Newport to spend $5M in fees on city parks

Newport Beach officials will spend $5 million in developer fees on city parks, with the bulk of the money likely going to Newport Center Park. Builder Lennar Homes will pay the city the funds as part of an agreement that allows it to build 79 condos next to the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and follow a new, lower standard for affordable housing.

The City Council voted Tuesday to use the money first for Newport Center Park, the site under dispute as a potential city hall location; then for improvements at Back Bay View Park. Any leftover cash would go to Marinapark and Sunset Ridge Park. But with Newport Center Park ringing up at $4.3 million, it’s not likely much will be left for other projects.

Lennar also will pay the city other park fees that could total $2 million, but that money goes into a fund the council can divvy up later. In exchange for various fees and the bonus $5 million, the city allowed Lennar to meet the new standard of providing 15% affordable housing units rather than the 20% standard, and the units can be in an existing complex instead of a new one.

— Alicia Robinson