The Banning Ranch Fact vs. Fiction

Presented to the

Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club

March 17, 2015

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Focus of Presentation

• A Look Back

• Line in the Sand

• The Banning Ranch

• Call to Action

• Q & A

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A Look Back

Accomplishments:

• Banning Ranch Conservancy Wins Lawsuit

– City violated its own General Plan and CA Environmental Quality Act.

– OC Superior Court found that City failed to work with Coastal Commission to identify sensitive habitat.

• Ballot Measure Y defeated 70% - 30%

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A Look Back

Accomplishments:

• SPON – Newport Beach Citizens of the Year

• 2013 Jean Watt

• 2014 Jack and Nancy Skinner

– 2014 Celebrated 40th Anniversary

– 2015 Pledge • Continually monitor proposed projects and traffic impacts

• Creation of a “Watch List”

www.SPON-NewportBeach.org

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Line in the Sand

You need to draw the line somewhere….

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Line in the Sand

Status of Political Action Committee (PAC):

• “No on Y” name changed to “Line in the Sand”

• Administration of PAC remains same

• Growing/nurturing neighborhood groups is key component

• Branding and website development underway

• Informal meetings with new and existing City Council, and City staff ongoing

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Line in the Sand Projects in the City’s Pipeline*

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Under Construction • 520 Newport Center Dr. • Aerie Residential • Echo River Avenue • Lido Villas • Marina Park • Meredian Residential • NB Country Club • Newport Bay Marina • San Joaquin Plaza • Uptown Newport • Westcliff Medical

At Coastal Commission • The Banning Ranch • Back Bay Landing • Lido House Hotel Reasonably Foreseeable Future • Balboa Marina Expansion • Hyatt Regency Expansion

* Partial list

Line in the Sand Projects in the City’s Pipeline

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Upcoming General Plan Amendments • Beacon Bay Car Wash Redevelopment • ExplorOcean • Koll Center Newport • Saunders Property

Upcoming Municipal Code Amendments • West Newport Overlay to allow for additional height -

(Ebb Tide Mobile Home Park Redevelopment)

Line in the Sand Platform

• Sustain momentum of Measure Y defeat

• What resonates with people?

– Density, traffic, parking, heights, loss of views, loss of charm and residential character

• 2006 CNB General Plan Objectives:

– “Preserve and enhance Newport Beach’s character as a beautiful, unique residential community.”

– “Modify land uses, densities, and intensities so that traffic generation is controlled.”

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Line in the Sand Next Steps

• Finalize branding; roll-out website, newsletter • Launch road show visioning process

– Fine tune mission of LITS

• Continue to meet, form and grow neighborhood groups

• Formation of “Political Will” subcommittee • Monitor land use planning, general plan and

municipal code changes, and projects in pipeline • Continue dialogue with City staff and elected

representatives

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The Banning Ranch Fact vs. Fiction

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The Banning Ranch Park and Preserve A Vision for the Future

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The 401-acre Banning Ranch is located in Orange County, California, along

Pacific Highway at the mouth of the Santa Ana River, between the cities of

Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach.

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• The Banning Ranch is the last large coastal open

space remaining in all of Orange County.

• Active oil field, but despite 70 years of oil and gas

production, the Ranch continues as a rich

ecosystem with an abundant source of natural

biodiversity.

• “Ecological Staircase”

• Entire area declared critical habitat for the

endangered California Coastal Gnatcatcher. At

least 19 special-status species on the land.

• Rare coastal gem.

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Meet the Coastal California Gnatcatcher -- a tiny bird that is facing a big threat. Developers want to strip vulnerable gnatcatchers of their federal protection in order to

industrialize their home --as little as 10% of their original coastal sage scrub habitat remains today. NRDC BioGems Defenders

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CALIFORNIA COASTAL GNATCATCHER

The Banning Ranch Conservancy

• Originated in 1999

• 501 (c)(3) non-profit land trust

• Mission Statement:

– To preserve, acquire, conserve and manage the

entire Banning Ranch as permanent public open

space, park and coastal nature preserve

• No paid staff

• Rely on support of volunteers, private

donations and grant opportunities

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Chronology of Significant Events • July 2012 – Newport Beach City Council certifies EIR and

approves the development • August 2012 – BRC* files lawsuit against the City of

Newport Beach • January 2013 – Developer submits Coastal Development

Permit (CDP) application to Coastal Commission • January 2013 – BRC gets partial win in lawsuit • Ongoing - 7 versions of CDP application submitted by

developer; all deemed incomplete by Coastal staff • March 2015 –Enforcement Action cited developers with

major Coastal Act violations. Settlement Agreement. • Future - Coastal Commission hearing to review

development application expected within one year.

* Banning Ranch Conservancy 17

BRC COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Developer’s Misleading Media Campaign FACT OR FICTION?

• Development received “unanimous approvals in 2012”?

• Land is blighted and degraded?

• Developer’s “Green” map of Banning Ranch includes the actual development?

• Development results in a “public coastal amenity” and “Win-Win” for the community?

• Media campaign informs residents of project’s impacts?

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The Banning Ranch

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BRC COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Developer’s Misleading Media Campaign FACT OR FICTION?

• Development received “unanimous approvals in 2012”?

• Land is blighted and degraded?

• Does developers’ “Green” map of the Ranch include the actual development area?

• Development results in a “public coastal amenity” and “Win-Win” for the community?

• Media campaign informs residents of project’s impacts?

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DEVELOPER’S AD WITH “GREEN MAP” Daily Pilot, January 4, 2015

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CLOSEUP OF “GREEN MAP”

NO BUILDINGS IN SIGHT!

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The Newport Banning Ranch Proposed Development

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The Newport Banning Ranch Proposed Development*

1,375 residential units • Urban Colony

– 730 units, 5 stories of stacked flats. Height 60’

• North Family Village – 417 units. Height 45’

• Resort Inn – 75 rooms + commercial space. Height 50’

• Resort Flats – 87 units. Height 50’

• South Family Village — 141 units. Height 32’

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* Refer to the Newport Banning Ranch EIR or Planned Community Development Plan located on City of Newport Beach website.

The Newport Banning Ranch Proposed Development

And….

• 75,000 sq. ft. of commercial/retail space

• NBR Density: Higher density than last 5 large coastal developments combined.

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BRC COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Developer’s Misleading Media Campaign FACT OR FICTION?

• Development received “unanimous approvals in 2012”?

• Land is blighted and degraded?

• Does developers’ “Green” map of the Ranch include the actual development area?

• Development is a “public coastal amenity” and “Win-Win” for the community?

• Media campaign informs residents of project’s impacts?

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Environmental and Human Impacts* of Proposed Development

• 15,000 more car trips on our roads. DAILY.

• Health and safety hazards – Development plan = excavation of 2.5 million cubic yards

of contaminated soil

– Exposure to deadly oil field toxins

– Regional air pollution exceeding state standards

• A decade or more of construction

• Water demands estimated at over 200 million gallons/year

30 * Refer to the Newport Banning Ranch EIR located on City of Newport Beach website.

Call to Action

Join the Banning Ranch Family

• Ask the BRC to meet with you or your organization

• Attend BRC meetings

• Make a donation

• Volunteer

• Write to California Coastal Commission

• Write letters to the media

• Form a neighborhood ambassador group

• Talk to city council representatives

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The Banning Ranch

Help Save The Banning Ranch. When It’s Gone, It’s Gone Forever. 32

Questions?

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www.SPON-NewportBeach.org

www.BanningRanchConservancy.org