HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS2 - Recreational Opportunities & Projects at or near Crystal Cove State ParkCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. SS -?
October 28, 2003
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: City Manager's Office
Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager
949/644 -3002 or dkiff @city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Recreational Opportunities and Projects at or near Crystal Cove
State Park
ISSUE:
How should the City of Newport Beach or its residents participate in projects, events, or
decisions relating to the Crystal Cove State Park region?
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File -- Information Only.
DISCUSSION:
Background: When the City annexed the Newport Coast in January 2002, it added
most of the oceanward section of Crystal Cove State Park (CCSP) to our city limits.
CCSP also includes land outside the city limits, but close enough to be used frequently
by our residents and visitors.
Crystal Cove State Park is administered by the California Department of Parks and
Recreation (DPR). It has 3.5 miles of beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland,
which is popular for hiking and horseback riding. The offshore waters are designated as
an underwater park. Crystal Cove is used by mountain bikers inland and scuba and skin
divers underwater. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. Visitors can
explore tidepools and sandy coves. State Park Rangers conduct nature hikes in the
winter.
This Study Session will inform the Council and Newport Beach residents about several
projects of interest underway at and near CCSP:
Crystal Cove State Park Projects
October 28, 2003
Page 2
The Crystal Cove Historic District (Cottages) Preservation and Public Use
Plan. The PPUP, which was approved by the California Parks Commission in
February 2003, describes how DPR will renovate and make available for public
use the 46 cottages that make up the 12.3 -acre Crystal Cove Historic District.
The District is registered on the National Register of Historic Places as a well -
preserved example of Southern California vernacular beach architecture and
terrain. The District retains the scale and ambience of a 1930's beach resort.
The Historic District is within the Newport Beach city limits. The Restoration Plan
is underway and fully funded by funds from Proposition 40 and Proposition 50.
Crystal Cove Historic District
Conversion of the El Morro Village Trailer Park to a Public Campground.
More controversial than the Historic District PPUP is DPR's plan to end current
leases with the owners of 294 trailers at the El Morro Village Trailer Park on
December 31, 2004. The Plan provides for environmental restoration of El Moro
Canyon and Creek, day use parking, picnicking and beach access, and a 60 -unit
campground. DPR claims that this Plan is consistent with the 1982 General Plan
that was arrived at with a broad based and thorough public process.
The Plan is controversial at least among current tenants at El Morro Village.
They have raised money and hired advocates to propose an alternative to the
DPR Plan that would keep the trailers in place. Proponents of the alternative plan
say their plan will raise $1 million in extra revenue from increased fees for the
leases and add to the region's supply of affordable housing.
The Plan is fully funded for implementation in January 2005 by Proposition 40
and Proposition 50 monies. El Morro Village is outside of the Newport Beach city
limits and within the sphere of influence (but not the city limits) of Laguna Beach.
Local environmental advocates, including the Friends of the Irvine Coast (see
attached letter) have asked the Newport Beach City Council to offer an opinion
supporting State Parks' plan for the Village.
2
Crystal Cove State Park Projects
October 28, 2003
Page 3
• Newport Coast's Planning Area #6. The Irvine Company, as a condition of the
development of the Newport Coast Local Coastal Program, 2nd Amendment, will
construct an active park at the edge of the City's limits. The location also is
home to the Moro Ridge Link, a recently- opened trailhead into the Laguna Coast
Wilderness Park and Crystal Cove State Park.
Moro Ridge Link. On Monday, October 20th, the Irvine Company opened the
Moro Ridge Link trailhead. This trailhead, off of Ridge Park Road (which joins
Newport Coast Drive at the Newport Coast Elementary School) will allow bike
and hiking access into the uplands of Crystal Cove State Park and the Laguna
Coast Wilderness Park (open only on weekends). Eventually, trails will lead to
the Bommer Canyon park area between the 73 Tollroad and 1 -405.
Moro Ridge Link area
PA #6 Active Park. The planned active park, because it has been constructed
with assessment district funds, is intended to be open to the public. TIC does not
anticipate constructing the park until build -out is near for this portion of the
Newport Coast (5 -6 years). The park will have ballfields, a tot lot, parking, and
possibly access to the inland CCSP hiking and mountain biking region.
Crystal Cove State Park Projects
October 28, 2003
Page 4
Planning Area #6 Park Location (estimate)
Preliminary Park Schematic
4
of
Crystal Cove State Park Projects
October 28, 2003
Page 5
For later action at a formal council meeting, the City Council may want to comment
upon or seek additional information about any of the projects shown in this staff report.
