NEWPORT BEACH : Council OKs Beach Encroachmen Plan

The City Council voted unanimously Monday to send a revised beachfront encroachment regulation plan to the California Coastal Commission.

The new plan was hammered out in negotiations with the commission’s staff, which is expected to present the plan to the commission in May or June. The commission had rejected an earlier plan.

The new agreement calls for the city to pave street extensions and improve beach access for handicapped persons. It also specifies that 85% of the fees collected for encroachment permits would be used to make improvements to the extensions of 33 streets over 10 years. The remaining 15% would be used for administrative costs.

Councilman John Hedges objected, at first, to Monday’s decision. He said he would have preferred having a public hearing first.

“I have a problem with the way we’re doing business here,” Hedges said. “I feel the revisions may not get a fair hearing at the city level once the Coastal Commission has it.”

Hedges was referring to a procedure in which the City Council won’t hold hearings on the agreement until after the Coastal Commission acts on it--when it returns to the city for final approval. After a 10-minute discussion, however, Hedges joined the rest of the council in voting to send the new agreement to the commission.

The commission, which regulates use and development of the state’s coastline, in January rejected the city’s encroachment policy because it did not include benefits that would compensate the public for the city allowing beachfront homeowners to extend structures such as decks, patios and spas onto public right of way.

Under the plan, annual encroachment fees will range from $300 to $600 per property.