Builder withdraws condo-hotel plan

Rather than test the city’s new anti-housing zoning policy in the Resort District, a developer has decided to withdraw his project from Monday’s Planning Commission agenda.

Renaissance Pacific Properties, based in Newport Beach, had been planning to build a 191-unit condominium complex and a 102-room boutique hotel on a former Toys R Us site on Harbor Boulevard.

But Robert H. Kim of Renaissance Pacific said the City Council’s decision to enact the anti-housing initiative into law earlier this month forced his company to “look at all our options.”

The anti-housing zoning ordinance, backed by Disney, takes effect April 4. That means that any housing proposals for the Resort District must be altered or face a citywide vote if the council signs off on them.

Zoning for the condo-hotel project sailed through the Planning Commission last month, but the development agreement had not been approved. It was going to be considered by city planners Monday.

-- Dave McKibben