Newport-Mesa trustees to decide on Corona del Mar High stadium plan

The multi-million dollar overhaul of the Corona del Mar High School stadium could inch forward Tuesday, with trustees of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District expected to decide on a design plan that includes seating, lights and more.

The renovations are divvied up into must-haves and add-ons. The must-haves include an all-weather track and field, seating for 1,000 and field lighting. The add-ons include a multi-use building with concessions and restrooms and seating for up to 1,385 spectators.

According to agenda, the district has agreed to spend $8.3 million for the “base project” renovations, with the add-ons contingent on donations from school boosters. The price of the entire project, with the add-ons, wasn’t included in the agenda.

The board in 2013 had approved $7.4 million in funding for the new field and 1,000 new seats.

Late last year, a letter from the CdM Foundation proposed features including 1,385 seats; a press box and possibly an elevator; a field building for concessions, team rooms, storage, restrooms and ticketing; lighting and a sound system.

Those items would cost about $6.75 million.

In December, the board voted to proceed with large-scale renovation plans, including privately funded extras like lights, additional seats and a press box.

In the works for years, the renovations have polarized the neighborhood, with neighbors calling the lights and noise anticipated from the larger stadium a quality-of-life killer. Supporter said lights, and additional features like more seating, would give teams more practice time and end the school’s reliance on rickety old bleachers.

A letter sent Tuesday by the district office outlined 20 steps anticipated in the renovation project process, beginning with the board’s approval of a design scope of work and including an agreement between the district and boosters specifying who pays for what.

The project will require an environmental report, which could change the design plan again. The overall process is expected to take two to three years, a school official said.

—Amy Senk of Corona del Mar Today contributed to this report.