This article was submitted by guest author Lori Whalen, Vice President of the Environmental Nature Center (ENC), and member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County chapter of the California Native Plant Society (OCCNPS).

Orange County CNPS members may be interested in a proposed residential development currently under review adjacent to the Environmental Nature Center (ENC) in Newport Beach. For more than 50 years, the ENC has served as a community resource for environmental education, connecting thousands of children and adults each year with California’s native ecosystems and fostering a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.

The proposed development would place three-story residential buildings more than 43 feet tall alongside the entirety of the ENC property, immediately beside the Nature Center and ENC Nature Preschool, dramatically altering the setting of one of Orange County’s most important environmental education sites.

While OCCNPS supports thoughtful redevelopment that accommodates housing needs while protecting open space and natural resources, concerns have been raised that this project is incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood and would significantly diminish the natural character of the ENC.

The development would replace views of trees and open sky with large building facades, affecting the outdoor learning environment experienced by thousands of children, families, and visitors each year.

The ENC has participated in four meetings with the developer, D.R. Horton, since May 2025 in an effort to better understand the project and discuss potential mitigation measures. Despite these discussions, substantial concerns remain unresolved, and the ENC does not support the project as currently proposed.

The project is scheduled for consideration by the Newport Beach Planning Commission on Thursday, June 18.

Call to Action

1. Attend the Newport Beach Planning Commission meeting and bring a friend on Thursday, June 18 starting at 6 p.m. Address: Newport Beach Civic Center Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach
2. Send an Email to the Planning Commission and City Council. Share why the ENC matters to you and express any concerns you may have about the project. Email addresses are:

• Planning Commission: planningcommission@newportbeachca.gov
• City Council: citycouncil@newportbeachca.gov

In your email, you may wish to share concerns regarding the proposed building height and its compatibility with the ENC and surrounding community, impacts to the ENC’s natural setting and outdoor learning environment, potential habitat, shading, lighting, and wildlife impacts, privacy concerns related to balconies, rooftop decks, and other elevated outdoor spaces adjacent to educational areas, increased traffic, parking, and pedestrian safety issues, construction impacts on educational programs, camps, preschool operations, and public access, and the long-term importance of preserving places where children and families can meaningfully connect with nature.

If you are interested in learning more about the proposal, its potential impacts, and opportunities for public participation, visit https://encenter.org/take-action/