CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Planning Commission Approves Extra Height For Ocean Blvd. Home

The Newport Beach Planning Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve variances for an Ocean Boulevard home that will allow the structure to exceed height restrictions.

Commissioners agreed to the exceptions to the city’s zoning code because of lot constrictions and the fact that the new home at 3725 Ocean Blvd. would be far lower than the current one.

“The impact of height has been resolved to the greatest degree that is possible,” said Commissioner Michael Toerge. Toerge said he visited the site, and while there were ways to build to curb height restrictions, it would reduce livable space and would not be “an acceptable solution.”

The vote at Thursday night’s commission meeting followed a hearing that included a presentation by the homeowner, the project’s architect as well as public comments.

The owner, Dr. Desmond Fischer, said he owned the property since 1991 and was eager to replace the current dilapidated home.

“It’s quite frankly a blight on the neighborhood,” he told the commissioners. “For that I apologize.”

Fisher said he considered his neighbors during the project’s design, creating a roof that would blend into the ocean when seen from across the street. And his architect, John McInnes, said that construction would not need to close Ocean Boulevard, ever — a concern of some neighbors.

The variance will allow the home to exceed the curb height by 1 foot, 9 inches at the northerly corner and 3 feet 10 inches at the southerly corner. The city’s zoning code requires homes along Ocean Boulevard not to exceed curb height, but many older homes were built before that code went into effect. The new home would be lower than the existing home, and it would eliminate chimneys from the roofline by incorporating side vents for gas fireplaces.

The plans also would exceed height restrictions that would not be have any view impact because they are on the hillside, according to a staff report. The new home would be 7,304 square feet on three levels plus a basement, with a two-car attached garage and decks.

Three neighbors attended the hearing but gave support to the project. Doris Stoughton, who lives across the street, expressed concern that building would go on for several years, citing another nearby building project that took six years to complete. The architect said he believed the project would be complete within 24 months.

“I’m sorry to say it might take six years to get through Coastal Commission,” Toerge said.

Read our earlier story here.