Draft Elements Review and Public Comment

What is a General Plan?

The General Plan combines vision and policy to create a framework for decision-making to guide the future of Newport Beach. The General Plan contains a vision that describes a shared image of the desired future; goals that set values and direction; policies that guide decision-making; and an implementation program to help identify specific actions to realize the vision, goals, and policies. Each goal has associated policies aimed to address the intent of the goal and each policy has a reference to one or more implementation actions.


How did we get here?

Over the past three years, hundreds of thoughtful responses from Newport Beach residents and community members, collaboration with the 24-member General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), and background analysis from Phases One and Two, informed the draft elements for the 2050 General Plan. Input opportunities included pop-up events, community workshops, citywide notifications, digital engagement, and collaboration with the GPAC.


What's Next?

Goals and policies outlined in the General Plan are addressed in each of its Elements. The General Plan contains 10 elements, 8 of which are currently being updated. The City of Newport Beach is asking for community input on the available draft General Plan Elements.


We invite community members and residents like you to review the draft General Plan Elements and share comments on Newport Beach's future!

Three elements are available for public review at this time:

Recreation, Natural Resources, and Harbor, Bay, and Beaches

Review the drafts (including goals and policies) and tell us what resonates, what’s missing, and what matters most to you. Share your thoughts below!

Submit comments by November 17th!

How to participate:

Review the draft General Plan Elements:

  • Below are the goals identified for each element
  • On the right sidebar are the complete Element draft, including the policies

Use the form below to add your comments:

  • You can add as many responses as you'd like!
  • Select the element or elements you wish to respond to and add your comment in the box.
  • Press submit when completed.

Draft Element Goals For Public Review

Land and Water Uses

  • Goal HBB-1: Local businesses and water-dependent commercial uses in the Newport Harbor area that are preserved to maintain and enhance the economic activity charm of the waterfront community
  • Goal HBB-2: Minimized risk of displacement by coastal hazards
  • Goal HBB-3: A harbor, bay, and beaches that attract tourism and maintain the character of coastal neighborhoods
  • Goal HBB-4: Sufficient coastal infrastructure that protects coastal-dependent and public recreational uses and view corridors while matching the character of the surrounding development and protecting coastal and visual resources

Harbor Coordination and Administration

  • Goal HBB-5: Coordination among City, County of Orange, State, and Federal agencies having regulatory authority of Newport Harbor and Newport Bay
  • Goal HBB-6: Maintenance and enhancement of deep-water channels to ensure they remain navigable by boats
  • Goal HBB-7: Protection and restoration of beaches and dunes

Economic Value of Newport Harbor

  • Goal HBB-8: Well-managed and economically productive harbor, bay, and beaches 
  • Goal HBB-9: Cost-efficient servicing and managing of Newport Harbor

Public Access to Coastal Resources

  • Goal HBB-10: Safe and accessible beach and harbor access points
  • Goal HBB-11: Multifaceted and integrated coastal access

Upper Newport Bay

  • Goal HBB-12: Protection of the visual and ecological resources of Upper Newport Bay

Air Quality

  • Goal NR-1: Reduced transportation-related emissions to improve air quality
  • Goal NR-2: Electric vehicle charging or other clean technology infrastructure to serve the growing share of clean-energy vehicles
  • Goal NR 3: Reduced air pollution emissions from ground operations at John Wayne Airport

Mineral and Oil Resources

  • Goal NR-4: Preparation for the orderly transition of oil and gas resources, as deemed appropriate

Energy Transition

  • Goal NR-5: Increased electrification or use of renewable energy at public facilities to reduce gasoline and natural gas usage and emissions
  • Goal NR-6: Electrification or renewable energy incentives for existing buildings to reduce natural gas emissions

Biological Resources

  • Goal NR-7: Native and naturalized non-invasive species habitats in parks and public open space
  • Goal NR-8: Cooperation with State and Federal resource protection agencies and private organizations to protect terrestrial and marine resources
  • Goal NR-9: Community-driven initiatives for ecosystem conservation
  • Goal NR-10: Land use and development standards to conserve important ecosystem services and habitats

Rivers and Waterbodies

  • Goal NR-11: Coordination with relevant agencies to reduce pollutants of concern in Newport Bay
  • Goal NR-12: Enhanced green infrastructure to help prevent runoff into Newport Bay
  • Goal NR-13: Standards and programs to limit runoff of pollution to preserve water quality of groundwater sources
  • Goal NR-14: Minimized adverse effects to water quality from sanitary sewer outflows

Sandy Beaches

  • Goal NR-15: Beach nourishment, sand retention, and sediment restoration projects

Water Conservation

  • Goal NR-16: Reduced potable water use for landscaping on public lands
  • Goal NR-17: Water-efficient landscaping incentives for private property

Vital Resources

  • Goal NR-18: Viewsheds and corridors that are preserved 
  • Goal NR-19: Minimized visual impacts of signs and utilities

Archaeological and Paleontological Resources

  • Goal NR-20: Protection of archaeological and paleontological resources


Recreation Programs

  • Goal R-1: A community with high-quality recreation programs
  • Goal R-2: Programs for older adults that benefit and are used by residents

Parks and Playgrounds

  • Goal R-3: New parks and connections that increase resident access to recreation, parks, and open space opportunities
  • Goal R-4: Parks and recreation facilities that are preserved, upgraded, and well-maintained
  • Goal R-5: Parks and recreational facilities that are adapted to meet a variety of needs for existing and future residents
  • Goal R-6: Established and well-maintained relationships to facilitate interagency and interorganizational coordination

Beach Recreation

  • Goal R-7: Protection of public beach access

Support Facilities

  • Goal R-8: Adequate support facilities at parks and recreation areas

Each policy of the General Plan has a reference to one or more implementation action in the Implementation Program. Because the Implementation Program must be updated in response to each of the General Plan Elements, updates to the Implementation Program are still underway. The City is providing the adopted Implementation program for Reference, which contains many of the actions referenced in each policy.


Review the current adopted implemetation program HERE