Planning commission approves condo project

A bluff-top condo project in Corona del Mar called the Aerie won approval Thursday from Newport Beach’s planning commission and will now move on to the City Council.

The Aerie, a nine-unit condo development with a multi-layered curving roof, would replace a 60-year-old apartment building that fronts on Carnation Avenue. The commission had a lengthy debate about how far down the bluff the new building should go, with commissioners ultimately approving the plans in a 6-1 vote, architect Brion Jeannette said.

He will now seek approval from the council as well as the California Coastal Commission, so it could be up to a year and a half before construction begins. While a few neighbors have objected to the size of the development, Jeannette said he’s pleased with how the Aerie was received Thursday.

No definite prices are available, but the luxury condos with private decks and spas are estimated at $8 million to $10 million each.

— Alicia Robinson