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Corona del Mar Today: Bike lane near Corona del Mar High is almost complete

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A new bike lane being built near Corona del Mar High School and Our Lady Queen of Angels neared completion last week, according to Newport Beach staff.

“Thanks to a remarkable effort by city staff and the contractor, the major construction component of the Eastbluff Dr/Ford Road Bike Lane Improvement Project is planned to be completed by the end of this week,” Senior Traffic Engineer Brad Sommers said in an email. “With this work done, the roadway and sidewalk can be opened up for the beginning of school at Corona Del Mar High. Follow-up items may be completed with temporary lane and/or sidewalk closures during nonpeak hours.”

The Newport Beach City Council approved the project at its August meeting and work began the next day. The work was scheduled to be completed by Sept. 12.

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The bike lane will be continued onto Ford Road between Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard, but that work will take place after the Eastbluff widening work is complete, Sommers said.

“Since the existing road is wide enough in this section the work consists of striping and signage only,” he said.

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Police: Suspect had a switchblade

Newport Beach police arrested a 34-year-old Bellevue man Aug. 24 in the 1500 block of Avocado Avenue on suspicion of carrying a switchblade, a report said. His bail was $500.

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Councilwoman appeals alcohol decision

Recently, the Port Theater was granted permission to expand its alcohol sales to 1 a.m., including throughout the theater at all-age shows. But a City Council member’s appeal could put a halt to those plans.

“Concerns have been expressed,” said City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner. “The full Planning Commission didn’t hear it. It was a 3-2 vote, not an overwhelming endorsement for something that could have an effect on the neighborhood, so I thought it was good for the council to hear the operator’s reasons as well as the neighbors’ concerns.”

At an Aug. 11 meeting, the commissioners agreed to extend the Port’s alcohol sales window from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., as well as to allow them to sell alcohol theater-wide at all-age shows. Previously, if minors were in attendance, alcohol sales were limited to a mezzanine area.

Theater representatives said they needed the changes to compete with theaters like Fashion Island’s Islands 7, but some neighbors said they worried about noise from intoxicated patrons.

The appeal was announced at the Planning Commission’s meeting on Thursday and will be discussed at the Council’s Sept. 9 meeting.

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Construction project begins

Green construction fencing was installed next to Gallo’s Italian Deli this week, but it will be months before the start of construction of six detached town homes on the long-empty lot, the project’s architect said.

“If everything goes well we could start construction in January 2015,” said Marcelo E. Lische. “Construction may take 18 to 24 months.”

In January 2013, the Newport Beach Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve plans for the project at 3928 East Coast Highway. The six town homes each will have a private elevator and views, including ocean and peekaboo ocean views, built on top of a subterranean garage.

A second story also will be added above the Gallo’s restaurant, which opened in 1973.

Gallo’s will remain open during construction except during the three months of its own rebuild, Lische said.

“But (owner) Mag Hanna plans to have a Gallo’s truck at the site during the re-construction,” he said. “So basically Gallo’s will be open all the time.”

At one point, a burger stand and gas station occupied the lot. Later, Hanna considered adding an auto spa and a Jaguar dealership, but those plans never materialized.

Corona del Mar Today appears Sunday in the Daily Pilot. Read daily updates at coronadelmartoday.com.

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