Residents press Newport Beach council for more public input on high‑rise plans and question consent items

Several Newport Beach residents urged the City Council on April 14 to ensure broader public engagement on major development and civic projects, voicing concerns about proposed towers near the Edwards Big Newport Theater, a possible police facility at Civic Center Park and two consent calendar items involving a lease and a donated plaque.

Homeowner Chase Wickersham said he learned from reporting that the Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for two towers on the Edwards Big Newport Theater property and described the proposals as "270‑plus feet," telling the council many neighbors were surprised that there had been no public hearing. "I hope that the city council will allow some public participation in this discussion and not do it behind closed doors," Wickersham said, adding that the towers would alter views, increase traffic and change the character of Newport Center.

Cynthia Haun, a lifelong Corona del Mar resident, told the council she was at the meeting to support neighbors pushing for input and said residents are concerned the character of the community is being "fundamentally altered" without sufficient disclosure; she referenced a forthcoming ballot measure and urged city leaders to engage directly with impacted homeowners.

On the consent calendar, Adam Leverence spoke about item 7, a five‑year lease amendment at 1201 Dove Street — a site long discussed as a potential police station location — saying a long lease to a tenant could reduce the city's flexibility to pursue the site as a police headquarters in the future. "If the city is issuing 5‑year leases to tenants, it kind of seems like that has been removed from consideration for a new police station," Leverence said.

Public commenter Jim Rosher raised concerns about consent item 10, a plaque donation from the Newport Beach Foundation commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary. Rosher pointed to the council's current policy limiting donor recognition and the city's maintenance obligations and said the proposed agreement's 100‑year maintenance promise and donor recognition on the plaque depart from that policy. "I don't think it's appropriate to be honoring the donor as much as the event," Rosher said.

Councilmembers did not take immediate action to pull those consent items on the record; the meeting proceeded to other items and later approved meeting minutes. Several commenters asked the council to engage more directly with affected homeowners as project proposals advance.