
to plan for the Orange Coast River Park, the 1000+
acres of parks, wetlands, open space and river
corridor around the lower reach of the Santa Ana
River.
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 9
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[General description of river and surrounding
areas, planning framework, existing planning ef-
forts.]
Existing Planning Efforts
In the past five years there has been a great
deal of community, organizational and political
momentum surrounding Santa Ana River
improvement. As a result, there are several
planning efforts underway that relate to the Santa
Ana River and that affect the river's reach through
Costa Mesa. The following is a summary of these
efforts organized by scale from the broadest in
geographic scope to more locally - focused.
Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
(IRWMP): Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
(SA WPA)
The I R WMP will focus on water resources with
development of new water supply,
drought protection, and water reliability as the
primary watershed -wide goals. Existing and new
projects will be identified to meet these goals, but
will also include integrating multi- benefit projects
in such areas as wetlands, flood control, storm
runoff, environmental habitat, non - native species
removal, and recreation trails.
Santa Ana River Trail and Parkway Collaborative
Partnership
A partnership between San Bernardino, Riverside
and Orange Counties was developed in 2006 along
with SAWPA, The Wildlands Conservancy, cities
and other organizations to facilitate completion
of the approximately 100 -mile Santa Ana River
Trail and Parkway. Working together, the Policy
Advisory Committee of the partnership was able
to earmark $45 million out of voter - approved
Proposition 84 for the Santa Ana River Trail and
Parkway. The missing links of the Santa Ana Trail
and Parkway are scheduled to be completed by
2012.
Santa Ana River Parkway Feasibility and Planning
Study: County of Orange
The County of Orange is conducting a study
to meet the objectives of improving aesthetics;
increasing native habitat; enhancing and adding
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 11
to the recreational features; improving trails
and bikeways along and connecting to the river;
enhancing communities adjacent to the river; and
coordinating the study with agencies and cities that
have interest in the river. The study is scheduled
to be completed in mid -2008.
Orange Coast River Park: Friends of Harbors,
Beaches and Parks (FHBP)
The Orange Coast River Park (OCRP) consists
of 1000 contiguous acres of park, wetlands and
nature preserve at the mouth of the Santa Ana
River (Figure x: Orange Coast River Park). The
park is an effort to link more than ten different
contiguous sites together into a single landscape
spanning the lower reach of the river. Thus,
portions of the park would lie within the cities
of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Huntington
Beach, and under the jurisdiction of county, state
and federal governments.
The OCRP encompasses existing parks and open
space areas including Fairview Park (City of
Costa Mesa), Talbert Nature Preserve (County of
Orange), LeBard Park (City of Huntington Beach),
Huntington Beach Wetlands (Huntington Beach
Wetlands Conservancy), the US Army Corps of
Engineers' wetlands, and other adjacent areas.
The park would also incorporate properties that
are now privately owned but could be included
in the park when purchased with available state
and federal funds. FHBP has been facilitating
a partnership between the agencies, non -profit
organizations and private landowners to plan
for the future of the OCRP. A memorandum of
agreement to further these efforts has been adopted
by the Cities of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach
and Newport Beach. Adoption by the County of
Orange is forthcoming.
Maps:
• Jurisdictions/key property boundaries
• Land uses /circulation
• Existing conditions at the river based on Com-
mittee observations
12 Santa Ana River Trails lesion Plan (2126108 DRAFT)
Key Issues
Through group discussion and site visits, the
Committee identified several key issues related to
the river as it runs through the City of Newport
Beach (Figure x: Summary of Opportunities and
Constraints; Appendix A: Existing Conditions,
Constraints and Opportunities).
Aesthetics
The corridor is very linear in character and site
features such as fencing detract from the natural
character of the site.
Natural resource protection /enhancement
While wetland restoration has taken place in
some areas, other portions of the river corridor are
degraded and fragmented. Given the alterations
that have taken place to the lower river corridor,
there are concerns about overall ecosystem health.
Visitor access
Within the City of Newport Beach, there are few
access and staging areas for river corridor users.
Recreation /am eni ties
There are few amenities along the river corridor
for users for those who are able to access the
area. There are untapped opportunties for user
of the river for new recreation activities such as
water -based recreation and nature observation.
The overall visitor experience could be greatly
enhanced.
Education /programs
There is an overall lack of knowledge about the
river within the general public and few educational
facilities and programs that focus on the river
corridor.
Management
Few resources are directed towards maintenance
and operations along the river corridor. There are
concerns about potential conflicts between what
maintenance does take place and protecting natural
resources. Because of the complex regulatory
context for this area, management of the river
corridor is also complex.
Planning and design
There are many planning efforts going on, which
presents both opportunities and challenges. While
there are many ideas for the river corridor, these
ideas have not been evaluated and prioritized to
the point where they can be implemented. The
jurisdictional and land ownership patterns along
and around the river are complex but coordination
across boundaries is needed to address the river as
a whole.