Committee Action: None.
Environmental Review: N/A
Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Ralph M. Brown Act
(72 hours in advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the
item).
Submitted by:
7h—e—'LLiAl
Dav 4r
Assistant City Manager
Attachment: Friends of the Newport Coast letter
h
= RIENDS OFTHE NEWPORT COAST
POST OFFICE BOX 671
CORONA DEL MAR
CALIFORNIA 92625
June 10, 2003
r. e .C:2
•13 .r'Ji�1 1 y n .
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- - - --
Date 19 a
Copies Sent To:
Steve Bromberg, Mayor
Mayor
City of Newport Beach
Council Member
3300 Newport Boulevard
Manager
Newport Beach, California 92663
❑ Attorney
M : �
Subject: Request Support from the City of Newport Beach for the State Plans fgr EL
Morro Campground at Crystal Cove State Park
❑
Dear Honorable Mayor Bromberg:
The Friends of the Newport Coast (formerly called Irvine Coast) have been working
with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to develop plans for the
conversion of the existing El Morro Trailer Park to a day -use beach facility and
overnight. camping. As you. may be aware, for over 26 years the Friends have been
Successful at preserving, open space and wildlife. habitat of the 9,500
acres .of Newport:. Coast lands. We have been an active. participant. Jr., the public
workshops and hearings for.the planning of development of.the Newport Coast and
future uses in Crystal Cove State Park. We are supportive of.the. conversion of El
Morro Trailer Park. for public beach use and affordable overnight facilities and want to
see this project implemented as soon as the leases expire at the end of 2004.
The B Morro tenants assert that leaving the State Park is a "Bad Idea" and are now
proposing an alternative plan to allow them to stay on public land as tenants for
another 30 years. The tenants propose that instead of the campground there be a
vacation hostel built elsewhere in the park. They also propose a plan whereby they
immediately provide the City of Laguna Beach, at no cost, 50 affordable residences
for their local workforce — and, in 30 years, 272 affordable residences, the entire
housing stock on public park land, inland of Coast Highway.
Why should Laguna Beach be allowed to use public lands to meet their obligations for
affordable housing? Perhaps Newport Beach is also. entitled to use another portion of
Crystal Cove State Park.for their low -cost housing Since it.is_directly adjacent to the
park. I point this out only to .emphasize what an inappropriate use this.would..be. The
private use.of parklands.purchased.by..State Park funds, sets a dangerous precedent
for,other types of activities;. and uses.that. defeats the purpose of the .park system.:and.
degrades the quality of life in the area, ]:am sure that .you, will agree the state parkland
should be open for public use and not just for the few privileged tenants.
Request for Support of El Morro Conversion to Campground
June 9, 2003
Page 2
The way in which Crystal Cove State Park is developed and managed can directly
affect the City of Newport Beach and its residents. We are looking for your support of
the State plans for the conversion of El Morro to a campground and beach use facility
and opposition to the tenant's alternative plan. Please adopt a resolution to that
effect.
Thank you for taking your time to consider this important project located at the
southern gateway to Newport Beach. We hope that your seriously consider our
request and conclude that over 20 years of planning for the conversion of El Morro
should be supported.
Sincerely, //
Fern Pirkle, President �`
Friends of the Newport Coast
FP:sjp /Fdends/1tr to NB re El Morro
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ORANGE COAST
Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, El Toro /Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Irvine,
Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach,
Rancho Santa Margarita, Seal Beach
Newport Beach City Council
3300 Newport Boulevard
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Dear Council Member Heffernan:
1531 Sandcastle Drive
Corona del Mar, CA 92625 "RECEIVED AFTER AGENDA
PRINTED:" 2 ) u Z0 U3
This letter seeks to enlist the City Council of Newport Beach in active support of the
California State Plans for El Morro Campground at Crystal Cove State Park.
The League of Women Voters of Orange Coast has had a long- standing position in favor of the full
utilization of and public access to our beaches and shoreline. In this connection, we fully support the
State Parks' plan for the conversion of the El Morro Trailer Park in Crystal Cove State Park to a public
campground and day -use beach facility.
So what's the problem? The problem is that the tenants are carrying on a well- financed surprisingly
successful campaign to remain for another thirty years after their leases expire at the end of 2004. This
is in spite of the fact that they have had the privilege of living in a State Park and having exclusive use of
the beach for 24 years since the State purchased the Park..
