Chapter 21.44 — TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION

The purposes of this chapter are to promote alternative transportation and to protect public access infrastructure within the coastal zone. (Ord. 2016-19 § 9 (Exh. A)(part), 2016)

A. Site Design. New development shall incorporate the following alternative transportation design and site characteristics, where feasible:

1. Employment, retail, and entertainment districts and coastal recreational areas should
be well served by public transit and easily accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.

2. Streets, sidewalks, bicycle paths, and recreational trails (including the Coastal Trail)
should be designed and regulated to encourage walking, bicycling, and transit
ridership.

3. Provide connections to existing and proposed bikeways and trail systems.

4. Maintain, expand, and encourage the use of bikeways and trails as alternative
circulation routes.

B. Public Water Transportation. Pedestrian access and waiting areas shall be provided on
waterfront sites where public water transportation exists or is anticipated to exist within
five years.
(Ord. 2016-19 § 9 (Exh. A)(part), 2016)

A. Applicability. The requirements of this section shall apply to all new nonresidential development, nonresidential portions of mixed-use projects, and employment centers that are estimated to employ one hundred (100) or more persons. Additionally, all new nonresidential development between the sea and the first public road shall be required to incorporate the appropriate transportation demand management facilities or measures where feasible.

B. Transportation Demand Management Program. Applicants for projects covered by this
section shall prepare a transportation demand management program applicable to the
proposed project that will:

1. Reduce the number of peak-period vehicle trips generated in association with the
proposed project;

2. Promote and encourage the use of alternative transportation modes (e.g., ridesharing,
carpools, vanpools, public transit, bicycles and walking);

3. Provide incentives for the use of alternative transportation modes and public transit
ridership (e.g. subsidies for transit use, shuttles to transit stations); and

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4. Provide those facilities that support alternate transportation modes.

C. Site Development Requirements. Projects subject to the requirements of this chapter shall
be subject to the following site development requirements. Required improvements shall
be reviewed and approved by the review authority concurrent with other project approvals.

1. Carpool Parking. A parking space shall be reserved and designated for each identified
carpool vehicle. Carpool spaces shall only be used by carpool vehicles and shall be
located near the employee entrance or at other preferential locations, as approved by
the City Traffic Engineer.

2. Bicycle Racks/Lockers. Bicycle lockers or bicycle racks, as determined by the review
authority, shall be provided for use by employees or tenants. Lockers may be located
in a required parking space.

3. Lockers and Showers. Showers and lockers shall be required by the review authority
based on the total number of anticipated employees.

4. Information on Transportation Alternatives. A commuter information area shall be provided in one or more central areas that are accessible to all employees or tenants. Information shall include, but not be limited to, current maps, routes and schedules for public transit; ridesharing match lists; available commuter incentives and ridesharing promotional material supplied by commuter-oriented organizations. 5. Rideshare Vehicle Loading Area. A rideshare vehicle loading area shall be designated at a location approved by the City Traffic Engineer based on the total number of anticipated employees. 6. Vanpool Accessibility. Vanpool spaces shall be reserved and designated for each identified vanpool in compliance with the approved plan. The spaces shall be located near the employee entrance or other preferential location as approved by the City Traffic Engineer. 7. Bus Stop Improvements. Bus stop improvements, including bus pullouts, bus pads, and rights-of-way for bus benches and shelters shall be required for developments located along arterials where public transit exists or is anticipated to exist within five years. Improvements shall be developed in consideration of the level of transit ridership and the impact of stopped buses on other traffic. 8. Sidewalks. Sidewalks or other paved pathways connecting the external pedestrian circulation system to each building in the development shall be provided.

   D. Equivalent Facilities or Measures. The project applicant shall have the option of deleting or modifying any or all of the site development requirements if equivalent facilities or measures are provided. The applicant shall demonstrate the equivalency of the proposed measures to the satisfaction of the applicable review authority. (Ord. 2016-19 § 9 (Exh. A)(part), 2016)

A. Authority. The City Council shall have the authority to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove applications to vacate public rights-of-way and to abandon public service easements where a finding of consistency can be made with the Local Coastal Program

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City of Newport Beach, CA § 21.44.045 LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION § 21.44.055

and, where applicable, with the public access and recreation policies of Chapter 3 of the
Coastal Act.

B. Coastal Development Permit Required. The vacations, abandonments, or any other transfer
to a private entity of any public land or interest in public land (including a road easement
or right-of-way) in the coastal zone shall require a coastal development permit, subject to
the following limitations:

1. Conversion to Private Streets. The conversion of public streets to private streets is
prohibited unless, in addition to the findings required for the coastal development
permit application in Section 21.52.015(F), findings are made, supported by
substantial evidence, that such a conversion is consistent with applicable provisions
of the certified LCP and, if located between the nearest public road and the sea, the
public access and recreation policies of Chapter 3 of the Coastal Act, including but
not limited to specific findings that conversion of a public street to a private street
would not inhibit public access to and along the shoreline and to beaches, coastal
parks, trails, or coastal bluffs.

2. Public Street Ends. No public street end identified as providing public access by the
Coastal Land Use Plan shall be vacated, abandoned or transferred to a private entity
unless in association with an approved coastal development permit for a project which
incorporates within its design a provision for equal or superior coastal access for the
public.

3. Coastal Access Easements. No coastal access easement shall be abandoned or
transferred to a private entity unless in association with an approved coastal
development permit for a project which incorporates within its design a provision for
equal or superior coastal access for the public.

C. Procedure. Vacations and abandonments shall be processed by filing an application for
vacation or abandonment pursuant to California Streets and Highways Code Sections 8300
through 8363 and by filing an application for a coastal development permit pursuant to
Chapters 21.50 and 21.52.

D. Waterfront Property. Pursuant to Section 1402 of the City Charter, no public waterfront or beach property shall be sold or conveyed other than to the State or to the County for use as a public beach or park. (Ord. 2016-19 § 9 (Exh. A)(part), 2016; Ord. 2025-14 § 1 (Exh. A § 15), 2025)

A. General. Temporary closing of portions of any street for celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes when necessary for public safety shall be permitted pursuant to Section 21101 of the California Vehicle Code.

B. West Newport. Temporarily closing certain streets in West Newport for a period of no more
than twenty-four (24) hours during the Independence Day holiday shall be permitted when,
in the opinion of the Police Chief, the closure is necessary to protect the public safety. In
no event shall any street closure prevent or interfere with the public’s access to the beach
or bay.

C. Coastal Development Permit. The need for a coastal development permit shall be

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determined in accordance with Chapter 21.52.

(Ord. 2016-19 § 9 (Exh. A)(part), 2016; Ord. 2025-14 § 1 (Exh. A § 16), 2025)

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City of Newport Beach, CA