Lido House Hotel project wins first round of approval for expansion plan
A larger version of a boutique hotel slated to replace the former Newport Beach City Hall at the entrance to the Balboa Peninsula is moving forward, but the developer will have to head back to the City Council and the California Coastal Commission this year for approvals to expand parts of the project.
The city Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to allow R.D. Olson Development to expand Lido House Hotel’s lobby, management office, spa, and restaurant and retail area. The plan would increase the project’s footprint by 4,745 square feet, to 103,470 square feet.
R.D. Olson also received permission to enlarge two guestrooms on the second floor into suites and decrease the size of the ballroom space by 925 square feet.
During the project’s final design phase, R.D. Olson determined that it needed additional floor space.
Join the conversation on Facebook >>
Lido House Hotel, to be operated by Marriott, “will be a four-diamond destination resort that complements the distinguished culture and environment of the city of Newport Beach,” said Tony Wrzosek, vice president of planning and development at R.D. Olson. “The proposed plan is primarily intended to create back-of-house areas that would support and complement this four-diamond experience.”
But the city’s general plan, coastal land-use plan and zoning code – documents that help guide development in Newport Beach – limit the total floor area for the site to 98,725 square feet, which forced the developer to return to the city to request an increase.
The City Council and the Coastal Commission have approved plans for a four-story, 98,725-square-foot Lido House with 130 guestrooms, meeting and retail space, a spa, restaurants, a pool and recreation area and a rooftop bar.
The revised plan would not change the number of guestrooms.
The Planning Commission’s vote Thursday will send the project through another round of City Council and Coastal Commission reviews, which could take until the end of the year. However, the process is not expected to delay the project, which is planned for completion by summer 2017.
“It’s unfortunate that we’re even here tonight,” said Planning Commission Chairman Kory Kramer. “What is being requested is minor, but we have to go through some major hoops in order to get there.”
In May, the city began demolishing the old City Hall complex at Newport Boulevard and 32nd Street to make way for the hotel.
City officials and neighbors of the site have long billed the Lido House project as a key element in a years-long effort to revitalize the Balboa Peninsula.
--
Hannah Fry, hannah.fry@latimes.com
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