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 13
r�ldl!ill m �NOR M11111111gp`
14 Santo Ana River Trails Vision Plan (2/16/08 DRAFT)
( ...............................
Use disturbed area adjacent
to main Santa Ana River Trail
to provide a ramped trail
connection to the trail along
the 19th Street extension .
Identify opportunities to
locate small rest/ viewing
areas along corridor where
space permits
Improve /formalize
decomposed granite
path for pedestrian u
Coordinate with
Sanitation District to
paint murals on
towers
,
r C
US ARMY CORPS
Of ENGINEERS SITE
— VISTA PARK
City of Costa Mesa
TALBERT NATURE
PRESERVE
(South)
County of Orange
BANNING RANCH
SITE
Pt
Restore degraded area z
'.. around mobile home park Q�
•'•, NEWPORT
•�.� SHORES PARK s
Extend trail under- \ Potential light signal •,•
neath bridge to at Highland St. •'
provide additional
access and connectiv- Replace chainlink fencing with
ity from Santa Ana posts to make entrance more bike
River Trail user - friendly
Potentially add a few parking
spaces for trail staging
n
Enhance area around access point as
rest stop, overlook, trailhead area
CANYON PARK
ity of Costa Mesa
WEST NEWPORT PARK
FUTURE SUNSET
RIDGE PARK
Explore potential to use this degraded
area for limited parking and access
Victoria Pond provides an opportunity for
interpretation, education and possibly
recreation such as fishing
Corridor with utility lines connects to 19th Street
and could provide a connection to Santa Ana
River Trail
Potential trail connection to future
Sunset Ridge Park along existing sewer
right -of -way
N
Legend
Existing access point
Potential access point
E•)� Existing Santa Ana River Trail
4+ Existing Class I bikeway
(i.e. use for bikes and pedestrians
separated from motor vehicle use)
t••' Existing Class II bikeway
(i.e. striped lane for bikes)
41('m)� Existing Class III bikeway
(i.e. shared use with pedestrians or
motor vehicle traffic)
E•� Potential trail connection
0 Potential use areas
Existing park areas
0 Potential restoration site
0 US Army Corps of Engineers
wetland restoration site
Prepared for City or Newport Beach by National Park Service Rivers,
Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. 21261M draft.
Summary of Constraints
and Opportunities
City of Newport Beach: Santa Ana
River Trails Advisory Committee
MARINA VIEW PARK
City of Costa Mesa
— Existing corrugated metal structure could be
converted into a visitor/ education/
,
interpretive facility. There is an existing
;
bridge across the wetlands that would
provide access to main trail.
;
Lower Banning Ranch area provides
'
opportunities for wetland
restoration
;
WEST NEWPORT PARK
FUTURE SUNSET
RIDGE PARK
Explore potential to use this degraded
area for limited parking and access
Victoria Pond provides an opportunity for
interpretation, education and possibly
recreation such as fishing
Corridor with utility lines connects to 19th Street
and could provide a connection to Santa Ana
River Trail
Potential trail connection to future
Sunset Ridge Park along existing sewer
right -of -way
N
Legend
Existing access point
Potential access point
E•)� Existing Santa Ana River Trail
4+ Existing Class I bikeway
(i.e. use for bikes and pedestrians
separated from motor vehicle use)
t••' Existing Class II bikeway
(i.e. striped lane for bikes)
41('m)� Existing Class III bikeway
(i.e. shared use with pedestrians or
motor vehicle traffic)
E•� Potential trail connection
0 Potential use areas
Existing park areas
0 Potential restoration site
0 US Army Corps of Engineers
wetland restoration site
Prepared for City or Newport Beach by National Park Service Rivers,
Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. 21261M draft.
Summary of Constraints
and Opportunities
City of Newport Beach: Santa Ana
River Trails Advisory Committee
Vision
The Committee developed a vision statement to
describe a desired long term outcome for the Santa
Ana River in Newport Beach.
"The Santa Ana River is a journey for
all who experience it, with Newport
Beach as both its beginning and the end.
Cyclists, walkers and equestrians enjoy
the community of life that is the river —the
birds, the fish, the different landscape
encountered –,and the new sand deposits that
it brings to our beaches. River trails can be
used to access the beach and upper reaches
of the river but also provide areas of escape
and contemplation. Adjacent areas extend
the experience with additional opportunities
for recreation, education and observation. "
Goals
The following goals describe broad desired
outcomes that will support the long -term vision
becoming a reality. The more specific objectives
below each are shorter term tasks /outcomes that
will support accomplishment of the broader goals.
Goal 1: Continue to provide for flood protection.
a. Coordinate with flood management agencies,
including the Orange County Flood Control
District to identify opportunities to balance
flood protection, recreation, and ecosystem
health.
