The key word in this story’s headline is “should.” I won’t say “will” — and I don’t even know that I’d say “might.” But a compromise that leaves Huntington Beach’s fire rings mostly in place but leads to the removal of all fire rings in Newport Beach “should” lead to a substantial upwards reassessment of the value of the land beneath those beachfront residence adjacent to those rings. (If the Winships live there, I’m sorry to say this — but it’s still true.)
I’ll get to the news story, reported in various venues over the past day or so, in a few paragraphs. It’s the implications of the news story that I think deserve closer attention. So since I’m continually informed that people won’t read more than 300 words of whatever I write, those will have to come first.
“Power to the people! (The ones with power, anyway.)” Newport Beach gets it friends to rebuff the rabble. Now it should pay.
Newport Beach beachfront residents will have, through the intervention of the AQMD, taken something away from the rest of the public — which I’ll henceforth refer here to as “the rabble” — that has been coming to the area between their homes and the water. Up until now, the value of that land has been assessed with something important in mind:
People from north county (i.e., as they see it, north of the 405) may come to the beach between these beachfront houses and the edge of the continent and hold bonfires. Homeowners therefore have less privacy and quiet enjoyment of their property than they would if the fire rings holding those bonfires were to be removed.
The use of the public beach is a public asset. It’s an asset that still belong to the homeowners, but is now less valuable to the people from the rest of the county. The value of their property going up substantially; the value of other property in the county, to which proximity to Corona del Mar has very slightly contributed — in other words, the value of living in, say, Tustin as opposed to Pomona — will now have very slightly decreased. Newport Beach residents were very open about the fact that they wanted the rabble off of their beach. The SCAQMD (the “air quality” deciders) will apparently acquiesce to their wishes. OK, them’s the breaks — but now they should have to pay.
Oh, one other thing: the AQMD should now ban the use of outdoor barbecues in that area. If they weren’t banned, one might get the sense that getting rid of all of that horrible smoke was not the actual motive behind the Newport Beachers’ actions — in which case, getting rid of the rabble was a bigger part of the reason, and the property tax associated with the land should go up even further.
If you want to “privatize” — even partially — a public asset, you should be prepared to pay for it. If it’s a significant enough public asset, you should be prepared to pay through the nose. (If property taxes for the rest of the county should be reduced ever so slightly to compensate, that would be fine — but it’s probably not worth the paperwork.)
Now let’s get to the story that others reported yesterday. A staff report has come out with a compromise proposal that will leave the fire rings (possibly somewhat rearranged) in Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach, as well as Dockweiler Beach up around LAX, because they are not within 700 feet of homes. Fire rings within 700 feet will have to come out, because Orange County needs the higher property taxes. (No! Sorry. I mean, “because smoke.”) The Board will vote on the plan at its July 12 meeting.
I’ll quote from three sources to give you most of the story, but here are the bullet points:
- No blanket ban on fire rings. (Also, no blanket ban on blankets, which would be really bad.)
- Fire rings must be:
- 700 feet away from the nearest residence, and either
- Spaced at least 100 feet apart, if there are over 15 rings
- Spaced at least 50 feet apart, if there are 15 or fewer rings
- Starting March 1, 2014, cities and counties could pass local ordinances to further regulate or ban fire rings, they declare that such activity conducted within their boundaries causes a “nuisance” (as defined in Civil Code section 3479 or Health and Safety Code section 41700(a)) due to wood smoke exposure; such rules would be exempt from AQMD or Coastal Commission rules
- During “no-burn days” — rare by the beach — all burning could be banned by the AQMD
- Charcoal barbecues and propane stoves would be permitted under the ban
- Newport Beach may conduct a six month demonstration project with five rings at Big Corona beach and five near the Balboa Pier running on an alternative to wood fuel, with the AQMD monitoring air quality as a result
- AQMD will hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. June 13 at the Newport Beach Hyatt Regency
First, from the LAX-area Daily Breeze:
Recent air monitoring conducted by the four-county district at Corona del Mar, Balboa, Huntington Beach and Dockweiler found that the concentration of particles from wood burning fires is 2.8 to 16 times higher than ambient air in the parking lots — about 200 feet away — and three times higher in residential areas closer than 700 feet.
At lower concentrations, microscopic particles can reach the lungs and cause cardiac symptoms in sensitive individuals. At higher levels, the particles can cause heart or lung disease and even premature death in people with heart or lung problems, according to the AQMD. Studies done during the Southern California wildfires of 2003 found increased symptoms of eye, nose and throat irritation and asthma attacks in children. Respiratory-related hospital admissions rose for the elderly and for children ages 1 to 4, the agency reported.
…
The Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau objected to the original proposal, saying it would cut into $1 million in revenues from nighttime beach parking. Newport Beach, on the other hand, had asked the Coastal Commission for permission to take out 60 fire rings. The new amendments could allow Newport and Huntington to go their separate ways, without violating any state laws.
