HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-2018 - CAC - Public CommentsGPS-OC
VISION: The George P. Shultz Opportunity Center (GPS-OC) located at 20661 Newport Coast Drive in the
City of Newport Beach, California.
INSPIRATION: (1) Initially, then-Mayor Dixon suggested a destination venue such as a large donation
Ahmanson-like hall. (2) And, (URI) United Religions Initiative by former Secretary of State George P.
Shultz and the Right Reverend William Swing, an effort bringing world countries leaders and various
religious leaders together for an annual breakfast in an effort toward understanding and unity. (3) And,
various other venues and people, including my own education and work with Interior Design and OC
Law Offices and the request from the Newport Beach City Council's request to the Newport Beach City
Arts Commission to present a "vision."
MISSION STATEMENT: Development to bring cultures of Orange County together to introduce,
experience, and enjoy the diversity through 27-day-long venues each month of arts, fashion, foods,
science, and special features of world countries while providing opportunities for staycations, education,
training, and relaxation.
PROJECT:
The site is formerly the Coyote Canyon Landfill that closed in 1990. The property is owned by the
County of Orange (1)-with some easements in place east of SR-73). Access roads exist and various
cellphones towers may be in negotiation. There are some 200 buildable acres. Beginning at Bonita
Canyon Road and continuing to Newport Coast Drive, San Joaquin Hills Road and the 73 Toll Road, this
location is accessible by major roads already in place. The site is adjacent the Newport Coast
Community Center and a baseball park on San Joaquin Hills Road.
The project venues would have both natural and cultivated landscaping with expertise of indigenous
and exotic plants. Beginning near Bonita Canyon Road would be entrance and exit roadways next to a
professional training roadway for use by both private companies and County law enforcement, a simple
skateboard park and cement grounds (like the Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa).
Near the center of the property would be a moated island with a tall lighthouse offering rooms and
offices and kitchen on four levels inside with a viewing deck near the top. An electricity capable cement
outdoor amphitheater would be built on the northwest side of the lighthouse with both hard surface
and grass seating facing the lighthouse structure. Various small buildings including rentable living units,
a commercial kitchen, and room for temporary food service follow. It would be available for open public
use, science walks, fishing, canoeing, and other activities, or closed for various private activities such as
kids clubs or jamborees (example: Camp Fire organization, formerly Camp Fire, USA). The island would
also be available for weddings in a small open-wall chapel and low-walled garden. The island access
would be from a drivable movable bridge over the moat on the west side and a walking bridge on the
east. Overnight stays and private parties could be made very exclusive by raising the access bridge and
gating the walking bridge when necessary.
Other property features apart from the many acre moated island would be walkways and bike paths
with various fruit trees and bushes and beautiful landscaping (design details not to be exhibited at this
Author: KC Susan Cramer Page 1 GPS-OC
time, but available). Permaculture and hydroponics on the property could grow local produce and also
be like Archi's Acres that provides restorative work for veteran's and others suffering PTSD. The
property could engage others in need of helping in a cooperative way for pay as best they could.
Stemming east and connected with walkways and golf cart paths, there would be buildings that include
but are not limited to a fine arts concert, movie theater, recording studios, karaoke lounges, overnight
lodging, shower locker rooms, classrooms, WiFi-enabled community reading lounge, meeting rooms, a
business incubation center and a business opportunity center with guidance and placement in various
industries (one detail in example would be the rejuvenation of the local 2030 Club) including new
programs to train artists and actors in either handling their business professionally or meeting partners
and/or support staff such as Roy Disney Sr. was to his brother toward success. Also on the property
between the moated island and concert hall, is a building called "The Paint Box", a contemporary
residence-like structure that is hidden from sight by it's walking garden roof with trees and parkland
setting such as that house designed by architect Vo Trang Nghia in partnership with former
colleague Masaaki Iwamoto. Inside are art classes and rooms and currently popular "paint and wine
dinner" events while outside, above the one-story, split-level structure, is a roof of terraced herb and
floral gardens, trees and grass with seating and plein air opportunity (see pictures of garden roof house
designed by architect Vo Trang Nghia at www.dezeen.com). This is just one example in a variety of
many special buildings designed for the property.