Goal 2: Protect, enhance and restore the
ecosystem health of the Santa Ana River.
a. Improve river ecosystem functions.
b. Protect, enhance and expand habitat.
c. Ensure that recreation and access that are
consistent with ecosystem protection.
d. Enhance water quality by identifying
opportunities for new and improved best
management practices (BMPs) within the City
of Newport Beach.
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 15
Goal 3: Engage the community in the Santa Ana b.
River.
a. Develop an outreach program to engage the
community in planning and management and C.
expand awareness and connection to the Santa
Ana River.
b. Develop educational and recreational
amenities and programs that attract users to the
Santa Ana River.
Goal 4: Create a seamless corridor from the
mouth of the river to the upper reaches of the
river.
a. Partner with neighboring cities, the County
of Orange and other Santa Ana River
stakeholders to develop guidelines for
consistency along the river (i.e. trail design,
fencing, amenities, signage, etc.)
b. Develop a consistent signage system that
includes gateway, directional and interpretive
information.
c. Expand the reach of the river by extending
river corridor enhancements into adjacent
areas (i.e. consistent landscaping, trail
connections, signs, etc.)
Goal S: Enhance and expand public access and
use of the Santa Ana River corridor and trails.
a. Enhance the visual character of the river
corridor.
b. Identify staging areas and trail connections to
adjacent communities and destination points.
c. Identify recreation needs along the river and
assess feasibility of adding new uses d.
Identify recreation needs along the river and
assess feasibility of adding new uses (i.e.
motocross, educational, etc.).
e. Enhance amenities along the river.
Provide for access to the water for water -based
recreation.
Goal 6: Ensure long -term stewardship of the
Santa Ana River.
a. Develop a plan to position the City for current
and upcoming funding opportunities for the
river.
16 Santa Ana River Trails Vision Plan (2/26/08 DRAFT)
Develop programs for management and
stewardship of the river corridor through
Newport Beach.
Coordinate and partner with adjacent cities,
the County of Orange and other management
organizations to optimize operations and
maintenance.
d. Acquire key properties along the Santa Ana
River corridor.
e. Engage in broader scale planning efforts
affecting the Santa Ana River.
In addition to the numerous opportunities narrow sidewalk on PCH to a lighted intersection
identified by the Committe, four larger specific and cross the highway to connect to the PCH trail
sites were identified by the Committee as and the beach.
presenting more far - reaching opportunities:
• Pacific Coast Highway area
• Wetland restoration area
• Sunset Ridge
• Banning Ranch
Pacific Coast Highway Area
This area is unique to the Santa Ana River as the
southernmost point of the 100 -mile trail. As such,
the site warrants special treatment as the point
where the Santa Ana River watershed meets the
Pacific Ocean.
Currently, the Santa Ana River Trail crosses west
to the Huntington Beach side of the river at Talbert
Nature Preserve, north of Newport Beach. The
trail on the east side of the river terminates on the
upstream side of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)
bridge, requiring users to proceed south along a
An opportunity exists to extend the trail beneath
PCH to provide a safer, direct connection to the
PCH trail and facilitate beach access. The area
at the end of Seashore Dr. at Summit St. could
also be enhanced to provide potential additional
parking, and beach and trail user amenities (Figure
x: Pacific Coast Highway Opportunity Area).
Another longer -term opportunity around PCH
is the site currently occupied by the Beach and
Bay Trail Park. As a larger site situated adjacent
to historic wetlands and the terminus of the trail
along the east side of the river, the area would be
well suited as a trail staging area. The site may
also provide opportunities for interpretation and
other trail user amenities.
City ojNewport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 17
i
i
i
i
Extend trail
beneath bridge
Connect Santa And rover i rau
to PCH bikeway
Remove fencing and enhance
vegetation to separate
parking from mini park
Acquire site,convert to trail
staging area, and restore edges
III! 11 I l l l l l l l t 1111 i i 11111111111 111111111II I1�
/ m
Provide staging /user Reconfigure
area or mini park parking to provide
additional spaces
Figure x. Vncrfic Cosr Highway Opportunity Are,
Wetland Restoration Area
Currently, the existing wetland areas include a
wetland mitigation/restoration site owned and
managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
(ACOE). Within this area, opportunities exist
to restore the tern island area and enhance
wildlife viewing and interpretation. There is
also a possibility of transferring management of
the site to a local entity to enhance monitoring
and restoration (Figure x: Wetland Restoration
Opportunity Area).
Sunset Ridge
The City acquired the 12 acres of former CalTrans
property at the intersection of Superior Ave. and
PCH. The City's General Plan designates the site
as "open space- active" and a process is underway
to identify uses and a design for the park (Figure
x: Draft Concept Plan for Sunset Ridge Park).
