Newport Beach thumbs nose at concern surfers may become decapitated by airplanes at proposed wave pool

"The commission had found that flights would regularly cross over the surf park as low as 500 ft above sea level."

Another day, another wave tank controversy. This time, let us mosey on over to Newport Beach, just south of Huntington, and its population of wealthy USC grads. Newport is, of course, perched on the Pacific and boasts fine enough surf off 34th street, 54th street  56th street and The Wedge. That has not stopped developers from moving forward with a plan to dig up part of a golf course, near Orange County Municipal Airport, and stuff a Wavegarden where putting greens once gaped.

Back Bay Barrels easily breezed through its first challenge in front of Newport Beach’s City Council late last week even though a commission had found the plan “inconsistent wit the airport environs use.” The councilmembers listened to concerns from neighbors, worried about surf parties and noise, and the airport higher-ups, themselves, who declared, “Group recreational uses should be prohibited and the assemblages of people should be restricted due to the zone’s location relative to the runway centerline and moderate risk level of near-runway accidents.

The earlier commission had found that flights would regularly cross over the surf park as low as 500 ft above sea level.

A surf airshow event with high-flyers like Hughie Vaughn could easily lead to decapitation.

The council, though, did not care, Assistant City Manager Seimone Jurjis stating, “Tonight’s item is not about the merits of the project at all. It’s just a resolution that you’re going to send to the airport land use commission that you may intend to override them.”

Without any deliberation, whatsoever, the council then proceeded to unanimously approve the resolution to override the commission, giving Back Bay Barrels a major win.

Though are you Newport Beach adjacent? Will you thrill to ride waves a stone’s throw from other waves or will you, too, worry about losing head while performing a Jordy Smith-esque Superman?