Fire Station No.1 and Balboa Branch Library Landscape Changes Appeal

The City of Newport Beach is addressing an appeal regarding minor landscaping revisions approved on July 3, 2025, to Coastal Development Permit PA2024-0140, which originally authorized the demolition and reconstruction of Fire Station No.1 and the Balboa Branch Library, along with the removal of two diseased Special City Landmark trees. The approved changes involve replacing Catalina Ironwood trees along Island Avenue and California Sycamores along East Bay Avenue with Western Sycamore trees to better support nesting bird habitats, particularly for great blue herons. Additionally, the parking lot area along East Bay Avenue will now include a Sweetshade tree and an Australian Willow tree in place of the originally planned California Sycamores. These landscaping modifications have necessitated a slight adjustment to the parking layout, resulting in the loss of one surplus parking space. The project has been determined to qualify under a Class 2 categorical exemption under California’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA Section 15302) as it involves replacement of existing facilities without expansion of use, thereby exempting it from further detailed environmental review. All project activities are confined to the site at 100 East Balboa Boulevard, Newport Beach, and are overseen by the City’s Community Development and Public Works Departments. No federal procurement mechanisms, contract clauses, pricing data, or formal solicitation elements are involved, as this is strictly a local land use and environmental compliance matter governed by state and municipal regulations. Key points of contact include Laura Rodriguez, Assistant Planner, and Tom Sandefur, Assistant City Engineer, who provide administrative and technical oversight, respectively.