Public access may soon be granted

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Newly appointed Mayor Tod Ridgeway is spearheading an

effort to preserve the public’s right to use a handful of walkways in the

city.

In his first campaign after the Tuesday appointment by his colleagues,

Ridgeway on Wednesday asked for an internal review of the 13 quasi-public

areas.

The state’s Coastal Conservancy has been pressuring local agencies

across the state to accept more than 1,200 walkways, sidewalks and other

access ways.

“We’re going to review them to see what they are,” Ridgeway said.

“We’re going to do a quick analysis.”

At Ridgeway’s request, the full City Council is set to consider the

issue Jan. 8. The walkways are dotted all over the city from China Cove,

near The Wedge, to Mariners Mile.

Each of the walkways lie on private property, but they have been in

frequent use by the public.

Take the sandy beach in front of the homes on Cove Street in Corona

del Mar. The area, known as China Cove, is a popular place for swimming

and volleyball during warmer months.

Members of the public are welcomed into the little-known cove, local

residents said.

“This beach has never been private,” said Mary Roosevelt, who lives

nearby. “Everybody comes down here.”

Each of the walkways were promised by the original developers who

built houses and businesses on the coastline. They were asked to set the

areas aside by the California Coastal Commission as conditions of

approval.

But each of them, handed over as an “offer to dedicate,” will expire

if a local agency doesn’t claim them. Then, they would revert back to the

property owners to do with as they please.

On Cove Street, Frank and Patricia Thomas would receive the property

right after April 14, 2004.

Since the walkways, also known as easements, have been offered to the

public, state agencies want them to remain the public’s to use.

“They are private, but they have been offered,” said Carrie Bluth, a

conservancy consultant. “What the conservancy is trying to do is

encourage local governments to take title to these easements.”

On Dec. 5, the conservancy locked in a walkway at 2800 Lafayette St.

Bluth said the city has accepted it as a public walkway but took an

inappropriate pathway. Planners had included it on a parcel map, but

didn’t secure the title.

The conservancy’s action took it off the hot list, Bluth said.

AT A GLANCE

PUBLIC WALKWAYS

Location .. Owner .. Expiration Date

Jamboree Road and Bayside Drive .. California Rec Co. .. Jan. 15, 2006

107 Milford Drive .. Frank and Donna O’Bryan .. Jan. 30, 2007

111 Shorecliff Drive .. John Wertin .. June 4, 2005

2431 W. Coast Highway .. Tumstone Corp. .. June 22, 2008 (first)

2431 W. Coast Highway .. Tumstone Corp. .. June 22, 2008 (second)

2439-2507 W. Coast Highway .. Mariners Mile Marine Center Ltd. .. Jan.

4, 2006

2615 Cove St. .. Frank and Patricia Thomas .. April 14, 2004

2901 E. Coast Highway .. D.G. Anderson .. Feb. 15, 2006

309 Palm St. .. Howard Properties .. Sept. 26, 2006

4639 and 4645 Brighton Road .. Linden & Hubbard .. Oct. 29, 2007

4651 Brighton Road .. Tarantello .. Oct. 27, 2007

503 E. Edgewater Ave. .. Howard Properties .. Sept. 26, 2006

701 Lido Park Drive .. 701 Lido Park Partnership .. March 21, 2009