Given the proximity to the Santa Ana River Trail,
there is an opportunity to more directly connect
18 Santa Ana River Trails Vision Plan (1116108 DRAFT)
this site to the trail via an existing sewer line right -
of -way and a potential future connection through a
portion of Banning Ranch (Figure x: Sunset Ridge
Opportunity Area).
Banning Ranch
Currently, the 402 -acre Banning Ranch is
privately - owned. The property is characterized
by an upper area located on a bluff overlooking
the Santa Ana River floodplain, and a lower area
that is currently used for oil extraction and which
historically included wetland area.
Through the City's recent General Plan update
process, a preference was stated that this property
become protected open space with restored
wetlands and habitat areas as well as community
parklands (i.e. playing fields). However, the
General Plan also states that if the site is not
acquired for these purposes within an (unspecified)
time period, it may be developed with a mjority
Potential trail connection .,Z
to Sunset Ridge Park
Tern Island restoration
_ opportunity
Restore edge of proposed
staging area
Pacific Coos! Hiahwa
Proposed trail extension
Pacific Coast Highway Bike path
Santa Ana River Trail
terminus - connection to
PCH
lifornia Least
Figure x: Wetland Restoration Opportunity Area
of the property dedicated as open space. The
development allowed is 1375 residential units,
75000 square feet of commercial space, and
a small boutique hotel (75 rooms maximum
capacity).
...........
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Proposed staging /user
amenity sites
Because of site and environmental constraints
within the lower portion of Banning Ranch, this
are would likely be dedicated as open space even if
development proceeds (Figure X.• Banning Ranch
Development Constraints). Within this lower
area, a priority would be to restore the wetlands
area and potentially incorporate compatible
recreation and education amenities. Specifically,
the existing metal building adjacent to the ACOE
site could be adapted for use as a small education
or interpretive facility as an existing bridge
connects it to the Santa Ana River Trail (Figure
x: Banning Ranch Opportunity Area). This site is
rich with interpretive opportunities because of the
nexus between stories relating to natural history
and cultural history, specifically the story of oil
development in southern California.
Other options for this facility could include trail
user amenities, field operations facility or a small
refreshment stand to serve visitors. Another
alternative would be to remove the structure
and restore the site with native habitat. It was
noted that a new Wetlands and Wildlife Care
Center nearby in Huntington Beach could make
an additional interpretitive center on this site
redundant, particularly since the primary priority
would be ecological restoration.
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 19
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Figure x: Draft Concept Plan for Sunset Ridge Park
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Future Sunset Ridge Park
Figure x: Sunset Ridge Opportunity Area
20 Santa Ana River Trails Vision Plan (2126108 DRAFT)
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 21
Existing bridge could be used as a
trail connection to education/
interpretation area
Potential outdoor
interpretive area or
restoration demonstration
area
Potential adaptive reuse of
existing building for
education /interpretation
Figuwe x: Banninq Ranch Opporhnnty Area
22 Santa Ana River Trails rision Plan (1116108 DRAFT)
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Dwils Advisory Committee 23
THIS PAGE
LEFT BLANK
INTENTIONALLY
[List of "next steps" proposed by the Committee
for moving forward and implementing the recom-
mendations from this report]
• Develop and implement an interpretive plan for
the Santa Ana River
• Assess necessity of fencing along the trail and
explore opportunities for more aesthetically
integrated and attractive barriers where needed.
• Enhance the visual character of the river corri-
dor (i.e. vegetation, fencing, etc.).
• Identify staging areas and trail connections to
adjacent communities and destination points.
• Identify recreation needs along the river and as-
sess feasibility of adding new uses (i.e. moto-
cross, educational, etc.).
• Enhance amenities along the river (i.e. rest ar-
eas, observation/viewing areas, shaded spaces,
benches, trash receptacle etc.).
• Provide for access to the water for water -based
recreation.
• Identify and/or develop funding strategies for
operations and maintenance along the river cor-
ridor (i.e. endowment, mitigation funding, etc.).
• Develop programs for management and stew-
ardship of the river corridor through Newport
Beach (i.e. City agency, coordination with
County of Orange, new partnerships, etc.).
• At a minimum, gain management control over
the Corps project property. Coordinate with the
Corps in order for the site to function ecologi-
cally (including the Tern Island)
• Banning Ranch- feasibility study, appraisal, etc.
Follow recommendations in the general plan
[restate it here].
• Pursue acquisition of Beach & Bay Trailer Park
as a staging area.
• Integrated trails system.... develop one with the
adjacent property owners and agencies.
• Identify staging opportunities
• Locks /tidal gates. Explore what needs to be
done to make them work... coordinate with
relevant agencies
City of Newport Beach Santa Ana River Trails Advisory Committee 25
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26 Santa Ana River Trails Piston Plan (1/16/08 DRAFT)