NEWPORT BEACH : Castaways Marina Clears First Hurdle

A slightly scaled-down version of the proposed Castaways Marina narrowly won Planning Commission approval Thursday after hours of testimony, most of which was from local environmentalists concerned about the project.

The commission approved the 121-slip harbor project proposed by the California Recreation Co., a branch of the Irvine Co., by a 4-2 vote. Commissioners Charles W. Edwards and Norma J. Glover opposed the plan and wanted an 84-slip marina instead.

Originally, a 125-slip marina was planned. The land is zoned for a marina or 40,000 square feet of commercial development.

“I’m so damn mad,” said Frank Robinson, spokesman for Friends of Newport Bay, after the vote. “I was disappointed, but not surprised.”

About a dozen local environmentalists representing residents concerned about the bay and the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve urged the commission to consider alternatives, ranging from a smaller marina that did not jut into publicly owned tidelands to buying the land for open space.

Residents have argued against building a private marina on public lands and have voiced concerns about the effects that the construction and operation will have on sensitive halibut nurseries and ecologically rich mud flats in the bay.

Additionally, state and federal agencies have opposed the proposal because of the harm it poses to the bay environment and endangered bird species that use the area.

However, those on the commission voting for the project said their decision was strictly one of land use. They added that several other agencies will review the project’s impact on the environment and other issues.

“I support the 121-slip marina with the feeling that they’ll go through the other agencies and they’ll be cut back,” said Commissioner Jan Debay.

Chairman Gary DiSano agreed, saying: “Surgery is going to be done on this. This is just the first round of a 21-round fight. If we cut it to 84, it’s eventually going to be cut to 50 and then we’re going to see plans for a 40,000-square-foot restaurant.”

Commissioner Harry O. Merrill added, “We’ve got some people here who just want to take (the Irvine Co.’s) property rights and throw them away.”

Commissioner Gary W. Pomeroy also voted to approve the marina.

Those commissioners supporting the smaller alternative, however, said that the commission was avoiding responsibility by depending on other agencies to scale back the project.

“I like the idea of a marina in that area, (but) the impacts of this project are disastrous,” Edwards said. “I don’t know why we’re starting with a concept that we assume would be cut back. I don’t think that’s good planning.”

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the project next month.