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Home My WebLink About12/13/19731.. COMMISSIONERS D a+ Z Z o A in M n N y A� Tl CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Special Planning Commission Meeting Place: City Council Chambers MINUTES Time: 7:00 p.m. Date: December 13, 1973 r INDEX . Present X X X X X X Excused X EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS R. V. Hogan, Community Development Director David R. Baade, Assistant City Attorney Ben Nolan, Assistant Public Works Director STAFF MEMBERS Rod Gunn, Advance Planning Administrator Bill Darnell, Traffic Engineer Joanne Bader, Secretary Motion X Minutes of November. 29, 1973 were approved Ayes X X X X X Y as written with the understanding that the last Excused X page, which was inadvertently typed on an old Minute form, be retyped on the correct form. Request to consider the adoption of the Circulation Element of the Newport Beach Gera. Plan and acceptance of Environmen'talLLImpact legit EIR /NB - 73 -045. Chairman Agee explained that the adoption of the Circulation Element, is an item that has Public Hearings before both the Planning.Commission and City Council. Chairman Agee then read the staff recommendations to the audience. In response to Chairman Agee, Mr. Hogan clarified the recommendations of the Staff for the Planning Commission and informed the Commission that Mr. Al Krier of Alan M. Voorhees and Associates would be speaking to discuss the recommendations of the Voorhees' firm. Mr. Hogan explained that the Phase III report is. the final report of the Consultant and that it was originally pres.ented to the Transportation Plan Citizens Advisory Committee for review. Mr. Hogan stated that this is the first time the Traffic Study, as a whole, has been presented before the citizens of Newport Beach for public hearing. Chairman Agee questioned the word "study" on the .map entitled "The Newport Beach Circulation Element - Master Plan of Streets and Highways" -1- COMMISSIONERS CI'T'Y OF 7 m (� T T r OIL�� T A " December 13, 1973 NEWPORT BEACH MINUTES INDEX because he felt it implies that the City may have some doubt as to whether these areas should be considered. Chairman Agee felt that the word "coordination" alone would be sufficient. Mr. Al Krier of Voorhees and Associates then appeared before the Planning Commission to discuss the Phase III report. Mr. Krier informed the Commission that the first phase of the study was Problem Identification which was completed in September of 1972; the second phase was Developing Alternate Solutions which was completed in March, 1973; and the third phase was Plan Selection and Implementation which was completed approximately 6.weeks ago. Mr. Krier then discussed the evaluation process and plan development features with the Commission. Mr. Krier discussed the constraints on the plan in detail; the most current constraint being the energy crisis. He stated that as a result of this crisis, some street and highway improvements may not be needed. He also stated • that th.e gas tax funds used for,_s.uch improve- ments may. also.be reduced. Mr. Krier discussed th.e fact that public transportation is becoming greater than at any time since the-1940's..... Mr. Krier stated that Voorhees and Associates have been working with the Transportation Plan Citizens Advisory Committee and the City staff for about 2 -1/2 years. At this time Mr. Krier thanked the Committee through Chairman Agee and thanked the City staff for their assistance in helping Voorhees and Associates develop the Transportation Study. In response to a question by the Commission, Mr. Krier discussed the problem of summer beach traffic and informed the Commission that the City of Newport Beach could not possibly enter into a program to handle beach traffic without the assistance of the surrounding agencies such as Costa Mesa, the County and Irvine. At this time Chairman Agee opened the Publ.ic Hearing and asked for comment on the Consultant's recommendations in Corona del Mar. • Norman Weinberger, Corona del Mar, presented to the Commission a copy of a petition from the citizens and businessmen.of Corona del Mar. -2- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH > S S n T s Z A P P &1 CAI T December 13, 1973 MINUTES -'- - '- INDEX At this time, Mr. Weinberger read the petition to the Commission. He stated that the petition contained the signatures of 4,531 residents including 56 merchants from Corona del Mar. Mr. Weinberger stated that the signers of the petition are 1) Opposed to an expressway along Fifth Avenue, 2) Support the completion of the Corona del Mar Freeway through Bonita Canyon and 3).Want to insure the businessmen and women on the Coast Highway are protected. He stated that the petition does not support the removal of parking on the Coast Highway. Mr. Weinberger pointed out that the only public meeting on Phase II indicated that people are against the Fifth Avenue alignment. He further stated that the most obvious opposition is an 85% vote in 1971 to delete the Pacific Coast Freeway running from Buck Gulley westerly, which.is exactly the area in which a possible expressway would be built on Fifth Avenue. Wallace Calderhead, Corona del Mar, presented to the Planning Commission a letter and petition. • He informed the Commission that the petition consisted of 134 signatures of Corona del Mar merchants in opposition to the use of Fifth Avenue in Corona del Mar and in support of the use of Bonita Canyon. At this time Mr. Calderhead read the cover letter to the Commission. Mr. Calderhead further mentioned that also on his petition were the signatures of 100 residents of Corona del Mara He stated that this petition is identical to the