Vision 2004 offers sneak peek at centennial plans

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Although many Corona del Mar residents and business

owners already have heard about an ambitious plan to revamp East Coast

Highway for the village’s centennial in three years, those living and

working in other parts of the city recently had a chance to take a look

at the Vision 2004 project for the first time.

Project supporters outlined their ideas at a meeting last week

sponsored by Speak Up Newport, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group dedicated

to promoting social welfare, educating the public and improving local

government.

The plan would “provide a front door to our community that we can all

be proud of,” said Planning Commission Chairman Edward Selich, who lives

in Corona del Mar and is coordinating the project.

Vision 2004 proposes to transfer control of the stretch of highway

from Caltrans to Newport Beach, which would allow the city to add plants

and create outdoor dining areas to make the street more

pedestrian-friendly.

“There are a lot of things on this plan that do not meet Caltrans

requirements,” said Selich, adding that the state Department of

Transportation focuses on cars, not pedestrians.

Some of the changes that have been suggested include filling street

medians with plants to create linear parks along the highway. Existing

gray light poles and traffic signals would be replaced with green ones

and park benches and water fountains would help to create a nicer

atmosphere for pedestrians.

But with about 40,000 cars passing daily along Corona del Mar’s major

thoroughfare, Selich said not to expect drastic changes.

“We all have to realize that Coast Highway is still a major highway,”

he said, adding that Vision 2004’s hope is to make the street as

comfortable as possible for pedestrians.

Selich said the group hopes to conclude similar presentations by the

end of the month and present a report to the City Council in February.

If all goes well, he said, the highway could come under city control

by the end of the year, with Caltrans’ funds for improvements following

in early 2002.

While the money would help pay for the project, Selich said the group

is trying to find other state funds to complete the plan.

Even if Vision 2004 is not complete in three years, Selich said, at

least parts of the plan should become a reality for the centennial

celebration.

Taking care of the elaborate green areas, which include a village park

at the corner of Marguerite Avenue and East Coast Highway, will cost more

money, Selich said.

Sales tax revenue or a parking district might be ways to pay for the

additional costs, he said.

Corona del Mar resident and real estate broker Rochelle Liss said the

proposed changes are “terrific.”

“That’s why I live in the village,” she said. “It’s different than

Newport Beach.”

Councilman Steve Bromberg, who attended the presentation, said the

plan is an “upscale project that fits extremely well in our city.”

“There may be some burdens,” he said. “But hopefully the benefit that

will come out of this project will outweigh the burden.”

FYI

Vision 2004’s presentation will be broadcast on Newport Beach’s local

access cable TV channel at 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.