City of Newport Beach : Marina Park

Project Status
Between 2007 and 2009, working with the citizen group Protect our Parks, the Harbor Commission and the 9-member Council/Citizens Advisory Committee, the City developed a 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 has completed its public review period, and will be presented to the City Council for certification on May 11, 2010. The next step will be approval and permitting by the California Coastal Commission. That review is expected to begin in Summer 2010, but we do not know how long it will take to gain approval and receive a Coastal Development Permit.

Considering the City’s current budget challenges, the City Council has not decided whether to implement the project in phases or to construct the entire park and marina project at once. Among the things that will influence the Council’s decision is the City’s success in receiving Federal and State grants and/or loans.

About Marina Park’s Current Residents
The residents of Marina Park’s 52 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 e-mail us or call us (949-644-3002).

Project Summary Schedule
Phase I & II Milestone	Date
City Council Certification of EIR	May 11, 2010
Submit Regulatory Agency Permits Applications	July 2010
California Coastal Commission Hearing Phase I & II	November 2010
90 Day Tenant Notification Period Ends Phase I & II	February 2011
Advertise / Bid / Award Phase I & II	February 2011
End Phase I Construction	August 2011
End Phase II Construction	October 2011
Phase III Project Milestone
California Coastal Commission Hearing Ph. III	March 2011
Advertise / Bid / Award Ph. III	April 2011
90 Day Tenant Notification Period Ends Ph. III *	July 2011
Begin Construction Underground Utilities	July 2011
Begin Construction Marina	July 2011
End Construction Marina	March 2012
Begin Construction Balboa Center	February 2012
End Construction Balboa Center	February 2013
End Construction Docks	March 2013
Begin Construction Park	April 2013
End Construction Park	May 2013
* Additional time allotted in Phase III to address speical conditions of approval by the Coastal Commission. Without knowledge of the conditions the end of the 90 day notification period is estimated at this time.
Updated: May 14, 2010