Plans to revitalize Mariners’ Mile in Newport Beach have been scrapped…for now

NEWPORT BEACH ― Plans to revitalize Newport Beach’s Mariners’ Mile village has another snag, due to the discontent of local residents. Negative public input during the Mariners’ Mile planning process has essentially caused the city of Newport Beach to scrap its revitalization plan for the coastal village along Coast Highway – although the door is not entirely shut to future planning. “The intent is to shelve this project and the draft Master Plan for further consideration following the General Plan update scheduled to begin in late 2017,” Newport Beach Planning Division Associate Planner Markana Nova informed The Log. “The General Plan update may be a 2-3 year process.” This marks the second time Newport Beach reverted back to square one in the quest to modernize Mariners’ Mile. The most recent plan encompassed modifying infrastructure, alleviating vehicular congestion as well as increasing pedestrian traffic along the stretch of West Coast Highway referred to as Mariners’ Mile, a 1.3-mile stretch of restaurants, offices, shops and marine activities nestled between the marina and homes (bounded by Dover Drive and Newport Boulevard). “The Mariners’ Mile Revitalization Master Plan was envisioned as a consensus building process to develop a vision for future improvement in the area based on the existing...