NEWPORT BEACH Paleontologists begin excavation of whale...

NEWPORT BEACH

Paleontologists begin excavation of whale fossil

Paleontologists got down to work this week to excavate a

long-buried whale fossil that was discovered during a construction

project at a Newport Beach home. The fossil could be 3 million to 5

million years old, and may be the most complete whale skull ever

found in Newport Beach, paleontologist Sarah Black said.

* The city’s planning commission again will take up St. Andrew’s

Presbyterian Church’s proposed 22,000-square-foot expansion, the City

Council decided Tuesday. The commission has already heard hours of

testimony on the expansion plan, which neighbors say is too big and

will exacerbate the area’s existing traffic and parking problems.

Planning commission members reluctantly approved the divisive plan

in December but attached conditions, one of which was that Newport

Harbor High School sign an agreement to share parking with the

church. But school officials refused to consider a parking proposal

until the expansion issue is settled. The commission will address the

church proposal May 19.