July 22, 2025
Agenda Item No. 21
NEWPORT BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS – 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025
REGULAR MEETING – 6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
ITEM NO. 1 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Summary:
The Planning Commission’s adopted rules require the election of officers at its annual meeting, which occurs at the first meeting of July each year, unless continued to a future meeting. Officers include the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary and they would serve for a one-year term.
Recommended Actions:
Find this action not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3; Nominate Planning Commission officers consisting of Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary; and Appoint the officers by majority approval of a motion either individually or as one motion for all positions.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public comments are invited on non-agenda items generally considered to be within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Planning Commission. Speakers must limit comments to three (3) minutes. Before speaking, please state your name for the record and print your name on the blue forms provided at the podium.
REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCES
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Speakers must limit comments to three (3) minutes on all items. Before speaking, please state your name for the record and print your name on the blue forms provided at the podium.
If in the future you wish to challenge in court any of the matters on this agenda for which a public hearing is to be conducted, you may be limited to raising only those issues, which you (or someone else) raised orally at the public hearing or in written correspondence received by the City at or before the hearing.
ITEM NO. 2 TRACY RESIDENCE VARIANCE (PA2023-0200)
Site Location: 1020 White Sails Way
Summary:
A request for a variance to allow an addition to an existing single-unit dwelling to encroach into the required 50-foot front setback. Specifically, the applicant requests to construct a new attached three-car garage that will encroach 29 feet into the front setback with a roof overhang that encroaches 31 feet into the front setback and a new bedroom addition that will encroach 13 feet into the front setback. The project also includes a new basement level vestibule, machine room, and elevator attached to the three-car garage that does not encroach into the front setback. The proposed garage would replace the existing two-car garage and would be located below the existing grade. The existing two-car garage would be converted into living space. The project also includes the removal of several existing unpermitted structures including a detached storage room, walls, fences, stairs, and other accessory structures that were constructed without the benefit of a building permit. No other deviations to the development standards are proposed.
Recommended Actions:
Conduct a public hearing;
Find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 under Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15305 under Class 5 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment; and Adopt Resolution No. PC2025-013, approving the Variance filed at PA2023-0200.
ITEM NO. 3 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE (PA2025-0093) Site Location: Citywide
Summary:
Amendments to Title 20 (Zoning Code) and Title 21 (Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan) updating regulations pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADU) to conform with revisions to Government Code Sections 66310 through 66342 that went into effect on March 27, 2024, and January 1, 2025.
Recommended Actions:
Conduct a public hearing;
Find this project statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15282(h) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states that the adoption of an ordinance regarding second units to implement the provisions of Sections 66310 through 66342 of the Government Code are exempt from the requirements of CEQA and pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15265(a)(1), local governments are exempt from the requirements of CEQA in connection with the adoption of a Local Coastal Program; Adopt Resolution No. PC2025-014, recommending the City Council approve PA2025-0093, including the Zoning Code Amendment and the Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA) and authorize staff to submit the LCPA to the California Coastal Commission (CCC).
ITEM NO. 4 COYOTE CANYON LANDFILL-GAS-TO-ENERGY (PA2022-063) Site Location: 20662 Newport Coast Drive
Summary:
A request for a conditional use permit to allow the construction and operation of a new renewable natural gas processing plant and pipeline interconnection facility. The facility would convert landfill gas from the closed Coyote Canyon Landfill into a pipeline-quality natural gas equivalent, which would be transferred into SoCal Gas infrastructure through an existing onsite tie-in point. Additional project components include a new control room building, new internal access routes, utility upgrades including installation of an additional fire hydrant, a water tank, a septic tank, a storm drain for off-site disposal of stormwater, and new underground power and telecommunication lines. The facility would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with one scheduled annual shutdown for maintenance. Existing onsite telecom facilities approved under PA2016-091 (SCH No. 2016081012) would remain in place and be unaffected by this application. This project was originally noticed for a Planning Commission meeting on May 22, 2025, and was removed from calendar. There have been no changes to the project since the previous Notice of Public Hearing.
Recommended Actions:
Conduct a public hearing; and
Adopt Resolution No. PC2025-008, adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH NO. 2024120012) and approving the Conditional Use Permit filed under PA2022-063.
STAFF AND COMMISSIONER ITEMS
ITEM NO. 5 MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
ITEM NO. 6 REPORT BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OR REQUEST FOR MATTERS WHICH A PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM NO. 7 REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES
ADJOURNMENT