Yacht controversy washes out pier policy discussion

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- At first, City Council members tried to talk about

the bigger picture. After all, they’d met to discuss the city’s policies

regarding private piers during a study session on Tuesday afternoon.

But when residents, more than 50 of whom had come to City Hall to

attend the meeting, began to address city leaders on the subject, it

became obvious that a specific issue had them concerned.

“I’d like to introduce you to the ‘Carole Diane,”’ said Balboa Island

resident Richard Ashoff. “She stands at about 56 feet [long]. She stands

20 feet high. She weighs in at about 20 tons, and she hasn’t eaten

today.”

Ashoff was talking about a 55-foot yacht that an island property owner

wants to park in the harbor.

For weeks, Lodwrick M. Cook, who owns homes at 1106 and 1108 South Bay

Front, has tried to figure out a way to get the boat secured at the

island. He’s tried docking it parallel to the beach and now parks the

boat perpendicular -- and city officials are still trying to figure out

whether this latest alternative conforms with the rules.

Neighbors have objected to both options, saying the boat is too big

for the island, that it will get in the way of beachgoers and that it

create a safety hazard for swimmers and other boaters.

“This is not a personal issue,” said Pam Sigband, who lives next door

to Cook’s houses and has been a vocal opponent of his plans. “No one is

attempting to hurt the Cooks in any way. This is about protecting our

children and grandchildren. It’s just a disaster waiting to happen. Why

should any one person have the right to take away the public’s enjoyment

of Newport Bay.”

Cook’s lawyer, John Van Vlear, countered that other large boats are

already parked on the island.

“There are at least 15 boats on Balboa Island that are of the same

size or greater size than the Carole Diane,” Van Vlear said, adding that

he believed the city’s pier permit policy worked just fine and didn’t

need any changes.

Pete Swift, who repairs and remodels docks in Newport Harbor, agreed.

“I worry about stacking on more layers of government for the docks,”

he said. “It seems like it’s getting a bit too much.”

The existing policy, put in place in 1964, requires city officials to

look only at pier and dock size and the effect they have on beach use and

navigation.

But Councilman Steve Bromberg has asked city officials to draft

revisions to the document, which would make boat size a factor in looking

at applications for pier permits in the future.

He also has suggested putting a moratorium on pier permits on South

Bay Front from Garnett Avenue to the Grand Canal until the policy issue

has been dealt with.

His colleagues aren’t all behind that part of his proposal.

“I’m reticent to change all these policies because of one boat,”

Councilwoman Norma Glover said.

The city’s harbor committee will take up the issue at a 7:30 a.m

meeting July 24. Council members could discuss a moratorium during their

meeting on the same day and revisit the policy issue at their Aug. 14

meeting.

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