City tries to compromise on school gym

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- City and school officials hope a combination of trees,

screens and paint will minimize the visual effects of the new Harbor Day

School gym and will appease distraught neighbors.

On Sunday, residents who live near the school received a letter from vice

mayor Tom Thomson regarding the cooperative effort on the part of city

and school officials.

“I walked around the neighborhood and put [the letters] on fences and on

the front door. I also talked to a lot of people and [almost] everyone I

talked to was fine with it,” said Thomson, adding that the stir caused by

construction of the gym was unfortunate.

This is a considerable shift from two months ago, when about 60 residents

vented their frustrations at a meeting called by city officials.

The gym, which was constructed in August, blocked residents’ views and

many complained that the 40-foot-tall building was an eyesore and would

devalue their properties.

Despite assertions by residents that the city did not notify them of the

proposal, the project did go to the Planning Commission and City Council,

said City Manager Homer Bludau. He also said the building is part of the

school’s master plan and is therefore legal.

As a result of the complaints raised at the meeting, city staff and

consultants met to explore ways of reducing the building’s effects on

neighbors.

While community members suggested reducing the height of the building,

officials said that would irrevocably damage its structural integrity.

Now, two months later, officials feel they’ve come up with a reasonable

compromise using a combination of paint and landscaping.

Among other things, school officials will paint the gym in particular

colors that should minimize its visual presence. The new paint job should

be completed by Thanksgiving.

By January, the school plans to plant several 25-foot trees and erect

15-foot panels to support vines along San Joaquin Hills Road. Also, the

side of the building facing Marguerite Avenue will be screened with tall

pine trees.

It is estimated that a wall of trees would cost $60,000 to $70,000.

Despite the fact it took a number of years for school officials to come

up with the funds to build the gymnasium in the first place, they have

agreed to implement the improvements through donated money.