Title
General Plan Update: Introducing Refreshed Goals and Policies for the Harbor, Bay, and Beaches Element
Recommendation
This report to the Harbor Commission outlines the City of Newport Beach’s ongoing comprehensive update to its General Plan, last revised in 2006. Following delays due to the State-mandated 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), the City resumed its broader update process in 2022 with the formation of the General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC) and the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), including various subcommittees to review each Plan element. The update process consists of four phases; Phase 1 (Background Analysis + Visioning) is complete, and Phase 2 (Policy Development + General Plan Amendment) is nearly finalized.
City staff, working closely with the GPAC, GPUSC, and consultant Dudek, developed draft goals and policies based on existing conditions reports and community input gathered through digital platforms and workshops. One key focus is the updated *Harbor, Bay, and Beaches Element*, which expands upon the current Harbor and Bay Element to include coastal beaches and related public access policies. While not required by State law, this Element reflects Newport Beach’s unique coastal identity and falls under the Harbor Commission’s jurisdiction. City staff now seek preliminary feedback from the Commission before the draft is released for wider public review. Final drafts will return for formal endorsement by the Harbor Commission in late 2025 or early 2026.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
2. Receive and file the draft Elements and provide any initial guidance or feedback on their goals and policies. The refined and finalized drafts would return to Harbor Commission for review and formal recommendation of approval to the City Council later this year or first quarter of 2026.