Community Members:

The City is seeking public input on draft documents related to implementation of the General Plan Housing Element, which will guide residential development in Newport Beach through 2029. 

In August 2023, the City released initial versions of the draft Land Use Element revisions, the draft Housing Opportunity Overlay Zoning Districts, and the draft Objective Design Standards for public review and comment. Based on input received, these drafts have been revised and are now available for public review. 

Residents are invited to provide comments and feedback by Friday, February 2 on the updated draft documents, which are available online here.

Written comments can be submitted to GPUpdate@newportbeachca.gov. In addition, members of the community are invited to learn more and provide input at a study session with the City Council on Tuesday, February 13.

These efforts are required by state law to meet state and regional housing mandates.  

In 2022, the Newport Beach City Council adopted the General Plan 6th Cycle Housing Element, which was later certified by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. The Housing Element includes a strategy for the City to meet a Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocation of 4,845 new housing units with varying affordability levels.

By 2025, under state law, the City must implement the planning strategy by updating the General Plan Land Use Element and providing appropriate zoning that will allow for the land identified in the Housing Element to be developed with housing units.

Adults aged 50 and older are invited to join the OASIS Fitness Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the health and wellness needs of older adults.

The Fitness Center offers more than 20 cardiovascular machines including the NuStep; a full line of strength training and stretch machines by Technogym; and a variety of free weights, medicine balls, balance bars, yoga mats and resistance bands. The Center is open 7 days a week. 

Annual memberships rates are $137 for Newport Beach residents and $192 for non-residents.

New members are asked to register by appointment. Please call 949-718-1818 for more information or to schedule a new member orientation.

The Be Well mobile crisis response team operates in Newport Beach 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The mobile unit is staffed with mental health specialists and works closely with the City’s police and fire departments.

This week, the Be Well team:

• Transported three people to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter for intakes.
• Transported two people to the Be Well sobering station for treatment.
• Transported a person to a homeless services provider for resources.
• Collaborated with the Newport Beach Fire Department for a medical transport.

TO REACH BE WELL: The mobile crisis team is dispatched through the Newport Beach Police Department. To request service, dial 911 or call the Police Department's non-emergency line at 949-644-3717. 

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, January 23. Items of interest are highlighted below. The entire agenda and reports can be viewed here.

The regular meeting will begin at 4:30  p.m. Agenda items include:

• Establishment of an Ad Hoc Technology Implementation and Integration Committee. The Council will consider a resolution to create the committee and appoint three Council members to serve on the committee. If approved, the committee will review modern technology options to enhance and improve public safety and make recommendations to the City Council.
• Approval of a $489,000 construction contract award to R Dependable Construction Inc., of San Bernardino, for Bonita Creek Community Center improvements. The project includes: concrete work; technology installations; adding automatic locks to the restroom doors; replacing floor and ceiling tiles; painting; upgrading light fixtures and controls; and replacing the roof and fascias.
• Approval of a $244,000 construction contract to Swift Slip Dock & Pier Builders, Inc., of Westminster for a new public dock at 29th Street and Lafayette on the Balboa Peninsula. The project would remove a floating dock that is no longer in operation and replace it with a new public pier platform, gangway and floating dock. The new pier will accommodate up to four small vessels and enhance public access in the Cannery Village area.
• Financial statement audit results and related communication for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The item includes a copy of the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and the auditors' opinion letter. The letter reflects
  an unmodified or “clean” audit opinion, meaning that the financial statements are
  presented fairly and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The audit was conducted by an independent auditing firm, Davis Farr LLP. 
• A public hearing and consideration of a project to convert a portion of a private, underground parking garage at 20 Corporate Plaza into a 5,081-square-foot medical office. Other planned improvements include: reconfiguring the project site to accommodate an office entrance from the ground and parking garage levels; widening the driveway access ramp; and restriping the parking garage.