Parking plans to be studied by Newport council Tuesday

The Newport Beach City Council will discuss parking plans for Corona del Mar and Balboa Village during a study session Tuesday.

Both plans call for changes to employee parking, updated parking prices and a push for more shared parking among private property owners.

For Corona del Mar, the plan’s eight short-term strategies also include extended time limits for East Coast Highway spots, new striping to maximize the number of spaces and increased availability of bicycle parking stations.

The six strategies in Balboa Village include a new parking benefit district to fund area enhancements, an employee parking permit program, a residential permit parking program and eliminating off-street parking requirements for most commercial uses.

The Corona del Mar plan centers on the area’s “commercial core” on East Coast Highway between Zahma Drive and Hazel Drive, according to a city staff report.

There are about 3,500 parking spaces in the core area, with roughly 2,000 on the street, according to Walker Parking Consultants data that was used in a report developed by Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates.

Many spaces are empty but aren’t easily used because they are in reserved lots or have a one-hour limit, a staff report said. In addition, many people try to park for free on residential streets rather than pay to park in public lots, the report said.

“Of particular concern has been high demand during peak periods, a perceived lack of parking supply, restrictive regulations that limit use of existing parking facilities, and spillover parking into residential neighborhoods,” the staff report said.

The Balboa Village plan was approved by the Balboa Village Advisory Committee, which helps facilitate implementation of the 2012 Balboa Village Master Plan.

There are about 1,200 parking spaces in the area, with most in off-street lots, according to a committee memorandum.

Under the proposal, rates for on-street parking during nonpeak times would change from $1.50 per hour to $1 per hour for the first two hours, then would be $1.50 for each hour after. During peak times, rates would be $2 per hour for the first two hours and $2.50 per hour after.

The residential parking program would require a permit to park overnight, from 4 p.m. until 9 a.m., on streets in the residential area west of Balboa Village.

The council study session will begin at 5 p.m. at the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive. It will be followed by a regular council meeting at 7, during which public hearings are scheduled on the Lido House Hotel and the Riverside Avenue post office.

The possibility of Pacifica Christian High School renting the West Newport Community Center also will be discussed.