Snug Harbor Surf Park Project (PA2024-0069)
Project Address/Location:
The project site is located at 3100 Irvine Avenue, within an approximately 15.38-acre portion of the Newport Beach Golf Course.
Project Description:
The Snug Harbor Surf Park Project would redevelop the center portion of the NB Golf Course with approximately 5-acres of surf lagoons. The lagoons would be surrounded by viewing platforms, seating, three warming pools, and a spa. The Project includes a three-story clubhouse building containing a reception area, surf academy, fitness facility, yoga center, administration offices, staff areas, locker rooms, retail store, restaurant, a coffee bar/snack shack, and other incidental uses. The Project also includes a two-story athlete accommodation building that would provide 20 units. Each unit would contain a bed, bathroom, closet, and a patio space facing the surf lagoon.
To support the proposed amenities, the Project includes basement level surfboard storage, golf cart storage, maintenance areas, mechanical equipment storage, and freestanding restroom buildings. The Project would maintain the existing driveway along Irvine Avenue and would construct an additional driveway along Mesa Drive. The Project would provide two parking areas to serve both the Project and the NB Golf Course. One parking lot would be located by the Irvine Avenue driveway and would contain 207 parking spaces and one parking lot would be located toward Mesa Drive and contain 176 parking spaces. Solar canopies are planned on building tops and over portions of both parking areas to produce renewable energy to power the wave machine and heat the pool during daylight operations.
The Project does not involve changes to the northern or southern portions of the NB Golf Course and the existing off-site access to the golf course holes identified as the front 6 and the back 9 would be maintained.
Required Approvals
The proposed Project would require the following discretionary approvals from the City:• General Plan Amendment – The Project is consistent with the existing site General Plan Land Use designation of Parks and Recreation (PR) but requires a General Plan Amendment to increase the current development limit of 20,000 net square feet (per Anomaly Number 58) to 59,772 net square feet.
- Conditional Use Permit (CUP) – A CUP is required per Municipal Code 20.90.050(B)(3) for an outdoor commercial recreation use and to set the parking rate consistent with per Municipal Code Section 20.40.040. In addition, the Santa Ana Heights Specific Plan requires a CUP to allow for the construction of a building in excess of 18 feet in height.
- Modification Permit – A Modification Permit is required for the proposed Project because the proposed retaining walls located near the intersection of Irvine Avenue and Mesa Drive would exceed 8 feet in height.
- Major Site Development Review – The Project requires major site development review to construct a building with an area greater than 20,000 net square feet.
Environmental Impact Report
Notice of Availability - May 23, 2025
The environmental consultant for the City, Environment Planning Development Solutions, Inc., dba EPD Solutions, is preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Project, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The draft EIR is available for a 45-day public review period beginning May 23, 2025, and ending July 7, 2025. Comments must be received via email or in writing by the close of business on July 7, 2025.
- An electronic copy of the draft EIR is available online at: http://www.newportbeachca.gov/ceqa
- Hard copies are available at City Hall (Bay B) and in all library branches
CEQA Resources
Project Activity/Status
- Application submitted by Applicant on April 17, 2024
- EIR Consultant Professional Services Agreement reviewed by City Council on August 27, 2024
- Notice of Preparation (NOP) Comment Period: November 7, 2024, to December 6, 2024
- EIR Scoping Meeting: November 20, 2024 (PowerPoint presentation available here)
- Draft EIR (DEIR) circulated for public comment and review from May 23, 2025, to July 7, 2025.
- The City will conduct a Study Session with the Planning Commission in the City Council Chambers on June 19, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., or soon thereafter. The purpose of the study session is to introduce the project and provide the Planning Commission and the public the opportunity to learn about the project. The public can attend the study session, however no action on the Project will be taken at the study session.
Staff Contact
If you would like further information on the project, please contact:
Joselyn Perez, Senior Planner
City of Newport Beach
Community Development Department
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
949-644-3312