Corona del Mar Citizens' Petition Committee's except Item No. 3 of the petition. He stated that Item No. 3 in this group of petitioners differs only by .supporting the continuation of the present traffic flow and parking arrangements on the Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. Mr. Calderhead then introduced Mr. Jim Blakemore to the Commission. Mr. Blakemore stated that a vast majority of the residents of Harbor View Hills and all the members of the Board of Directors signed the petition supporting the Traffic Consultant's recommendations. He respectfully requested that the Planning Commis- sion specifically endorse the statement on page 21 • of the final report as to the importance of constructing the Corona del Mar freeway on a Bonita Canyon alignment. He stated that of the -3- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH n f = P m MINUTES f".,� December 13, 1973 INDEX approximately 5,000 persons who signed the petition, about 1/2 live south of Fifth Avenue. He stated that contrary to the opinion of one local newspaper, these clearly are not the opinions of just a few people whose views would be impaired by a freeway -type road. Calvin McLaughlin, Carona. del Mar, informed the Commission that on December 6, 1973 he submitted to them a white paper discussing the traffic patterns in Corona del Mar from MacArthur Blvd. east. He stated that in summary the report supports the relocation of the Corona del Mar freeway through Bonita Canyon. He felt that it would be more sensible to slightly modify the Coast Highway instead of constructing the Fifth Avenue expressway. He then reviewed some of the considerations that were covered in his white paper. He felt that the Traffic Consultant's report overestimates the traffic estimate in 1990 because the energy crisis, the pollution and public transportation.would • decrease the amount of traffic. He stated that because air pollution is.very high, the E.P.A. has proposed severe parking restrictions which would effect the downcoast development, and in fact, all of the downcoast development had . to be scrutinized. Robert Sanshay, Harbor View Hills, stated that on the map the new MacArthur Blvd. is tentatively routed to the Coast Highway through undeveloped Irvine Center property. He stated that this would indicate 10 lanes back and forth from San Joaquin Hills Road down to the Coast Highway. He believed that this should be rejected because he felt it would do nothing but serve the City of Irvine residents. He stated that the MacArthur Freeway alignment would be inappropriate and felt that the people of Newport Beach could encourage routing around the City by rejecting it. He felt that the most.appropriate site for the Corona del Mar freeway would be Bonita Canyon Road because it is presently vacant and future planning could be made accordingly. • H. W. Lenton, Newport Beach, stated that he was vice- chairman of the Transportation Plan Citizens Advisory Committee, which reviewed -4- COMMISSIONERS f+ m 0., rAl l CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH December 13, 1973 MINUTES INDEX the Consultant's recommendations. He stated that although he has great respect for the people of Corona del Mar and their concern, he felt that they are overreacting in the matter. He stated that it is difficult, if not impossible for a community to be able to visualize what it may be like 10 to 20 years from now. He felt that the petitions presented have been made with the assumption that it is possible to maintain the parking on Coast Highway and get by without a Fifth Avenue by -pass. He stated that the Citizen's Committee spent many hours trying to work that compromise but that it would not work. He felt that the City should retain all of its options, and not go completely.. one way or the other at this time. He said that this plan would take approximately 10 years to implement and that the Fifth Avenue decision need not be made at this time. He then recommended that the Planning Commission keep their options open. • Roy Jordano, Corona del Mar, stated that he represented the Corona del Mar Highlands Association as an attorney 10 or 12 years ago when they met in objection.to the then - proposed Coast Freeway. He stated that after the tremendous amount of time, work and expense that has gone into this matter, it was illadvised that no action should be taken in connection with the Fifth Avenue. He stated.that those people, who are satisfied with not just the way things are now but also the way they want things in the future, have taken the position that they want the Planning Commission to approve the report as made by the Consultant. Paul Hummel, President of Corona del Mar Civic Association stated that the petition has a virtual unanimous support of that association. He felt that it is possible to look 15 years into the future because many people have seen what cities have done in the coastal areas in the past by allowing the freeways and highway patterns to develop to the extent that it is no longer a desirable place to live. For this reason, he felt that the people are entitled to express their concern for the future and to emplore the Commission to look favorably on that which will preserve the quality of living in the community. -5- COMMISSIONERS f+ m • RIL CALL T P A CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH December 13, 1973 MINUTES - -- - "" INDEX Ronald Barthalamew, Corona del Mar, stated that it has been shown in history that as a major highway is built, the traffic, people, and industry also increase so that by building a by -pass, two streets are created that are shortly over capacity. He stated that if the parking on the Coast Highway is eliminated, there