O.C. Area Near Airport to Join Newport Beach

After decades of debate, residents in an unincorporated community that is under the takeoff pattern of John Wayne Airport will get what they’ve long wanted -- a Newport Beach address.

The east side of Santa Ana Heights, at the top of Upper Newport Bay, will officially become part of Newport Beach in July.

But residents of the county island’s west side are uncertain of their fate. One west-side tract prefers to become part of Newport Beach while another is opposing a push to be taken over by Costa Mesa -- hoping to remain unincorporated instead.

The east Santa Ana Heights action marks a significant step in the county’s effort to cede control of dozens of unincorporated islands to adjacent cities. County officials contend the municipalities can more efficiently provide services such as police protection and street sweeping.

Homer Bludau, Newport Beach city manager, called the annexation one of those “good government” ideas because it will bring increased services to residents.

“In some instances, those people who had problems, they didn’t know who to call for service,” Bludau said.

Often it would mean talking to two or three people before reaching the right county department, he said.

The annexation could come initially as a cost to Newport Beach, since the city will have to increase services to cover the community -- an expense that will exceed property tax revenue from the area, Bludau said. However, because there is a redevelopment zone in the community, there is “some sales tax” the city can generate.

Ann Watt, who moved to east Santa Ana Heights in 1991, expressed satisfaction with becoming a Newport Beach resident. “We’re happy,” she said.

The proposed annexation area adds about 1,400 residents to Newport Beach. The area includes east Santa Ana Heights and the Bay Knolls neighborhood.

However, Watt’s neighbors in west Santa Ana Heights who protested an annexation attempt by Costa Mesa must wait on the outcome of a signature count, which is expected Thursday. If more than 50% of the registered voters in the area signed protests, the Costa Mesa proposal is dead.

For nearly 30 years, Santa Ana Heights had fought annexation proposals.

Residents said they wanted to keep the community intact and preserve its rural flavor; residents rode horses along the roads.

Longtime resident Robert B. Hanley said Santa Ana Heights residents in general resented the idea of dividing the community, with Newport Beach taking the east and Costa Mesa grabbing the west.

Through the years, Santa Ana Heights residents have shared the same water company, specific plan and redevelopment area.

“You have to remember that in the early days, Santa Ana was the premier city in Orange County,” Hanley said.

“Costa Mesa was small by comparison, and Newport Beach was just a small landing that slowly worked its way inland.”

He said residents enjoyed their relatively rural life and later joined Newport Beach in that city’s battle to slow growth at John Wayne Airport by pushing for an international airport at the former El Toro Marine Base.