Newport Beach to consider trial 4-month, partial closure of Tustin Avenue

After a brief break for the month of August, the Newport Beach City Council will be returning to the dais this upcoming Tuesday to consider the temporary and partial closure of Tustin Avenue.

The proposed closure would be at the north end of Tustin Avenue at Cliff Drive, where residents between Avon Street and Cliff Drive on Tustin and Ocean View Avenue have raised concerns about existing safety concerns between pedestrians and vehicular traffic in the area.

Both Tustin Avenue and Ocean View Avenue are relatively narrow — about 28 feet in width curb to curb — with parking allowed on both sides and no public sidewalks, meaning that pedestrians often have to walk into the street.

Additionally, due to the width of the streets, opposing traffic typically will need to pull to the side or yield to pass. City staff said the average daily combined traffic on both streets — between April 19 to 25 this year — was 945 trips. Trips associated with the residential homes in that area accounted for about 295, so there were about 650 non-local trips via Tustin and Ocean View avenues combined.

A staff report prepared for the meeting said that a neighborhood petition was submitted to the city, including the signatures of at least 26 property owners of the 31 residential addresses there. Three properties were vacant.

City staff said the closure would be for a temporary four months, during which staff would analyze any potential impacts on traffic and determine whether or not a permanent closure of that street to vehicular traffic should be considered by the City Council.

Council members will also hear several appeals, including one on the denied removal of two lemon-scented gum eucalyptus trees on Ashford Lane.

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