Dunes study outlines problems, solutions

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- A report released to the public Thursday details

the possible problems a larger Newport Dunes resort would have on the

surrounding environment -- and how proponents will alleviate them.

The environmental study, which took about one year to complete,

focuses on the $100-million, 500-room hotel and time-share complex

proposed for the existing Newport Dunes recreational vehicle resort. The

report deals mostly with traffic, views, water quality and local

wildlife.

Residents and local environmentalists are particularly concerned about

the affect the project will have on traffic, said activist Alan Beek. It

is estimated that there will be 4,800 vehicle trips on Bayside Drive and

East Coast Highway daily.

As such, the document required building two 6-foot sound walls along

the length of Bayside Drive and a 9-foot sound wall between the Newport

Dunes property and the adjacent Bayside Village mobile home park.

The Dunes also plans to expand Bayside Drive from two to three lanes

and to add sidewalks and bicycle lanes. The walls and expansion of the

road would minimize the affect the project will have on traffic on

Bayside Drive, according to the report.

Traffic at the Marguerite and Pacific Coast Highway intersection,

however, would be unavoidably increased in the morning. But this would

occur in the long term, when all the land uses are built, said Patrick

Alford, senior planner.

“One of big concerns was the height of the new proposed project,” said

Patrick Bartolic, a member of the city’s Environmental Quality Advisory

Committee, adding that it would dramatically change the view from every

angle of the bay.

The report says that the Dunes project, along with other developments

down the line, will have a cumulative effect on public views in Newport

Beach. However, it also says that the people affected most by the view

changes will be those at the existing beach and picnic area at the Dunes.

In order to minimize problems for local wildlife populations, all of

the resort’s trash will be refrigerated and placed in closed containers

so as not to attract animals, said Tim Quinn, the Dunes project manager.

“We’re doing a number of other things to protect wildlife,” Quinn

said. “We’ve limited height of palm trees to discourage [predator bird]

nesting.”

In addition, Quinn said only native plant species will be used for

landscaping.

Finally, in terms of water quality, the report suggested filtering

devices that will intercept runoff before it drains into the bay.

But despite these proposed measures, some local environmentalists and

residents still maintain a skeptical attitude toward the project.

“There wouldn’t be any action unless the City Council approves it,” Beek

said. “And my antennae tells me there is a lot of opposition [in the

community] to it.’

The city’s advisory board and Stop Polluting Our Newport, a local

environmental activist group, plan to review the report next week.

The resort planned for the Dunes will include a 400-room hotel with

100 two-room time-share units, 55,000 square feet of meeting space and

three restaurants. Officials estimate it will generate nearly $1.3

million in direct tax revenues for the city each year.

This is a substantial change from the prior proposal of a 275-room

family style motel. The Dunes had received approval for this plan 15

years ago.

In an effort to address some of the objections from the surrounding

residential areas, Dunes officials have been meeting with residents for

the past year and a half, Quinn said.

“We’ve been holding series of meetings with homeowners boards and

residents,” he said. “We’re hoping to get their support.”

The environmental report will be available for public review and

comment for 45 days at the Newport Beach public library and at City Hall.

A final report will then be compiled and sent to the Planning Commission,

City Council and finally the California Coastal Commission.

But, though each board may accept the report and agree that the

environmental effects will be minimal, officials could still reject the

project, Alford said.