PELICAN HILL

Newport Coast, notably its Pelican Hill neighborhoods, is the result of decades of master planning that resulted in an unparalleled coastal community in Newport Beach. The exclusive enclave of nearly 4,000 homes was built on 7,700 acres of Irvine Ranch land, with 75% preserved as open space. Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Wilderness frame the community, as residents enjoy ocean views and natural beauty.

“I’m still in awe of the vision that led to Newport Coast and what Irvine Company helped us all create in the community,” says Marcy Weinstein, an original resident of Pelican Hill. As both a homeowner and real estate professional focused on the area, she has a unique perspective on the community. “I fell in love with Newport Coast at first sight,” she says.

The architectural theme was a crucial part of Irvine Company’s plan for the community. “Donald Bren had a beautiful vision that Newport Coast would evoke the feeling of the Mediterranean,” says Weinstein. This design philosophy, inspired by styles from Italy, Spain and Greece, has stood the test of time, she says. “I’m looking at seven kinds of architecture from my own home. It’s a unique, custom neighborhood.”

As custom home lots became available in the 1990s, Newport Coast became the center of residential real estate and luxury design in Southern California. Future residents engaged architects, homebuilders, interior designers and luxury brands to design, build and furnish their new homes. As a 2001 Orange County Business Journal story put it: “Irvine Company’s premier residential project has generated tens of millions of dollars for the firms doing the designs over the past decade and has become the main source of income for some.”

The residents who moved into these homes —whether relocating from elsewhere in Orange County or from around the world — were individuals who could choose to live anywhere.

This influx of high-profile residents helped shape coastal Orange County’s business and social scene, as Newport Beach evolved as an affluent global destination for residents, as well as visitors to The Resort at Pelican Hill, which opened in November 2008. Many Newport Coast homeowners became leaders in local nonprofits, hosting countless charity events in their homes and raising significant funds for the arts, environmental causes and children’s charities. Their family names are on university buildings, hospitals and theaters. The impact of the community, which was annexed into Newport Beach in 2001, cannot be overstated.

Beyond the stunning architecture and views, it is the residents who shaped the character of Newport Coast. “It was amazing to watch it grow,” Weinstein says. “We were building a neighborhood and a life together. Our kids grew up together, the whole neighborhood celebrates birthdays together. I’m lucky to call Pelican Hill my home.”

Glenn and Mindy Stearns on Life in Pelican Hill

Glenn and Mindy Stearns are among the many families who found their dream home in Newport Coast. Or homes, rather: The Stearns currently own three properties in the Pelican Hill enclave, and it’s their second time living there. We caught up with Mindy Stearns to chat.

How did you discover Newport Coast?
We moved into Pelican Hill in the summer of 2002. We fell in love with a custom home that had been built but never lived in. Glenn surprised me with it on the day he proposed. We went on to host our wedding there. We soon learned that the views weren’t the best feature — it was the neighbors! We absolutely love our neighbors, who have become some of our best friends.

You moved away, but are back. Tell us about where you live now.
We returned after seven years in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Glenn had been recovering from a cancer diagnosis. We rented a home near our old house and began searching for a new one. Our daughter pointed out a house on a bluff. Glenn said it was probably the only one that could replace our old home, but it wasn’t for sale. The very next day we learned that home, the Dean Koontz estate, was coming on the market. It was a coincidence as that day was the birthday of Glenn’s mom, who passed away before I met Glenn.

The Koontzes gave us a personal tour, during which Glenn noticed a copy of “Watchers,” a book by Koontz that Glenn’s mother had given him. It felt like a sign. We closed on the home on Feb. 20, 2020. The home was a phenomenal labor of love for the Koontzes, and no detail was spared. We hired the same craftsmen to ensure our additions blended seamlessly with the original structure.

Can you tell us about your current business and nonprofit endeavors?
The aim of our company, Kind Lending, is to be an outlier in the mortgage space and create a business built on kindness and servant leadership. The company is one of the fastest-growing in the country. We focus on two charities: the Horatio Alger Association, which awards scholarships to students who have faced extreme adversity, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, which has saved Glenn’s life twice. We also support Segerstrom Center for the Arts, City of Hope, CHOC and Hoag Hospital, among many great causes.

What’s something you love about your neighborhood?
The Pelican Hill community is very special to us. We are friends with many couples who have called Pelican Hill their home for over 20 years. I still meet with a group of women called the Birds of Paradise, and we have lunch once a month. Glenn and I regularly get together with our neighbors for dinner. I love that we continue to stay connected after all these years.