For a closer look at the basis for the 700-feet rule, see this report from Corona Del Mar Today.
But buffer zones are the major consideration that will remove beach bonfires altogether in some areas, including at Big Corona State Beach. The staff report suggests that buffer zones be created where no beach fire rings can be placed within 700 feet of residences.
…
The 700 feet buffer zone was based on studies that show that “the greater the distance from a source, the lesser the exposure to harmful air contaminants,” the staff report states. “(R)elative exposure to smoke from a single fire ring is decreased by up to 98 percent at 220 meters (or approximately 700 feet).”
A chart included in the staff report, however, shows the largest drop in “Exposure Reduction” was between about 100 feet and 200 feet from the source. At 400 feet, the “Relative Exposure” drops below 0.1; click here to read the report and see the chart.
AQMD spokesman Sam Atwood said that staff determined that at a distance of 700 feet, smoke emissions are reduced by 98 percent. At 350 feet, there was an 85 percent reduction, and “staff felt that was not adequate,” he said.
Or, my guess is, staff were told that they did not feel that an 85% reduction was adequate. (Seriously, are the lungs of those on Newport Beach more precious than those within a reek’s reach of Wilmington or Westchester? Who am I kidding — of course they are!)
Finally, from the Huntington Beach Independent, political reaction to the compromise from local pols:
[Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry] said “We are pleased that the AQMD has developed a rule with the flexibility to accommodate both the coastal cities that wish to keep all of their fire rings and Newport Beach that desires to address the health and quality-of-life concerns of our residents.”
I’m glad that he added “quality of life” apart from “health,” because that refers to getting rid of the rabble and enjoying a lovely and unobstructed (at least by bonfire-burners) beachfront view.
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, who also serves on the AQMD board, added in a statement: “The health impacts are clear, but we also need to preserve the Southern California beach experience.”
Well, I’m not so sure that the health impacts are clear. Yes, the potential for harm is there — but that potential is often there, from many more serious sources than fire rings. Is fire-ring smoke more or less likely to reduce deaths and disabilities than, say, removing all peanut and shellfish products from public areas for the benefit of people who have allergies?
Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Harper said: … “These bureaucrats can’t control themselves with wanting to micromanage our lives. Can’t we just enjoy the fire rings with friends and family without worrying about these people coming after us?”
(I think that that last question answers itself, doesn’t it? Hey, anyone want to speculate over whether Harper would be singing that same tune if he were from Corona del Mar?)
State Assemblyman Travis Allen: “[I oppose] any attempt by the South Coast AQMD to restrict access to California’s beaches and our beach lifestyle traditions.”
Great! Focusing on “access to beaches” is exactly the point! I think I know who can lead the charge to push for higher property tax assessments (land only, of course) on Newport Beach residents in the “buffer zone”! Making people pay for impinging on public access is the best market-based approach to solving these problems — right, Assemblyman Allen?
Meanwhile, a Corona del Mar anti-fire-ring activist said that the changes didn’t go far enough, but:
“I guess we’re not disappointed. We’ve got a compromise.”
Yes, you did — and the rest of us lose something valuable as a result. Now you should have to pay for it.
So it really wasn’t about the fire rings…it was the riffraff that enjoyed them. What a bunch of snobs. They want to have their beach all to themselves? I agree…they should pay for it. I can already hear them crying about it…they pay too much taxes already…they are the job creators…
Then let them lobby to change back the policy.
damn, you figured it out.
just wait till we build our wall
You give in too much Diamond.
I’m a giver.
and your suggestion here is silly
I think that you should leave the sillyness to the pros – such as myself.
If the fire rings are required to be 700 ft. from homes – tear down the homes and leave the fire rings..
Have I mentioned – the reason this new regulation hardly effects Huntington Beach is because our Measure C from 1991 – spearheaded by Debbie Cook, Connie Boardman and Flossie Horgan – which doesn’t let people build on the beach without voter approval. That’s why you can drive down PCH from Warner to Brookhurst and see the beach, unlike in Newport and Seal Beach. I do always mention that because we need to appreciate grassroots politicians like Debbie and Connie.
Allow me to continue the thought….
At the time of pushing Measure C, and getting overwhelming public support for it, Connie and Debbie were of course excoriated as “anti-development” (falsely) and “environmental extremists” (a matter of opinion I suppose, but “environmental extremists” would have been against fire pits in this recent kerfuffle.)
#2. I think it’s obvious that, more than ANYONE’s activism these past few months, it was HB’s Measure C that saved our fire pits from the “environmental extremists.”
#3. NOW Connie and Debbie are going back to their current priority, of defeating Poseidon’s environmentally disastrous ripoff desal plant. Bear in mind they’re probably right again.
