Commission to take a 3-D look at Dunes project

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- The Planning Commission tonight will review

environmental reports on proposed expansions of the former Rockwell

International facility and the Newport Dunes resort.

The Newport Dunes resort project calls for 400 hotel rooms and 100

time-share units.

Commissioners began reviewing the environmental report last fall. They

asked staff to provide more information on various topics, such as

occupancy rates and the effect on neighbors’ views, including a

three-dimensional model of the project.

At that time, they asked staff to study traffic levels based on a 100%

occupancy rate, which would be the “worst case” scenario. Most Newport

Beach hotels have an average occupancy rate of 70%.

Commissioners also will look at plans for the former Rockwell

International center. The semiconductor business, now called Conexant, is

proposing to add 566,000 square feet of industrial and office space to

its 25-acre property on the northwest side of Jamboree Road. The

construction also would include parking and open space.

The expansion would cause a number of unavoidable environmental effects

on the surrounding area, city staff found. One problem would be a decline

in air quality caused by an increase in traffic to the larger center.

The traffic increase also potentially would add to congestion where

MacArthur Boulevard meets Jamboree Road and where Irvine Avenue meets

Mesa Drive.

FYI

WHAT: Planning Commission meeting

WHEN: Tonight. The study session on the Conexant project starts at 6

p.m., and the regular meeting starts at 7 p.m.

WHERE: City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.