Conservationists and developers are waged in a battle over the future of Newport Beach’s Banning Ranch, one of the last remaining undeveloped, privately owned spaces along the California coast. The 401 acre tract is a rare commodity in the urbanized, highly coveted area where homes are listed for an average of $2.3 million.
Ultimately, the California Coastal Commission (CCC), which manages land use in 15 counties along 1100 miles of coastal property, will determine the character and extent of development that can take place on this stretch of land, which has been blighted by decades of use by oil companies and overrun by uncontrolled natural growth. The developers of the site, Newport Banning Ranch LLC (NBR), contend that they have formulated a plan to transform the property into more attractive and sustainable uses.
In October, NBR proposed a development plan consisting of 1,375 residences, 75,000 square feet of commercial space, 4 acres of retail space and 6 acres for a resort. The developers would improve the remaining 300 acres for public access. The CCC determined that the proposal was inconsistent with the California Coastal Act (Act) and issued a recommendation to reject the plan. The Act specifically prohibits development on wetlands, which must be protected indefinitely. The rejection was based on a report by CCC ecologists that identified a substantial portion of the property as an environmentally sensitive habitat for both plant and animal life. The report found that Banning Ranch was one of the last places along the state’s coastline to support this type of habitat for certain rare species.
The developers were ordered by the CCC to significantly revise their proposal. NBR subsequently scaled back the plan by reducing the number of homes, the hotel size and the retail space in the area. Although CCC ecologists remapped the protected area and increased the amount of land suitable for development, the revised plan continued to extend beyond the boundaries identified by the CCC as appropriate for commercial development. The development plan therefore remains in violation of the Act. NBR is currently reviewing the recommendations of the CCC after postponement of a hearing this past month on the proposal.
Contact Shane Coons at 949-333-0900 or visit his website at www.ShaneCoonsLaw.com to find out more about his practice.