A quick look at the things that made news this week in Newport Beach:
– The California Coastal Commission approved a 71-foot tall faux lighthouse for the city’s Marina Park Project in an 8-2 vote during Wednesday’s meeting in San Diego.
Staff had recommended that the structure be no taller than 55 feet, to allow for the requested 54.25-feet high tsunami warning device, but the approved amendment will allow a single “architectural tower” feature at Marina Park, not to exceed 73 feet in height.
The tower will serve boaters as a guide back to shore, hold telecommunication and tsunami warning device equipment, act as a city focal point, and an established iconic landmark for the Marina Park Project and the city, Newport Beach officials claimed.
– Harbor commissioner David Girling gave a report on the future of the Lower Castaways property, located at Coast Highway and Dover Drive, during the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission meeting on Tuesday.
The property is the last city-owned waterfront property in Newport Harbor. The Harbor Commission is exploring ideas and possible uses for the land, including a boat and/or kayak/personal watercraft launch site.
Girling invited the PBR commissioners, city staff, and the public to the Harbor Commission’s meeting next Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the old council chambers, at 3300 Newport Blvd.
– Former Newport Beach City Councilman Steve Rosansky is one of the remaining applicants for the Orange County clerk-recorder position, Patch.com reported.
Narrowed down from nearly 900 applicants, only 25 remain, from which Orange County supervisors will pare down a list of a dozen or so to be interviewed via an all-day public meeting.
– Newport Beach resident and Joe’s Crab Shack owner, Mike Moshayedi, came out the victor of an auction for the property on which Villa Nova currently sits, reported the Orange County Register. The winning bid was $6 million.
Moshayedi is considering offers to bring in a new restaurant. The frontrunner is The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar – fine dining from Tustin.
– As of May 6, traffic tickets issued March 18 or later will no longer be dealt with at the OC courthouse in Laguna Hills. Instead, such tickets will be handled at the Harbor Justice Center, 4601 Jamboree Rd, reported Patch.com.
Similarly, Costa Mesa traffic tickets after March 18 wil be handled at the West Justice Center, 8141 13th St.
– The NBPD issued a warning about scam artists targeting elderly people via the telephone. Police received three phone calls from residents in the last week.
The scam artists would pose as grandchildren asking for emergency money such as that for bail.
— Compiled by Justin Swanson
