Newport Coast eyes potential center site

June Casagrande

NEWPORT COAST -- Residents who worried there might be no place to

build a community center now have renewed hope that a small corner of

Newport Ridge Park will fit the bill.

The spot at the northeast portion of the park -- one of only two

pegged as a potential community center site -- borders a former landfill.

The community center’s parking lot would need to be built on top of the

landfill. Some feared that environmental concerns would kill the plan.

But after meetings with county and state officials, Newport Coast

community leaders are looking into the possibility that environmental

work can preclude problems with methane gas at the site.

“Despite our initial belief that the regulatory hurdles might be

insurmountable, we came away from the meeting with the very definite

indication that this is doable,” said Jim McGee, chairman of the resident

group Newport Coast Advisory Committee.

The Irvine Co. owns the former landfill -- nicknamed the Coyote

Landfill -- near the intersection of San Joaquin Hills Road and Newport

Coast Drive. As is customary with defunct dumpsites, the company is in

the process of transferring the land to the county -- a process that

often drags on for years. Committee leaders are working with the company

to make that happen faster, which would clear one hurdle toward building

the community center.

Their next problem is the methane. The gas, a natural byproduct of

decomposing garbage, creates a risk of explosion. But community leaders

now have reason to hope this risk can be eliminated. County and state

officials pointed to two former landfill sites that have been approved

for development: the city sports complex in Huntington Beach and the

private Oak Ridge School in Orange.

“So there are two other examples of construction that have been

approved. There are environmental concerns that need to be addressed, but

we know that the science to adequately address them in a way that

protects the public is available,” McGee said.

The question remains, though, whether it’s affordable. The committee

agreed to hire a surveyor to determine whether sources of methane are

close to the proposed parking area. If large quantities of methane are

being created too close to the site, it could send the cost of cleanup

too high.

The community has $7 million set aside for the community center. The

cost of most work, including the surveyor, will come from this fund.

The only other site where residents believe a community center could

be built is at a vacant lot near signal peak. The land has been slated

for a park, on which the community center could be built -- but not for

at least seven years. Residents who support a community center hope to

see one much sooner, making the Newport Ridge Park site their best hope.

“This could work,” committee member Dan Wampole said.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .