City tries to decipher Dunes traffic study

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- City officials are still trying to unravel what they say

is a complicated traffic study within the recently released environmental

report on the proposed Newport Dunes hotel/resort project.

“The content is confusing,” said Planning Commissioner Mike Kranzley. “We

need to do a lot more work on the traffic study to really understand the

long-term impact of this proposed development.”

The $100-million project proposes a hotel and time-share complex totaling

400 rooms and 100 time-share units. There would also be 55,000 square

feet of conference rooms, meeting-room space and banquet facilities.

At a recent Planning Commission study session, questions were directed at

how the study was done and what could be done to address some of the

problematic traffic issues, said Patrick Alford, senior planner.

In particular, commissioners were perplexed at how the intersection at

Marguerite Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway -- which is at least three

miles from the Dunes -- could be affected by the proposed project. The

study found the intersection would be pushed past acceptable traffic

levels by the additional 40 trips a day that the Dunes project would

generate.

Alford said this would be in the long term, after all approved

developments affecting the intersection are completed. And because of the

location of the intersection in the crowded business district of Corona

del Mar, it is impossible to widen the streets to relieve some of the

anticipated congestion.

But it remains unclear how this realization may affect approval of the

Dunes project.

“I don’t understand it,” Kranzley said. “I’m going to insist on detailed

information.”

DeAnza Bayside Village mobile home residents on Tuesday expressed their

concerns about traffic -- particularly as it relates to Bayside Drive and

East Coast Highway -- at a community meeting with a representative from

the Dunes project and Alford.

“Are we selling out our future community enjoyment for some bucks?” said

environmental activist Bob Caustin, who attended the meeting.

Tim Quinn, manager of the Dunes project, said he thinks the resort has

always been a good neighbor and wants to work with local communities to

find a solution to their concerns.

In addition to traffic issues, the commission is also paying attention to

noise, water and the effects the project could have on the bay.

In terms of potential noise issues, Kranzley said outdoor music approved

for the resort has been problematic for neighbors in the past. And lights

emanating from the proposed project is another potential hot spot after

the negative experience the community had with the glare created from the

Fletcher Jones automobile dealership, he said.

The commission will review the topic again at a Nov. 4 study session. The

report is currently in its public review phase, Alford said. Copies of

the report are available at the public library and at the planning

department.

“We still want people to comment between now and Nov. 15,” Alford said,

adding that comments should be addressed to him at the city planning

department in City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.