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01088.0075/1005573.1 Page 1 of 2
NEWPORT BEACH HEARING OFFICER MINUTES
100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH
CORONA DEL MAR CONFERENCE ROOM (BAY E-1st FLOOR)
THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024
REGULAR MEETING – 8:00 A.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 8:09 a.m.
Present: Hearing Officer Paul Early
Staff Present: Tonee Thai, Chief Building Official
Chris Sanchez, Principal Building Inspector
II. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
ITEM NO. 1 Three-Year Construction Limit Extension (X2020-1583, XR2023-2454, XR2024-
0778, XR2024-1003)
Site Location: 703 Acacia Avenue
Project Summary
The scope of work for the project is an addition of 530 square feet, remodel 530 square feet (living
room, bed/bath, kitchen), and replace windows to existing building.
Recommended Action
1) Conduct a public hearing;
2) Find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
Section 15301 under Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines, because this project
has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment; and
3) The hearing officer may grant, or conditionally grant, up to a 180-calendar day extension, per
application for extension, if the officer finds special circumstances warrant an extension of time,
or the failure to meet the time limit was caused by circumstances beyond the property owner,
applicant, or the contractor’s control. If the officer makes the findings to grant an extension, then
the officer shall consider whether conditions are necessary to ensure the timely completion of the
project in a manner that limits impacts to the surrounding property owners. The hearing officer
shall deny the application if they cannot make the findings set forth in Newport Beach Municipal
Code Section 15.02.095 (Addition of Sections 105.3.3, 105.3.4, and 105.3.5).
Tonee Thai, Chief Building Official, and Chris Sanchez, Principal Building Inspector, introduced
themselves.
Hearing Officer Early reviewed his role, the permit history, the extent of his authority, and the
hearing procedures.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
NEWPORT BEACH HEARING OFFICER 07/18/2024
01088.0075/1005573.1 Page 2 of 2
Chief Building Official Thai provided a brief project description stating the scope of work, building
permit and inspection history, previous extensions, staff recommendation, and terms for an
extension by the hearing officer.
Building Inspector Sanchez relayed the project status.
Mrs. Abeer Azzam explained the experience with the first contractor who was a 30-year long
friend, a year and a half of time passed with little work done, $327,275 taken from the applicant
by the contractor, that the lawyer uncovered that the contractor is a project manager, and the
permit was pulled by the contractor at first and then the applicant once trust was betrayed.
In reply to Hearing Officer Early’s question, Chief Building Inspector Thai stated that the initial
permit was pulled as an owner/builder.
Mrs. Azzam reviewed the work done by the first contractor, Alex, and related costs and deceit
that led to work needing to be redone/fixed by the second contractor, Melina and Mike, who began
March 4, 2024. She stated that within four months the new contractors had the project near
complete and a lawyer had been hired to investigate the source of Alex’s funding to open his
wife’s shop in Corona del Mar and any ownership rights by the applicant. Additionally, she
provided handouts of letters, expenses, past inspections, and a cashier’s check to give to the new
contractor to finish the job. In reply to Hearing Officer Early, Mrs. Azzam confirmed that funds are
available to finish the job and noted when they started questioning the project timeline with the
first contractor, current living arrangement and expenses, the timeline with the new contractor,
and a completion target date of November.
Chief Building Officer Thai and Building Inspector Sanchez indicated that there has been no
complaints or neighborhood issues to their knowing.
Hearing Officer Early stated that he can impose conditions on the project, the matter seems to be
centered around time and money, and the information shared will be taken as face value.
The applicant and City staff had no further comments when asked by Hearing Officer Early.
Action: Hearing Officer Early concluded the hearing and stated a written decision will be provided
to the City within the next week.
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS - None
IV. ADJOURNMENT - The hearing was adjourned at an 8:38 a.m.
The agenda for the Hearing Officer was posted on July 9, 2024, at 09:52 a.m. 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 July 9, 2024, at 09:49 a.m.
Paul Early, Hearing Officer
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