*The folks on Breakers Drive….are a very eclectic type……..they are all …odd-ball
in the extreme. Living on one of the populated beaches in Southern California has
always been a challenge. Back in the 60’s…….there was no wind break….and the
many frozen ice, rental equipment sites and Corn Dog locations sat within about 50 ft. of their front doors. Those house were not very popular…because of this and in fact when 15 members of a motorcycle gang urinated on a guys front porch…..it was actually….not that unusual. So in the late 60’s, the little community of maybe 20 beach crash pads created their own Home Owners Association. The City had some pretty Conservative types on the Council…..and were not particularly receptive to many of the rules and laws and asking either the State Lifeguards in those days or the CHP to come down and bust Motorcycle Gangs, Latin0 Car Theft Rings or just generally drunk teenagers visiting from Riverside, Pomona and other Inland climes.
Their football player types and groups of 60 or more inhabited the beach and in those
days…….there were no Fire Pits. People just dug holes in the sand, broke down
pieces of the white picket fences on Breakers Drive and burnt them to make hamburgers and roast marshmellos. The beer cans were always piled high right in
the center of those homemade fire pits. Many times, folks dug holes in the sand, got buried and died because not many people cared what was going on. Libertarianville…in the extreme!
OK, cultivating moderation didn’t happen overnight. First came the trees and bushes
along Breakers Drive…….even though it killed everyone’s view. 2nd came an asphalt
access road. Third came the chain link fence – as we say this didn’t happen overnight. In the meantime, around 1975-1980….they put four Fire Rings in the sand along the breakwater wall. People at first….kind of were turned off by them because
of all the terrible trash left in them. No joke, everything from dirty diapers, to ladies
used Tampax. Every imaginable plastic object, every aluminum can made by man, old swim suits, even the back seat of a car was found smoldering. Dead Fish, unboned and Tennis Shoes….lots of Tennis Shoes. At any rate, the City Workers hated having to clean those Fire Pits out every Monday during the Summer. Pretty
soon – some giant brain…….had added more Fire Rings because people were still
digging up their own and other elitist NB Yacht Club Members were bummed because all the Fire Pits were taken, when they wanted to cook their $30 dollar T-Bones and drink their $150 dollar bottles of wine at sunset.
All in all, they then added a couple of stand up permanent BBQ units with Grills…
and put those at the back side of Pirates Cove. The Latinos always stake those
out early. Think they even have their own waiting line for friends and relatives.
All in all, this is not exactly what Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart would have enjoyed.
Is there as solution to Fire Pits? Of Course…..24/7 Surveillance and Law Enforcement. If Vern wants to keep that wonderful So. Cal Tradition….. Fire Pits.. you better be willing to pay for the Security Guards, Police or State Fire Marshall to hang out at the beach….for quite some time.
The days of cooking fresh caught Abalone on the beach….are so over folks. There is no Abalone, there is no local Lobster, there is no local fishing that people can catch at the entrance to Newport Harbor. We sadly, have to stand with those folks on
Breakers Drive. Before their were Fast Food Restaurants, before there were Super Markets……folks brought food all the way from Fullerton, Anaheim and Santa Ana.
For the folks in HB…..they are just trying to keep a straight face…….when all those idiots show up calling the demise of fire pits as the end times!
*Sorry to be so…blabby!
Friends of mine who live down there a couple blocks from the beach are happy about it because as you said, Greg, their overpriced piece of real estate will be even more overpriced after this. And I refuse to haul the mini bbq with me down there!
Way to carefully read…. In a sense, beaches are already privatized. I say this because permits are required on certain beaches to take engagement and family photos. I know the history behind this, which was in part due to the wealthy folks getting sick of seeing the lowly riff-raff with matching shirts on their beach taking their engagement pics.
That does not seem particularly likely to stand up in court.
I’ve always wondered why no one has ever fought Laguna’s issuing of permits for photos on the beach.
*Try gaining access, taking photos or blowing your nose on beaches in the Malibu Colony……………you will be pounced upon and run over by four wheeler sand machines!
Probably, you should buy your annual State Park Pass…..and call it a day..
*Just got back from the SCAQMD meeting tonight at the Hyatt in Newport Beach. What a hoot. We had some crazies out there. Never realized how many folks we have in the NB area….stuck in the 60’s! Travis Allen himself came to grandstand on Vern’s side and Dana Rohrabacher threatened Bureaucratic over-reach. Monsoor’s hit man came in at the end. Had a lot of electeds. Must have been a slow night to watch TV. They knew the Heat would beat the Spurs……way in advance. Talk about some transparent wussery……we have never seen the like of it.
Doc Wallerstein and Company held together in the face of some serious opposition. About half way through the 4 and half hour meeting…..we got to say our piece. At least we broke brow beating for almost an hour…before the dark forces came back.
This was covered by the Register and the Times……will be interesting to see what they thought happened.