HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/26/2016 - Planning Commission CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Marina Park—1600 West Balboa Boulevard
Monday, September 26, 2016
SPECIAL MEETING
6:00 p.m.
Deputy Director Wisneski provided an overview of the process. She explained that it was a long term plan for
development in Mariners Mile. She discussed pending projects in Mariners Mile.
I. CALL TO ORDER-The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—Secretary Zak
III. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:Vice Chair Peter Koetting, Commissioner Bill Dunlap, Commissioner Bradley Hillgren, Commissioner
Erik Weigand;and Secretary Peter Zak
EXCUSED: Chair Kory Kramer and Commissioner Ray Lawler
Staff Present: Community Development Director Kim Brandt; Public Works Director Dave Webb; Deputy Director
Brenda Wisneski; Principal Planner Jim Campbell; Program Planning Manager Patrick Alford;Associate Planner
Rosalinh Ung; Assistant Planner Chelsea Crager; Assistant Planner Liz Westmoreland; Assistant City Attorney
Michael Torres; Planning Technician David Lee; Senior Planner Jaime Murillo; and Administrative Support
Specialist Jennifer Biddle _
IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim Carmack asked for confirmation that comments were not being taken on the AutoNation project.
Nancy Skinner asked if the AutoNation project was part of Mariners' Mile.
V. MARINERS' MILE REVITALIZATION PLAN—PUBLIC WORKSHOP
1. Introduction—Woodie Tescher, PlaceWorks, provided an overview of the purpose of the Mariners' Mile
Revitalization Master Plan, progress made to date and format of the workshop.
2. Presentation — Mr. Tescher presented a PowerPoint outlining the General Plan vision for Mariners'
Mile, existing development, expansion of Pacific Coast Highway to six lanes, and comments regarding
parking, access and circulation, uses and development, building heights and densities. He presented
ideas for consideration regarding circulation, pedestrian plazas, boardwalk, pedestrian scramble, shared
streets, village streetscapes, parking strategies, and Avon Village.
3. Small Group Breakout Discussions
Vice Chair Koetting recessed the meeting for small group breakout discussion at 6:41 p.m. The meeting
reconvened at 7:14 p.m.
4. Report on Group Discussions
Group#1,facilitated by Patrick Alford
The group spokesperson stated the group was concerned with the scramble idea on a six lane highway,
suggested view corridors, varied heights and buildings and underground parking.
Group#2,facilitated by Jim Campbell
Phil Edmonston indicated support for a boardwalk or promenade and balancing on-street parking. He
expressed concern with giving up private land or shortening docks. He suggested rooftop landscape
areas and a pedestrian bridge from the parking structure to the other side. He stated the group liked the
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idea of scrambling but were concerned with stacking. He suggested a seasonal trolley and incentives
for public plazas or a promenade.
Group#3,facilitated by Rosalinh Ung
Daniel Walker discussed the need to revitalize the area and indicated support for the extension of Avon.
He suggested implementing the 2nd option for bike access and stated a boardwalk may not be realistic.
He expressed concern that a pedestrian scramble might delay drivers and questioned whether two
parking structures were necessary. He stated his group loved the pedestrian bridge concept.
Group#4,facilitated Chelsea Crager
Russell Cook stated his group was made up of homeowners on the cliff bluff overlooking the project. He
expressed concern with PCH widening and uncertainty with scrambles in Newport Beach. He
suggested retaining the existing charm of the harbor area. He encouraged consideration of expanding
Avon and an alternate traffic pattern to reduce traffic by the slips.
Group#5,facilitated by Liz Westmoreland
Jim Mosher asked why the east end of Mariners' Mile was not addressed. He expressed concern with
the method for measuring building height and preserving the views of the bluffs. He stated his group
expressed enthusiasm regarding pedestrian bridges. He suggested undergrounding PCH, if cost was
not a concern. He stated the parking garage was met with enthusiasm, if it included green roofs/public
parks. His group expressed concern with building into the bluffs and requested the nautical theme be
used. He suggested a boardwalk be constructed by pushing the existing docks out. He expressed
concern about bicycle safety on PCH. He suggested public art.
Group#6,facilitated by Brandt Birkeland
Peggy Palmer expressed concern about a scramble and bikes on a six lane corridor. She discussed the
noise levels. She stated it was necessary that traffic did not increase on Tustin and suggested the
possibility of one way only south on Tustin to PCH. She encouraged a"wow" project that the residents
could support with a maritime theme.
Group#7,facilitated by Jaime Murillo
David Grant stated his group was made up of long time Heights residents and liked the idea of a
boardwalk along the water. He stated the PCH widening was not set in stone and did not have to be
done. He agreed with undergrounding PCH. His group felt a pedestrian scramble could work and
suggested utilizing some of the open space in the Avon area but ensuring the water could be seen.
Group#8,facilitated by David Lee
The group spokesperson discouraged adding more traffic to an already congested area. She stated the
boardwalk, pedestrian tracks and plazas were good ideas but it would be difficult to get the property
owners to give up their property. She stated Avon Street was not wide enough for shared streets and
encouraged 35-foot height limits measured from the street and limiting trees to 15-feet in height.
5. Planning Commission Comments
Vice Chair Koetting stated it was necessary to determine whether PCH would be six lanes and
suggested the boardwalk along the bay front be two stories.
Commissioner Hillgren thanked the public for its input. He stated he heard four basic themes or
concepts regarding the future of the area:
1) Maintaining existing views of the harbor for residents and whenever possible expanding view
opportunities to the harbor along PCH
2) Reconciling the plan for PCH (to widen or not) with the plan for Mariner's Mile as they currently
appear to be in direct conflict. Traffic moving at 60 MPH is not consistent with the pace of activities
associated with a retail and residential village.
3) Determination of the desired mix, density and placement of uses as this will have the most
significant impact on defining and identifying what Mariner's Mile is
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4) The desire to create a genuine sense of place which is convenient and which attracts both
residents and visitors-particularly as the current condition was observed and described to be as"an
uncomfortable place to be.".
Secretary Zak stated it was necessary to determine whether PCH would be 4 or 6 lanes and it was
critical to come up with a "wove' plan. He stated the plan needs to be practical and able to be
implemented. He stated parking needed to be resolved and suggested incentives for alternative modes
of transportation rather than building a parking structure.
Commissioner Dunlap discussed traffic issues and the need to balance visitors and residents needs.
He suggested consideration of expanding Avon and village type development.
Commissioner Weigand thanked the participants. He indicated support for a parking structure.
Vice Chair Koetting opened it up to public comments.
Peggy Palmer asked how a scramble would work with emergency vehicles.
Sue Leal requested the Commission correct the saying that everyone was agreeable to a three or four
story building off of Avon.
Ernie May praised the venue where the meeting was held.
Slavica Milosavljevic, PCH business owner, indicated support for the proposed plan but we need to
figure out whether it will be a speedway or village.
6. Next Steps
Mr.Tescher discussed the next steps including the third workshop.
Community Development Director Wisneski stated the PowerPoint would be available on the City's website.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, the meeting was adjourned at
8:07 p.m. to the Planning Commission meeting of October 6, 2016.
The agenda for the Planning Commission meeting was posted on Friday, September 23, 2016, at 12:30 p.m.
in the Chambers binder, on the digital display board located inside the vestibule of the Council Chambers at
100 Civic Center Drive and on the City's website on Friday, September 23, 2016, at 12:45 p.m.
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Peter Zak, Secretary
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