Judge turns down Beek’s injunction against the city

An Orange County Superior Court judge has denied Newport Beach activist Allan Beek’s request for the court to stop the city from spending more on finding an architect to design a new city hall and other project expenses while his lawsuits against the city remain unresolved.

Beek claims Newport Beach designated the roughly 12-acre site of the next City Hall in Newport Center as open space almost a decade ago.

In his ruling, Judge Peter Polos said the city has the right to build a city hall on the land, although the spot was dedicated as open space back in 1999.

Beek’s lawsuit claims only the council may decide City Hall’s next location, making the results of Measure B invalid.

Beek filed a second lawsuit claiming the council’s vote violated the California Environmental Quality Act and the city’s general plan. He alleges the council’s vote to support Measure B was illegal because the city already dedicated the land as open space.

— Brianna Bailey