CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

China Cove Volleyball Court Gets Coastal OK

More than a year after beach volleyball players asked for a volleyball court to be reinstalled on China Cove beach, the Coastal Commission has voted to approve the court.

At the Commission’s meeting on Wednesday, the group voted unanimously to approve the court — in spite of letters and testimony raising the issue of noise, public urinating and defacating and problems with compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

China Cove had a volleyball court since the 1980s, but when it broke and the players asked to move it, Newport Beach officials realized the court never had proper permits. The Coastal Commission studied the plans, which involve moving the court to an area that had been covered with non-native ice plants.

At last month’s meeting, a lawyer raised ADA access questions, which delayed the vote until this week. City officials told the Commissioner that there were no compliance problems, and the commissioners said that the other complaints were up to city officials to address.

Several commissioners said they want the beach to be useful for visitors who use it passively, like to sunbathe, as well as for those who use it actively.

“Volleyball is one of the few active things that you think of when you think of the beach,” said Commissioner Esther Sanchez. “I support this.”

To read some of the letters on both sides of the issue, click here to read the Coastal Commission’s staff report. Read our earlier stories here and here.