NEWPORT BEACH

The city finally has a traffic plan, following a 6-1 vote by the City Council this week. The vote to adopt the traffic phasing ordinance came after the last wave of residents registered their views at the meeting, formally closing public hearings. The end of the hearings capped a heated public debate that in turn sparked controversy among city officials, environmental activists and residents.

At a public hearing June 14, frustrated council members directed city staff to look into relying on the procedures of the California Environmental Quality Act to analyze and mitigate traffic impacts of new developments as a way to prepare for repealing the unique ordinance. That meeting triggered changes to the ordinance, which council members adopted Monday. The council will revisit the ordinance July 12 to fine-tune some of the language. The modifications--aimed at protecting the city from lawsuits--mostly involved legal and operational problems, according to the city’s Traffic Phasing Ordinance Working Group.