will be increased generation of air pollution. He advised the Commission that those people who live immediately adjacent to the freeways in Los Angeles, according to recent editorials and articles in the tos Angeles Tare being exposed to poisonous substancs'— that may be extremely harmful to their health. He stated that this problem is.accentuated in this area where there is a prevailing westerly breeze that picks up the smog and blows it directly into the faces of the residents in the Harbor View Hills area. He submitted that the primary consideration of the Planning Commission is not how to increase traffic but how to reduce smog. He felt that the Commission should take action now to commit themselves to that • course. Ester Kabak, Corona del Mar, stated that she has noticed that after crossing Dover on the Coast Highway, there is very little traffic even during summer usage. She stated that no matter where a person lives, if the bridge is not widened or some sort of alternate route made available to divert traffic, there will still be a bottleneck. Calvin McLaughlin then reappeared before the Commission and stated that the Fifth Street alignment plus the agreed -to Corona del Mar freeway alignment down MacArthur would be sufficient capacity to carry all the traffic generated downcoast. He felt that the Bonita Canyon freeway might become estranged under those conditions. He felt that this would accentuate the problems mentioned earlier such as extra air pollution, extra people on the beaches and extra parking problems throughout the community. Dr. Nichols, Corona del Mar, asked since it has already been decided that MacArthur would be a . six -lane divided highway, that the new MacArthur Blvd. would be a 4 -lane divided highway, and the San Joaquin Hills Road would be a six -lane divided highway, were the changes proposed for -6- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH MINUTES December 13, 1973 - -- - INDEX these roads taken up in public hearing. Mr. Hogan stated that whenever the Master Plan is altered, a public hearing is required, and that these proposed changes are available from the public offices of the City for all people. Mr. Hogan then discussed the procedure necessary to change a plan. Planning Commission.recessed at 9:20 p.m. and reconvened at 9:35 p.m. Chairman Agee asked for comment on the Consultant' recommendation for widening Coast Highway to six lanes from MacArthur Blvd. to Jamboree Road. Marilyn Murphy questioned how the widening of Coast Highway westerly of MacArthur Blvd. • would effect the Coast Highway in Corona del Mar which is only 4 lanes. Chairman Agee stated that in that particular section there was less impact and more open area and also that it would serve traffic better between Jamboree and MacArthur. He further stated that it would not necessarily imply that all traffic going through this area . would go down into Corona del Mar, although some of it probably would. There being no others desiring to be heard on this segment, Chairman Agee asked for comment on the Jamboree to Dover Drive segment which included the bridge discussion. Willard Wade, Newport Beach, representing the Dover Shores Community Association, stated that the Association is concerned with any additional roads into the area that might bring additional traffic. Mr. Wade stated that the Association is opposed to Projects 33 and 34 as listed in the Ph.ase III report for that reason. He further stated that adding this traffic • would add noise and air pollution to the area and that the people of Dover Shores who live facing the water do not want to look at an additional bridge. -7- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH (1 T M S T i F T P P 11L ta December 13, 1973 u m MINUTES INDEX There being no others desiring to be heard on this segment, Chairman Agee asked for comment on the Consultant's recommendation for parking prohibitions at selected hours on the Coast Highway from Dover Drive to Newport Boulevard, along with recommending off - street parking spaces to replace any lost on- street spaces that would occur during the selected prohibitions if it became necessary. There being no one desiring to be heard on this segment, Chairman.Agee asked for comment on the new alignment for Coast Highway between the Santa Ana River and Newport Boulevard. Dr. Dick Nichols then reappeared before the Commission and asked what exactly the new alignment would be. Chairman Agee informed Dr. Nichols that the correct alignment is shown on the map. • Dr. Nichols then asked about leaving the existing bridge rather than cul -de -sac Coast Highway. Chairman Agee stated that the recommended proposal seemed to be compatible with the wishes of the community. Suzanne Rudd, representative of the Newport Shores Community Association stated that.in a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors. the Association is in complete support of the cul -de- sating of the Coast Highway. She stated that the Association hopes that their input would be allowed in further studies as far as the precise location of the Highway. John Weller questioned the possibility of the state objecting to the proposal to cut the state highway to make a cul -de -sac. Chairman Agee answered tha.t the state would have a great deal to say about the matter as well as other agencies, such as Huntington. Beach and Costa Mesa. He further stated that this would require extensive public hearings. There being no others desiring to be heard on this segment, Chairman Agee asked for comment on all areas. -8- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF S S o A T T n N m A N T ! Z S T A T Oki fr*e11 December 13, 1973 NEWPORT BEACH MINUTES INDEX Ester Kabak then