City of Newport Beach : Marina Park

Project Status
On March 23, 2011, a project update was presented to the Marina Park Committee with some proposed interior building plan modifications. During the planning meeting, the idea of moving the Balboa Branch Library in 2014 into the brand new community center complex was raised. This would reduce staffing and maintenance costs, and would get us out of a building that’s 82 years old and needs to be updated. During that discussion, the project committee talked about ways the services provided at the branch library could be changed to better fit the community’s needs. The City of Newport Beach, like many communities, is reducing expenditures, privatizing, and looking at new ways of delivering services in light of increased personnel costs. Making sure that our libraries, like this specific branch, are tailored to the needs of the community is an important part of that review.

Between 2007 and 2009, working with residents, the citizen group Protect our Parks, the Harbor Commission and the 9-member Council/Citizens Advisory Committee, the City developed the plan to replace the current mobile home park between 18th Street and 15th Street along West Balboa Boulevard (on the “Bay” side of Balboa Boulevard) with something much more visitor-serving. As a result, the design includes a visitor-serving marina, a community building, a sailing center, a new Girl Scout meeting house, parking, a tot play area, restrooms, and lots of open grassy space for picnicking. The City Council approved the Concept Plan in March 2009.

The environmental Impact Report (available on the link below) on the project completed its public review period, and was presented to the City Council and certified on May 11, 2010. The project was submitted for approval and permitting by the California Coastal Commission and was approved in June 2012.

Project design began in early spring 2012 and the City has made its initial review of the design development plans. Extra consideration was provided in "value engineering" t ensure a properly sized and developed project is provided.

A Stakeholder's meeting was held on June 6, 2012, (presentation available by clicking on the link below) to provide an overview. The presentation slides depict the project's basic layout, which includes the community and sailing centers that will provide various programming opportunities; a marina; approximately 5 acres of open landscaped park area equipped with various recreational facilities; improved coastal public access and parking lots.

On June 13, 2012, the City obtained California Coastal Commission approval. This is a major milestone! Staff will now move forward to satisfy the special conditions and obtain a Coastal Development Permit and begin construction in the near future.

About Marina Park’s Current Residents
The residents of Marina Park’s 57 or so coaches entered into a Settlement Agreement with the City in 2007 that had the City purchase their coaches and lower the rent slightly for the remainder of the residents’ stay at Marina Park. Generally, the Agreement also said that the residents would leave on or after September 1, 2009 if the City had an approved project in place, budgeted, and permitted. The Agreement also envisioned that having an “approved plan” could include a possible “Interim Use Plan” that would not be as elaborate as the Park and Marina Plan. The Interim Use Plan could be as simple as removing the coaches and installing irrigation and grass.

For more information. If you would like to be put on an “Interested Parties” e-mail list so that you’re notified of Marina Park information, please call us at 949-644-3002.

Project Summary Schedule
	Date	Status
Conceptual Design Approved by City Council	March 25, 2008	Complete
City Council Certification of EIR	May 11, 2010	Complete
Submit Regulatory Agency Permits Applications	July 2010	Complete
RWQCB 401 Permit	December 2010	Issued
ACOE Public Notice (404 permit)	March 2011	Issued
State Lands Commission Boundary Agreement Hearing	June 2012	Complete
California Coastal Commission Hearing	August 2011	June 2012
Issue 90-Day Tenant Notification	Fall 2012
Advertise Bid Packages for Site Demo & Marina Construction	Fall 2012
Start Mobile Home Demolition & Site Preparation	January 2013
Start Marina Foundation/Utility Construction	March 2013
Start Construction of Balboa Center & Park	June 2013
Start Construction of Marina Docks	January 2015

Updated: June 14, 2012