INSIDE SCOOP

-- Compiled by the Daily Pilot staff

We know, we know. You’re probably going, “So what?” by now. But

Newport Beach Planning Commissioner Shant Agajanian was a little confused

when he discussed the city’s draft housing plans with his colleagues last

week. What Agajanian didn’t quite understand was why the city’s goal for

providing housing includes homes for “upper-income individuals and

households.” Sure, looking out for very low- and low-income families

seems logical. But rich folks?

Assistant City Manager Sharon Wood had a simple explanation for

Agajanian. Over the next five years, Newport Beach needs 476 new “housing

units” -- that’s homes, plainly put -- to make sure every resident’s got

some place to sleep. And 254 of those units, i.e. a majority, should be

affordable to people who earn at least $87,000 per year. Not a lot of

dough for Newport Beach, that’s true. But still...

A perfect code and [almost] nowhere to apply it.

Newport Beach planning commissioners spent quite some time last week

reviewing a new subdivision code for the city. The document contains the

rules that apply when someone wants to build a new neighborhood from

scratch. But with almost no empty land left in the city, those behind the

dais shared a laugh when Commissioner Larry Tucker pointed out the

obvious.

“We’re going to have a perfect code with no land to subdivide,” he

said.

OK, they are planning commissioners, after all.