Caltrans likely to OK sale of future park

The city of Newport Beach came a step closer Thursday to buying the future Sunset Ridge Park from Caltrans. The California Transportation Commission, which has to approve the sale, tentatively agreed to sell the 15-acre parcel to the city for $5 million, but the two sides still have to work out where to put a view easement Caltrans requested, Newport Beach City Councilman Steve Rosansky said.

No permanent structures could be built in the easement, so the view from state-owned West Coast Highway would be protected. Caltrans is placing the easement and other restrictions on the sale to whittle down the property’s value from the $8.1 million it was appraised at, to the city’s $5-million price tag.

“There were members of the commission that were concerned that Caltrans wasn’t getting full value,” Rosansky said.

The commission is expected to finalize the sale Oct. 12. The park will probably be developed with ball fields, though no design has been created.

— Alicia Robinson