Commentary: Fine-tuned Banning Ranch project fulfills needs of all

Last week, California Coastal Commission staff certified the Newport Banning Ranch project application.

We are excited that our project is moving forward and will be considered for approval by the Coastal Commission later this year.

This is the culmination of several years of public debate and input into the planning process. The Newport Beach City Council has already unanimously approved our plans, which, in return for a measured and appropriate development area, set aside nearly 75% of the property as open space, including a 235-acre nature preserve designated to be managed by the Newport Banning Land Trust. This will be funded in perpetuity at no cost to current taxpayers.

Last month marked another collaborative planning milestone in the process toward cleanup, restoration and opening up the property to public access. After months of collaboration with the staff at the California Coastal Commission, agreement was reached on several outstanding issues related to historical oil operations on the property.

Among other things, the agreement sets aside areas that we will develop into precious habitat for species like the California Gnatcatcher and the San Diego fairy shrimp, something we all want to see.

That agreement was unanimously approved by the commission. It was clear by participation at the commission hearing and via numerous letters sent to the commission before the hearing that Newport Beach and the greater community are eager to move forward to the bigger project discussions that will be before the commission in coming months.

The community is engaged in many constructive and beneficial ways. On April 21, as part of Earth Day celebrations, Newport Banning Ranch joined the Newport Banning Land Trust and its volunteer corps to build a native plants nursery. Volunteers have been collecting seeds from native plants. Those seeds will be nurtured by the land trust for local restoration programs and eventually Newport Banning Ranch restoration efforts.

This has been a long but fruitful journey. The process of Newport Banning Ranch’s collaboration with the community and the regulatory agencies has been going on for nearly a decade, and many good ideas and modifications to our original plan have come about because of this.

We continue to invite constructive feedback and look forward to moving the plans along so that the oil field will be removed and the public will have access to the trails, open space, parks and the high quality village that will be the future of Newport Banning Ranch.

MICHAEL MOHLER is the senior project manager at Newport Banning Ranch LLC.