Housing
Housing and Development
SPON believes all cities need constant renewal. However, development needs to be well-conceived, and be mindful of traffic, views, the impact on the environment, and infrastructure. The deluge of housing laws coming from Sacramento pose enormous challenges. SPON is actively engaged in understanding the many new laws and is advancing solutions to meet state requirements while maintaining the unique character of our City.
Initiatives/Achievements
2024
SPON sued the City of Newport Beach when the City Council voted to bypass Newport Beach City Charter Section 423 (Greenlight). The City Council did this to circumvent a vote of the citizens on the Housing/Land Use Element of the General Plan. SPON members worked tirelessly to create Greenlight and put this City. Charter Amendment does not include any affordable housing units. The lawsuit continues with a ruling anticipated in the Spring of 2025.
2023
Fractional Housing - SPON has been active in working with residents and the City to strengthen the City’s current timeshare ordinance to include fractional home ownership.
2022
SPON members partnered with hotel owners to create the Newport Beach Housing Fund. The Fund will provide a mechanism for receiving and distributing grants and philanthropic donation to help the city provide affordable housing for our local workforce (police, firefighters and first responders, teachers, medical personnel and entry level workers) and seniors. The Fund will be the catalyst for moving some of our “Missing Middle” families into housing near the places they work.
2020
RHNA - SPON prepared a resolution that was sent to the Newport Beach City Council, and had the support of 439 residents, objecting to the Southern California Association of Government’s (SCAG) Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) revised allocation methodology mandating that Newport Beach plan for 4,845 additional residential units.
General Plan Update - SPON members are actively participating in the current General Plan update process which provides the blueprint for what Newport Beach will look like in the future.
2017
Museum Tower - SPON strongly opposed the proposal for a 25 story residential tower in Newport Center. SPON led a successful petition drive to defeat the project.
2016
AutoNation - SPON supported Newport Heights and Bayshore residents to defeat a proposed auto dealership on Mariner’s Mile that would have obstructed views, cut in to the bluff, and increased gridlock on PCH. The proposal was withdrawn by the applicant.
2014
Measure Y - SPON successfully campaigned to defeat Measure Y which would have added over one million square feet of new office, retail, commercial and high-density residential units to Newport Center.
2000
Greenlight - SPON members worked tirelessly to create the Greenlight Initiative which upon passage was added to the City Charter as Section 423. Greenlight requires that developments over a certain site, and generates increased traffic, to be put to a vote by the citizens of Newport Beach. This measure remains in effect today.
1981
Newport Center - SPON initiated a referendum to repeal expansion plans for Newport Center. The City Council subsequently rescinded the plan because a negative vote was imminent as a result of the residents’ response.
1978
Traffic Phasing Initiative - SPON developed and gathered signatures for an ordinance that requires the impact on traffic be considered for new development.