Harbor commissioners push for second trial anchorage
Residents who live near the Newport Harbor turning basin could see a few more boats in that section of the water this summer, as harbor commissioners have agreed to move forward with a second trial anchorage there.
At its meeting Wednesday night, the Newport Beach Harbor Commission nailed down rules for the 4.85-acre area and the type of data the panel would like to collect during the trial. The commission had previously signed off on the proposal for the anchorage in March.
The City Council will consider whether to move forward with the plan in the next few months.
If approved by the council, the anchorage in the turning basin, which is northwest of Lido Isle, would provide free space for boaters who visit the harbor for five days or less, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Commissioner Brad Avery said the harbor’s permanent anchorage area — near Lido Isle and Bay Island — is often very crowded during the summer and an alternative location could give more boaters access to Newport Beach.
“At peak times it’s almost impossible for boats to say in the boundary,” Avery said. “This should help in that regard.”
The turning basin’s first anchorage trial took place last year, after the council to test the area from August through October.
After the trial, city staff said the area was “lightly used,” but they had collected no actual data to prove their point. At the time, some commissioners said that because the trial lacked firm numbers, they weren’t convinced of the demand for a second permanent anchorage.
This time around, the Harbor Patrol has agreed to monitor and collect the daily usage at both the turning basin and the permanent anchorage, as well as the home ports of vessels using the spaces and numbers of resident complaints.
In 2012, when the city was dredging portions of the harbor, the existing visitor anchorage was moved to the turning basin, which led to several Lido Isle residents complaining to the council of loud music, partying and drifting boats that crashed into docks.
For that reason, commissioners prohibited raft-ups or roping together small vessels to form a raft-like structure in the basin. They also proposed that the council approve quiet hours daily, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
On Wednesday, the commission also determined that the Harbor Patrol would monitor boats in the turning basin anchorage and drop dye tablets into their septic systems to ensure that no waste leaks into the harbor. However, boat owners would have to consent to boardings on their vessels, according to city law.
Several commissioners indicated they would be in favor of the city adding a provision to the existing law allowing Harbor Patrol to board boats at any time to drop the tablets. The issue is expected to be discussed at a future commission meeting.
Commissioner Joe Stapleton said while he’s not a fan of the project because of potential noise concerns and the lack of open space in the harbor, he’s looking forward to reviewing the data to see if there’s demand for anchorage in the turning basin.
“I don’t think that’s the case, but if it is, then I will happily eat my serving of humble pie,” he said after the meeting.
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Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
