Planning Commission gives preliminary OK to Balboa Inn expansion

plans

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Planning commissioners narrowly approved an expansion

plan for the Balboa Inn at their meeting Thursday.

But the split decision -- with Commissioners Earl McDaniel, Steven

Kiser and Shant Agajanian voting to deny the project -- included a

provision that requires the hotel’s owners to pay about $50,000 in back

hotel taxes and penalties before they can receive building permits from

the city.

“This sends a message,” said Commissioner Michael Kranzley, who voted

for the expansion along with the commission Chairman Edward Selich and

Commissioners Anne Gifford and Larry Tucker. “We’re not going to approve

the project unless the [tax] is paid.”

The City Council will make the final decision on the Balboa Inn

proposal.

The expansion, which drew criticism from residents concerned about

blocked views and the owner’s failure to pay taxes, will include a second

building of up to three stories in height. The project will add 11 new

guest suites, a guest spa area, about 2,000 square feet of shops and a

20-space, partially covered, tandem area.

Kiser also expressed concern about the owners’ ability to fund the

expansion, because they had not managed to pay their taxes.

“If the [tax] can’t be paid, I’d be concerned that they are out of

funds,” he said. “And we may end up with a half-built project. Frankly,

we shouldn’t be dealing with this before [the taxes] are paid.”

Michel Pourmussa, one of the inn’s co-owners, could not be reached for

comment Friday. City officials said the commission’s decision could be

appealed to the City Council within 14 days.