reappeared before the Commission and asked the Commission whether the Coast Highway would also be widened between Jamboree Road and Dover Drive. Chairman Agee informed her that it would. He stated that this section of Coast Highway did get upgraded to six lanes because it was necessary to fit in with the suggested bridge configuration and adding additional right -turn movement lanes to allow free - flowing movement straight ahead to cut down the bottleneck that exists there. Ms. Kabak then asked if the new development going . in on the south side of the Coast Highway between Jamboree and Bayside would have a_ road with cars exiting to Coast Highway. Ben Nolan stated that there is a road from Promontory Point exiting directly to the Coast Highway and that he believes the distance is approximately 800 to 1,000 feet westerly of • the present Jamboree Road intersection. Ms. Kabak then questioned whether a traffic signal at this location would create a back -up with people still at the intersection of Jamboree and Coast Highway because it is so close. Chairman Agee stated that the City Council discussed alternatives which were an underpass for left -turn movements, making only right -turn movements out of the project and putting a light in, and that it was the advice of the then Traffic Engineer that it could be coordinated so that the traffic would not cause a problem. Ms. Kabak then questioned how definite the proposal is to make San Joaquin Hills Road go east in the direction of Laguna. Chairman Agee advised her that this has been on the Master Plan for quite some time and that the probability of it going through would be about 99 %, although there is still some • question as to the size it will be. Paul Hummel stated that it is his understanding that the Traffic Study recommends that parking -9- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH y M 1 O '�" rt A7c m f S j° Y MINUTES a P p p December 13, 1973 CALL T - -- - -- INDEX along the Coast Highway in old Corona del Mar will be removed during peak hours and felt the determination of those.peak hours is of great interest to the business community. He felt that they would want to know very definitely .what those hours are likely to be before they are implemented. He stated that although there is some suggestion of alternate parking available somewhere, he does not know where that is and that everyone knows that this would be terribly expensi e and probably economically impossible. He further stated that he has personal ideas about the shoppi g area being made more attractive in this area and that he is going to talk to the Chamber of Commerc there about perhaps developing a theme to make it more attractive to people who come into the area. He felt that these people could do a service to themselves by improving the shop ability of the area. He felt that if parking is stopped, it would impair the chances of the new, more - attractive shopping area before it has begun. He stated that he does not feel . that the traffic on the Coast Highway is that bad the at peak hours that people can't live with it. He then asked the Commission to consider this when they consider changing the parking on the Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. Calvin McLaughlin reappeared before the Planning Commission and stated that the engineering figures for average daily traffic are very standardized across large regions of the country and that they don't take into account regional variances. He stated that one might wonder how the citizens of Corona del Mar manage to get by with such grossly - overloaded streets. He felt that the real demonstrative capacity of the roads should be kept.in mind. Barbara Eastman, Citizen's Environmental Quality Control Committee stated that the Commission asked the Committee to review the report.and comment. She stated that the very . term "traffic study" implies cars, and that al -. though the Committee realizes the Consultant mentioned other means of transportation in the report, they wish to see the Circulation Element speak specifically to other types of • transportation. Ray Williams, representing Friends of Newport Bay stated he is very pleased to see that -10- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH D T S Z o P m (� T i A MINUTES •I rs,i m P P December 13, 1973 r INDEX Upper Newport Bay still does not have. any roads crossing it. He stated that he is concerned about a small section of marshland adjacent to Back Bay Drive. He stated that the Friends of Newport Bay.would oppose Back Bay Drive being widened to four lanes because that would add to- the traffic burden, noise, etc. which would interfere with the wild life values of that area. He also commented on the University Drive portion at the upper end of the bay which is proposed to become six lanes. He stated that this seems to be a lot but felt that this may relieve some traffic pressures. He stated that the Friends of the Bay would not like to see any additional roads along the bay. He felt that as an alternative to this, the proposed University Drive would be more acceptable than any sort of crossing in the bay. Jim Blakemore stated that in attending various meetings in June and July he noticed that Exhibit D was passed out with the traffic • deficiencies shown therein and since that time the Consultant has made reference to some of the recent trends that may result in the need for fewer traffic improvements than is anticipated. He stated that while the text of the report deals with some of these factors, the assessment of the various options of Appendix D still show the same figures for traffic deficiencies shown many months ago. He wondered if these recent developments wouldn't have