NEWPORT BEACH : Corona Highlands Seeks Height Limit

For years, residents of Corona Highlands, a posh community in Corona del Mar, have prided themselves on the ability of their homeowners association to keep building heights low and preserve the view of the hills and the ocean that bookend the neighborhood.

In recent years, however, rising property values that pushed home prices as high as $1.6 million have encouraged developers to build bigger homes and condominiums, threatening the neighborhood’s charm.

On Monday, members of the Corona Highlands Property Owners Assn. will seek City Council approval for an ordinance that would regulate building heights and force developers to wrangle with City Hall, rather than the association, if they want to build beyond code.

“Our neighborhood looks like this for a reason, and we want to keep it that way,” said Mark S. Cardelucci, president of the group.

The group is seeking to limit the height of buildings to 16 feet measured from the highest point on the lot. Currently, this is what the homeowners’ architectural committee requires. City codes, however, allow buildings up to 29 feet high, and a developer can appeal the committee’s decision to City Hall.

Last year, two residents from the group sued a developer whose project exceeded the committee’s height limits. But they had to drop the case because of hefty legal costs, and the project went forward.

The residents hope that a city ordinance would be the final word on heights and prevent similar suits in the future.

The Planning Commission last month denied the ordinance saying that the group should enforce its own rules and not turn to the city for assistance. The commission was further concerned that there was not a majority opinion among residents for such an ordinance.

Since that meeting, the group has canvassed the neighborhood and obtained 138 signatures on a petition in favor of the ordinance. Residents claim that they found 71% of all homeowners supportive and 12% opposed. They add that some developers and builders who live in their community support the proposed ordinance.

“This is such a charming neighborhood,” said resident Deborah Sperberg, who was involved with canvassing the area. “You can see the hills across the way and the ocean. We have people who have been here for 40 years. We really want to protect this.”