Each City could engage the grounds for just shy of one month's time to hold events and exhibits at
various areas of the grounds where their customs, foods, music, fashion, art, science and other facts
would represent a focus in their community and refer people to established businesses in that City. If
cities joined in exhibits and presentations, they could present with expertise lands such as France or
Ireland or India or Polynesia; lands that people may or may not have traveled to in reality and enjoyed
with memories and souvenirs. The "theme" would be held just under a month, long enough to allow for
pop-ups and walk-ins just hearing about the planned theme, an evitable staycation. It would be a place
to hold what is already popular and established but needs more room, as well as the innovative and new
needing audience; in one ongoing location.
Two other ingress and egress roadways could be made; one to a covered parking structure from San
Joaquin Hills Road(also accessible from the cement fairgrounds) and the other from the 73 Toll Road
with a road connect to open lot and covered parking. Entrance onto the property would require a
"passport" not unlike a library card available to those that apply at "Ellis Island" (name yet to be
determined; Moorlach Island? lol) onsite or online. Visitors would identify themselves and agree to
terms of use set in place legally. The card (and phone app) would also enable variable charges for
concert tickets and organized events that could be scanned at the venue ticket office. The owner,
Orange County, would oblige the management company for their input.
The GPS-OC would begin its development with pavement roadways beginning from Bonita Canyon Road
and continuing to a cemented Fair Grounds, later giving way to a training roadtrack and skateboard
park. This Fairgrounds will be able to take on the overflow from the Orange County Fairgrounds and the
Farmer's Market where it is currently growing out of its confines. In time, walkways and bike/cart paths
will wind through beautifully landscaped areas to building structures and a moated island while
Permaculture experts begin restorative work. The moated island would be constructed next and have
city views, sunset views, and ocean views as well as a variety of beautifully landscaped areas and
gazebos. State of the art capabilities on the entire site such as Elon Musk's PowerWall for electricity
Author: KC Susan Cramer Page 2 GPS-OC
could have a testing ground at GPS-OC. After the movie theater is in place and a variety of subsequent
buildings tethered to construction, the eventual crowning of the site would be a prominent fine arts
concert hall.
The GPS-OC could be a slow growth project, with various software apps and controls for public input
and access and security. The property would be owned by Orange County who would reap the profits
over and above the maintenance by an affiliated management that would be handled by organizations
such as The Newport Beach Arts Foundation.
References (intentionally incomplete):
(1)Public review DRAFT (August 2016) IS.MND
Coyote Canyon Landfill Gas Recovery Facility Demolition and Telecom Update
http://www. new po rt beachca .gov /pl n/CEQA REVIEW /Coyote%20Ca nyo n%20Gas%20Recovery%20Dem
o litio n%20a nd %20Te le com %20U pdate%20( PA2016-091 )/IS.MN D%20-
%20Coyote%20Ca nyo n%20La ndfi I l%20Gas%20Recovery%20 Facil ity%20 De mo Ii tion %20a nd%20Teleco m
%20 U pdate%20( PA2016-091). pdf
(2)Property Development Standards -City of Newport Beach
http:ljwww.newportbeachca.gov/Home/ShowDocument7id=650
(3)20.22.030-Mixed-Use Zoning Districts General Development Standards
http://newportbeach.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view id=44&clip id=1284&meta id=105393
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11-30)
Author: KC Susan Cramer Page 3 GPS-OC
"Susan Cramer advised that the Minutes for the October meeting omitted her comments regarding
Pacific Symphony."
Again, a partial quote that results in a total misunderstanding of my comments.
The October meeting minutes were incorrect in that they were backward comments of what I said and
omitted on my "no" list the Pacific Symphony.
I specifically wrote out and handed papers to the council and recording secretary.
October meeting minutes misquoted me as to what programs I was recommending from the list of
options (requesting entities) and omitted amounts I was recommending and to whom on the list of
Grantee options. Minutes recorded I was in favor of the programs I was not in favor of and omitted PS
on the no list and also omitted my opinion reasons.