State proposed compromise for Lower Bayview

June Casagrande

A near impasse between the city and environmentalists over a senior

affordable housing project soon could be resolved.

California Coastal Commission staff members have recommended that

commissioners approve the city’s most recent request to build 120

units of affordable housing for seniors at Lower Bayview Landing. The

recommendation is a far cry from the last time the commission weighed

in, voting last summer to deny the project.

“This is very encouraging,” Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg

said.

The commission at its Nov. 5 meeting will consider a request by

the city that was revised after the commission shot down the city’s

first request because of environmental concerns. Local

environmentalist Jan Vandersloot had asked the commission to deny the

request after pointing out what he believed to be three spots on

Lower Bayview Landing that qualified as wetlands.

Commission staff have agreed with Vandersloot on two of the

wetlands designations, but disagreed on a third.

The city and environmentalists also were split over plans to lower

the adjacent Upper Bayview Landing, which is the name for the bluffs

adjacent to the project site and which is slated to be developed as a

view park. City planners wanted to remove a layer of soil from the

top of the bluff in order to create a more attractive view from the

road. Vandersloot opposed this plan.

Now commission staff are recommending a compromise. The steepest

part of the bluff, nearest to the Newport Dunes, qualify for

protections under the Coastal Act, commission staff believe. That

part should be left intact, but the other portions of the park can be

lowered similarly to the city’s original plan.

“I think this is definitely a move in the right direction,”

Vandersloot said Tuesday.

But he stopped short of saying whether he would support all points

of staff’s recommendation, pending a closer read of the staff report.

Vandersloot also said he was pleased with commission staff’s

recommendation that a restored wetland on the site will enjoy greater

protections from urban runoff and will be replanted with wetlands

vegetation.

If approved, Lower Bayview Landing will have two buildings with a

total of 120 apartments for low-income seniors near the intersection

of Coast Highway and Jamboree Road.