City Adds 334 Acres With Bonita Canyon

With no fanfare and no protests, Newport Beach gained 334 acres Monday night when the City Council voted to annex Bonita Canyon from Irvine.

Irvine officials had supported the move, saying it would be more convenient for children in Bonita Canyon to attend Newport-Mesa Unified District schools. The Irvine School District doesn’t have an elementary school nearby, and the nearest high school is already crowded.

But the deal appeared in danger in December when Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea threatened to pull out, saying Newport Beach was working against Irvine in that city’s bid to annex the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station when it closes next year. Irvine wants to annex the base to block its conversion to a commercial airport.

The Irvine council voted in January to let Newport Beach take Bonita Canyon after that city assured it wouldn’t interfere with Irvine’s plans to annex El Toro.