Newport Beach might name landmarks

June Casagrande

A handful of the city’s most notable structures could soon be

designated as “landmarks,” a label that will give the businesses

inside a little more elbow room.

The Planning Commission tonight will consider whether the Balboa

Theater, Port Theatre, Lido Theater and some historic buildings

should be branded “landmark buildings.” If commissioners approve the

plan, businesses there would be exempt from having to request permits

to make some changes to their business operations.

“For example, if they wanted to expand their food service

operations or if they wanted to use theater space for meeting space,

that’s when this would make a difference,” Newport Beach Planner

Patrick Alford said.

The new rules would not allow the businesses to make significant

structural changes or otherwise bypass zoning restrictions. The

rules, which would apply only to the three theaters and city

buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, would

also require the businesses to ensure adequate parking to accommodate

any change in operations.

Many old buildings in the city, including the three theaters, were

built before current zoning and construction guidelines were in

place. These “nonconforming” buildings must, as a result, seek a

permit from the city any time they make a change in their operations.

That will change if planning commissioners follow staff’s

recommendation tonight.

“Essentially, this is an exception to our current restrictions on

nonconforming uses,” Alford said.

Five properties in Newport Beach are on the National Register of

Historic Places: the Balboa Inn, the Balboa Pavilion, the Lovell

Beach House on West Ocean Front and the Crystal Cove Historic

District in Crystal Cove State Park. The Bank of Balboa on East

Balboa Boulevard, which was demolished in the late 1980s, is still on

the national registry.

Of the five properties, only the Balboa Pavilion is considered not

to conform with current standards.