NEWPORT BEACH Toddler’s family sues city in...

NEWPORT BEACH

Toddler’s family sues city

in fire ring accident case

The family of a toddler burned in a fire ring at the beach two

years ago has filed a lawsuit against the city. A court date has been

set for June. The suit seeks unspecified damages for physical

disfigurement and mental anguish to the girl and her family.

A local political group, FreeNewport.com, is making waves with

some fierce rhetoric against the city and its moves to rein in Fourth

of July partying.

About 30 liquidambar trees on San Miguel Drive were severely

over-trimmed because of an error by workers for the city’s

contractor, city officials said. The contractor will pay to replace

the trees if they don’t recover.

A senior housing project will cost $1 million more to build if

work can’t start before state prevailing-wage laws kick in. The

project was delayed to allow officials to study whether there are

protected wetlands on the site.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].

ENVIRONMENT

Newport submits coastal plan to state commission

Newport Beach leaders wrapped up the more-than-one-year planning

effort on their Local Coastal Plan by submitting it to the California

Coastal Commission.

The coastal plan is a comprehensive document that maps out all the

development issues in the co-called coastal zone.

The city is seeking approval from the coastal commission to

approve the plan. Once that occurs, the city could issue its own

permits for projects along the coastline.

City leaders completed work on the 150-page document on April 25

and sent it to the commission for a preliminary review. The final

plan is due June 30.

Newport Beach secured approval for an earlier version of the plan

in 1990, but officials failed to implement it.

Newport Beach is one of a handful of cities in the state that

doesn’t have a coastal plan in place. The state’s Coastal Act of 1972

requires cities to implement such a plan.

The state Legislature, in Senate Bill 516, set the deadline.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].

PUBLIC SAFETY

One of two suspects in

teen’s stabbing arrested

Costa Mesa Police on Monday arrested one of two men suspected of

stabbing a teenager several times.

Officers arrested Juan Gabriel-Campos, 20, of Costa Mesa, on

suspicion of assaulting a 15-year-old boy walking near 19th Street

and Wallace Avenue at about 9:45 p.m. April 15, police said.

Officials said the incident was gang-related.

Police are still looking for the other man they believe assaulted

the teen.

The victim was stabbed several times in the left arm and the head,

officials said. His injuries were not life threatening, and he was

treated and released from Hoag Hospital.

Gabriel-Campos has been charged with attempted homicide.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at [email protected].

COSTA MESA

Planning Commission approves home addition

The Planning Commission approved a second-story addition for a

property owner on Rose Lane with the conditions that the owners

install landscape screening along the rear wall to a height of 9 to

10 feet and increase the wall height to 8 feet along the rear of the

property. The conditions are to appease neighbors in the back of the

house who had complained about an invasion of privacy.

Emulex began construction on its new headquarters at Home Ranch.

Watching the first walls go up were Emulex Chairman Paul Folino and

Henry Segerstrom, C.J. Segerstrom & Son’s managing partner. The two

donned hard hats and chatted nearby.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].