Library dropped from community center plans

Alicia Robinson

A public library has been nixed from plans for a $7-million Newport

Coast community center, and a dispute over how much parking is needed

has temporarily halted progress on the center.

When the city of Newport Beach was negotiating the annexation of

Newport Coast, which became official in January 2001, the city agreed

to funnel $7 million to build the community center, which it will

operate. The funds come out of $25 million the Irvine Ranch Water

District paid the city for the right to continue providing water

service to Newport Coast after the annexation.

The remainder of the money is being paid back to residents on

their tax bills.

When planning the center, residents wanted a gymnasium, public

meeting rooms and a library, but the budget doesn’t leave room for

the latter. Current plans are for a 17,000-square-foot facility,

including a gym with a theater stage and bleacher seating for 270

people; three community rooms; and 93 parking spaces.

County building codes, which govern Newport Coast developments,

require 145 parking spots for the facility. If the space reserved for

the library was paved, another 30 parking spaces could be added to

the 93 planned spots, Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau said.

“We want this community center to be well utilized,” he said. “We

don’t want it to be under-parked. Since the pad for the library isn’t

going to be used for a library, let’s use it for parking spaces.”

But Newport Coast residents involved with the project want to save

the space so a library can be added later.

The center’s original design relied on sharing parking with nearby

Newport Ridge Park, which has 77 spots. City staff members initially

said the shared parking would be enough, so it’s “ridiculous” for

them to find it inadequate now, said Jim McGee, who chairs the

Newport Coast Advisory Committee, a city-appointed group overseeing

the community center design.

Bludau said not only is the park’s lot 600 feet from the community

center site -- too far away in the city’s opinion -- but the city

doesn’t own the park and can’t control parking-intensive activities

like ball games that might even overflow into community center

parking.

But residents don’t think the city should kick up a fuss about

something Newport Coast residents are paying for that will benefit

the whole community.

“They’re getting a facility basically for nothing,” said Peer

Swan, a resident who is on a subcommittee that designed the community

center.

Swan is also an Irvine Ranch Water District board member.

“We would like to have them cooperate with us and help us get it

done and not have them change the game when you’re just about to

cross the finish line.”

The City Council will consider the community center’s design at a

March 22 meeting.