Corona del Mar architect faces 26 felony charges

June Casagrande

The Orange County District Attorney’s office charged architect Andrew

Goetz on Thursday with 26 felony counts of filing false and forged

maps that allowed a number of homes in Corona del Mar and other areas

to be built larger than city rules permit.

If convicted, Goetz could serve up to 11 years in prison.

John Barnett, Goetz’s attorney for the criminal charges, declined

to comment.

Goetz was arrested on Oct. 15 after Newport Beach building plan

checkers and other staff members reported suspicious inconsistencies

in plans filed by Goetz. A city investigation determined that at

least six Goetz-designed homes exceeded city height limits.

“The Newport Beach Planning Department relied on these maps in

authorizing the required building permits for Goetz’s projects,” the

District Attorney’s office said in a written statement. “The

discovery of the forgeries left unsuspecting homeowners with

expensive delays in construction and modifications to their plans.”

Despite the objection of community members who felt that the large

homes shouldn’t be allowed to block views, the Newport Beach City

Council in November voted to allow five of the six homes to remain

as-is. The fifth exceeded height limits by a greater amount: the

three-story home at 202 Fernleaf Ave. was about a foot-and a-half

taller than the 29-foot height limit for its Corona del Mar

neighborhood. Council members ordered that owners James and Susan

Hart remove the third story from their home, which was still under

construction but about 85% complete. The cost of the work was

estimated at about $100,000.

“The relationship between architects and building and planning

[departments] is one of trust,” Mayor Tod Ridgeway said. “This

violated the trust between the building officials and the architect.”