City, Bay Club speed toward parking deal

June Casagrande

A welcome cure for some unwelcoming public parking at the Balboa Bay

Club could be just around the corner.

City officials and Bay Club representatives have hammered out a

potential plan to make the public property more welcoming by

providing easier access to free parking there.

Members of the public can park for free for a half hour at the Bay

Club to take advantage of the boardwalk behind it. However, they must

use the valet service. It’s free, but locals and city officials

believe that it’s a hindrance to true public access to the land and

that some users might feel pressured to tip the valets, making the

parking less than free.

The club, which sits on city-owned property, is operating on a

50-year lease with the city. Because it is on public tidelands, club

operators are required to provide public access to some of the

property, especially the boardwalk on the water directly behind the

club.

City attorney Bob Burnham said that a plan is now on the table

that would allow visitors to use spaces on the east side of the

parking lot without having a valet park their cars. As it is now,

parking would be free for 30 minutes, after which it could also be

free with validation by buying lunch or making some other purchase at

the club.

“It’s city property,” City Manager Homer Bludau said. “We just

want to be good stewards of the property and make sure the public has

access as is required by the Coastal Act.”

Bludau said that the plan would include signs alerting visitors to

the free public parking. There would be at least 10 free spaces.

Coastal Commission staff members must approve the plan before it

can take effect.

Bay Club representatives were unavailable for comment on Monday.

Newport Beach resident Dolores Otting has spoken at City Council

meetings to ask that the Bay Club provide more public-friendly

parking.

“I guess, at least, this a step in the direction,” Otting said.