Height concerns delay center

The Newport Beach City Council sent plans for a community center and sailing center at Marina Park back to the drawing board Tuesday night after residents voiced concerns that the height of the two-story structures would block views of Newport Harbor.

“The bay is a beautiful body of water, and I don’t think we need an architectural statement there when we have a beautiful bay,” said Newport Beach resident Ernest Bakenie, who lives across from the Marina Park site on West Balboa Boulevard. “That should be the focus, not the building.”

Height restrictions, typically enforced for only private buildings in the area, allow for structures as tall as only 35 feet. Proposed plans for the 10,200 square-foot, two-story community center call for a structure as tall as 39 feet at its highest point.

An 11,115-square-foot sailing center, also two stories, would have been as tall as 48 feet, and two antenna-like projections on the roof of the building would have been as tall as 56 feet.

Residents said while they want a park on the site, the two large buildings proposed for the area weren’t what they had in mind.

“I’m here as a citizen to say that this violates in my mind what the spirit of a park is,” said Newport Beach resident Larry Porter. “Time out — let’s stop moving forward with just more cement.”

Mayor Ed Selich suggested the architect in charge of designing the project rework plans for the two buildings to comply with the costal height limits for the area, allowing for a few decorative architectural flourishes that could exceed 35 feet. The council later voted to revamp the project.

Councilman Don Webb said any compromise on height must take into account the vision the city has to build a distinct landmark on the site, one that would inspire civic pride.

“We need to have a building of interest and character — not just another flat-roofed cottage on the water,” Webb said. “I want the building to look great. I want it to be something we can be really proud of.”

The community center would include rooms for meetings, community classes and parties. The sailing center would included a community cafe, an area to store boats, a deck and a meeting room.

In other business, the council voted to tentatively approve an ordinance to regulate dog kennels in the city.

The ordinance is the city’s first to govern dog kennels. Past rules have lumped together commercial kennels with people who own more than four dogs, but Newport’s newest neighborhood, West Santa Ana Heights, is home to 12 dog kennels on one street alone, causing a need for new rules.

The neighborhood — bound by Santa Ana Avenue, Mesa Drive, and a flood control channel — officially became part of Newport Beach Jan. 1.

Under the proposed rules, the kennels would have to get permits from the city to operate. Most of the rules are similar to Orange County’s rules. The ordinance also specifies regulations on things like ventilation, heating and access to sunlight for animals. The council will discuss final approval of the ordinance at its next meeting March 25.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].