The tenants initiated a lawsuit against the State Parks Department in Superior Court that was
unsuccessful, and now the tenants intend to appeal the decision. They hired a public relations firm and
have, for months, been running full -page ads in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach newspapers in order
to try to win public support for their desire to stay in the park for another 30 years. As an incentive, the
tenants say they will build 50 homes in the park for low- income employees of the City of Laguna Beach,
even though the land does not belong to them or to the City of Laguna Beach. In addition, the tenants
have offered to contribute $1,000,000 per year for the rebuilding of the Historic District Cottages in
Crystal Cove State Park, which is unnecessary as adequate funding is already provided by State Bond
Issues. The tenants also claim that in 30 years they will vacate and turn all of the trailers over to Laguna
Beach.
The tenants' publicity campaign has convinced some members of the Laguna Beach City Council and
many prominent people in Laguna Beach and elsewhere that their plan is a good idea. These people, in
turn, are lobbying the State Parks and the legislators in Sacramento to allow the tenants to stay for 30
more years.
The people of Newport Beach should be particularly concerned about what happens in this area
immediately adjacent to our city. We, and all other Californians, should not continue to be deprived of
the right to enjoy using the overnight camping facilities and the beach in that beautiful spot, a right that
has been denied us for all this time.
We urge you to adopt a resolution in support of the State Parks' Plan to convert the El Morro area into a
public campground and day -use beach facility — in opposition to the tenant's alternative plan.
Sincerely, `�
Judith M. Gielow4m Christina H. Lucey
Co- President, LWV of Orange Coast Co- President, LWV of Orange Coast
"RECEI E A ER AGE D
PRINTED:" S !C �F 0�
Newport Beach City Council - Crystal Cove State Park Study Session
Oct. 28, 2003
REMARKS
Sandy Cooney
Good Afternoon. Mr. Mayor, council members, thank you for allowing me the opportunity tq... ...
speak on behalf of the El Morro Community Association and the residents of El Morro lla
Viges''
. "
My name is Sandy Cooney, and while I'm here as an El Morro Village resident, I grew up in
Eastbluff on the cliffs of the Upper Back Bay and I have a long history with this wonderful city
that dates back to 1964.
I understand the record includes a letter from "Friends of the Irvine Coast" encouraging the city
council to support a State Park's plan that would eliminate El Morro Village. I'm sure you're
aware that this plan would also place an RV Camp next to an elementary school and an
amphitheatre and "campfire center" at the very heart of what was 10 years ago yesterday, El
Morro's sad chapter in the historic Laguna Beach fire.
On behalf of the more that 300 families who live in El Morro Village, I'd like to ask that you not
take such a position. I would encourage you to either support the staff recommendation, and take
no position at all, orjoin with us and support a lease extension for our community.
We're your neighbors. And you are ours
Fl Morro Village is an affordable community. Lease extension our not; it is one of the few that
remain in our area. It's made up of young couples with school -aged children just starting out,
senior citizens who have grown children enjoying the sunset of their lives and families just like
all of yours, full of hope for a future in a community that they love.
The story of El Morro Village is the story of close -knit families and an established neighborhood,
not a collection of trailers that sit at the edge of a state park. El Morro Village is the story of a
thriving community that has coexisted, as a good neighbor to all the cities that surround her. The
Village has supported El Morro Elementary School both financially, and with its `Secret Garden'
project, where children learn about gardening and agriculture. Although we inhabit such a small
space, we produce an incredible benefit.
El Morro Village occupies approximately one percent of the 2,791 acres that are Crystal Cove
State Park, yet we generate more than $1.3 million annually in profit for California. Under any
lease extension scenario, it stands to reason that we would generate considerably more and in an
era of escalating historic deficit, our contribution is vital.
For nearly 80 years El Morro Village has been an important economic contributor to both
Newport and Laguna. We are an economically viable neighborhood and an integral part of the
region's economy. State Park's current plan to replace us with RV's and campfire pits is as
unsafe and socially irresponsible as it is economically unsound.
Our support of the region goes beyond just beach cities. Every summer we bring groups of
children to the ocean who otherwise wouldn't have such an opportunity. Through events we call
'Great Day at the Beach' many of these children from inland communities are afforded their first
experience with the beach. A beach that is open to the public, as are the canyons and hills of
which we are a part.
I thank you for allowing me the time before you this afternoon, I am happy to answer any
questions you may have and it is my great hope, on behalf of El Morro's more than 300 families,
that you will not take a position condemning our community. Thank You.