Luxury-condo plans are rejected

The California Coastal Commission on Wednesday rejected plans for a clutch of luxury condominiums on a coastal bluff in Corona del Mar.

The commission voted 5 to 7 against Aerie’s proposed 61,700-square-foot project on Carnation Avenue.

The project narrowly won approval from the Newport Beach City Council in July, by a 4-2 vote.

Some residents from the surrounding neighborhood opposed the project on the grounds that it was too big.

Plans for the eight luxury condominiums include private decks and pools for each unit and an elevator to take cars to underground levels.

The Aerie project would replace an existing 14-unit apartment building with an eight-unit luxury condominium complex with six levels that would take up 61,709 square feet at Bayside Place and Carnation Avenue.

Land developer Richard Julian bought the site of a 60-year-old apartment building and house on Carnation Avenue seven years ago with hopes of transforming it into a luxury condominium complex.

The new condominium complex was designed by architect Brion Jeannette, who also designed the 30,000-square-foot Corona del Mar mansion known as the Portabello Estate, which has been valued as high as $75 million.

— Brianna Bailey