some effect, if not a large effect, on the traffic to be generated in the future. There being no others desiring to be heard, Chairman Agee closed the public hearing. Chairman Agee then opened discussion among the Commissioners on the recommendation of Project 8 of the report relating to parking prohibitions on the Coast Highway at selected hours. Chairman Agee stated that he supports the recommendations of the Consultant. He stated that time - controlled parking, if ever necessary, should be limited to two one - hour peaks, one • hour in the a.m. and one in the p.m. He also stated that the City should develop an improved off - street parking plan for the Corona del Mar commercial district whether time- -11- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH n � m >poA� December 13, 1973 MINUTES ROLL CALL INDEX controlled parking is ever needed or not. He stated that this has been discussed in the past and that there are committees currently looking into this. Chairman Agee felt that this should be stated in the section.. The Commissioners then had a general discussion relating to time - controlled parking, whether it would be desirable to retain the Fifth Avenue area as an alternative and whether it would be appropriate to send more than one recommendation to City Council. Motion X Motion to accept the Consultant's recommendation Ayes X X X X X X and use the Project 8 description as the basis Excused X for developing the text of the element along with time - controlled parking, if necessary, limited to two.one -hour peaks, also indicating the policy that the City will continue to look at additional off - street commercial parking and that the Fifth Avenue corridor was considered and rejected as an alternative because of lack of community support and other considerations.. * * Chairman Agee then opened discussion among the Commissioners on the recommendation.of Project 7 which provides for the widening of Coast Highway to six lanes from MacArthur Boulevard to Jamboree Road. Chairman Agee clarified Option 2, which is the recommendation of the Consultant, for the audience and Commission. Motion X Motion to accept Option 2 in Project 7. Ayes X X X X X X Excused X Chairman Agee then opened discussion among the Commissioners on the recommendation of Projects 5 and 6 which provide for the construction of a bridge on Coast Highway across the Bay to replace the existing bridge and to widen the Coast Highway to six lanes from Jamboree Road to the proposed Upper Bay Bridge replacement, • respectively. The Commission questioned the possibility of saving the old bridge. -12- COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT .BEACH n T r T a T • i £ T A 1e December 13, 1973 MINUTES INDEX Mr. Nolan then informed them that the bridge would require an unduly amount of maintenance. Motion X Motion to accept the options described in Ayes X X X X X X Projects 5 and 6. Excused X Chairman Agee then opened discussion among the Commissioners on the recommendation of Project 4 which provides for parking prohibitions at selected hours on Coast Highway.from Dover Drive to Newport'Boul'evard to gain additional street capacity. Chairman Agee suggested as a clarification to . the Project 4 description that time - controlled parking., if necessary, be limited to two one =, hou.r peaks and also that the City should continue to develop off - street parking in this district whether time- controlled parking is ever needed or not. (lion X,: Motion Ayes X X X X X to accept the option_ described in Excused X Project 4 with the clarification described above. Chairman Agee then opened discussion among the Commissioners on Project 3 which provides for the construction of a new interchange on Coast Highway at Newport Boulevard. The Commission questioned the possibility of saving the old bridge. Mr. Nolan stated that although the bridge is in. rather good shape, it would be-difficul.t to widen. The 'Commission then discussed whether this bridge could be considered. a historical monument. Motion Ayes X X X X Motion to accept the options described in Excused X Project 3i- Chairman Agee then opened discussion among the Commissioners on Projects l and 2 which provide -13- coMMlssloNeRS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH n m Z MINUTES • < ,� P T '° December 1.3, 1973 --- - INDEX .a new alignment.for Coast Highway between.the Santa Ana River and Newport Boulevard. Mr: Nolan stated that it is clearly the City's intent and policy that the reallignment of the highway include the cul- de- sating of the present highway. He felt that the present Master Plan should also include the existing highway as it is and that this would be a slight modification to the verbatim wording of the recommendation. Motion X Motion to approve Projects 1 and 2 as recom- Ayes X X X X X mended by Staff. Excused X At this time Chairman Agee reviewed some of the specifics in the plan that the staff has included on their map. Chairman Agee questioned the difference in the alignment of the Newport Freeway on the maps because • they seemed to differ but in other respects looked the same. Mr. Gunn stated that he felt perhaps the solution to this would be that the Master Plan should be more generalized: Chairman Agee stated that the composite plan as recommended by the Consultant is a more generalized representation and that there are a lot of options being considered that really can't be put on the map. He felt that to give the Commission a point to start from, the map should be more general.. Motion X Motion to continue this meeting until Ayes X X X X X X January 10, 1974. Excused Planning Commission^adjo n t.1135 M. OSEP ROSS R� cretar Tanning Commission . City of Newport Beach -14-