THE FRED COLUMN

Fred Martin

o7 “Broad, level expanses of sand make this part of California a

beach-lover’s paradise. Dramatic cliffs frame the antics of swimmers,

divers, and beachcombers, while nature preserves draw those who enjoy

watching birds. Inland, wooded canyons, a small beach community

established in the 1920s, and bike trails offer more variety.”f7

This somewhat treacly prose is how the California State Parks

Department describes the public’s assets in Orange County. The “small

beach community established in the 1920s” is Crystal Cove State Park.

But what this paragraph of puff doesn’t tell you is, if the parks

people have their way, they’re going to make it impossible for all but a

microcosmic handful of beach-lovers to enjoy Crystal Cove at all.

You see, those charged with the awesome responsibility of preserving

California’s public treasures propose to sell this one to the highest

bidder.

Oh, sure, the public will still own the land. But precious few of the

owners of the state will be able to use it, and virtually none will be

able to overnight there.

What’s happened here, as you may know, is that a few years back, the

state agreed to give up its stewardship of Crystal Cove. Developers will

take it over under a 60-year contract and utterly transform this

beautiful and funky place.

If the deal goes through, which requires approval by both the Coastal

Commission and the State Parks Commission, here’s what’s likely to happen

at Crystal Cove:

The 70-year-old cottages will be remodeled into hotel suites renting for

as much as $700 per night.

Added will be a large restaurant and conference center, three swimming

pools, a fitness center, parking for 150 cars and sea walls “as needed.”

According to the Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club, which is fighting

the takeover, “hotel guests will have priority at these facilities and

public beach access will be restricted. The number of parking spaces

currently available to the public will be halved.”

Once again, the score is Establishment 72, Ordinary Folk 12. Once

again, Mr., Mrs. and Ms. Public are being screwed by the people who are

supposed to look out for their interests.

Crystal Cove isn’t one of those parks that have always been a public

park. It was purchased -- with taxpayer dollars -- in 1979. The citizens

who put up that money are now being sold out.

What’s equally irritating is, the meetings for the developers’

unprecedented 60-year lease were held in secret. There was no public

notice of a very covert negotiation process until it was a done deal.

Audrey Moe of Corona del Mar, for one, thinks the whole affair is

wretched and rotten. Audrey went to a rally Sept. 12 at Crystal Cove and

it got her dander in a whirl.

“I certainly don’t believe a glitzy resort belongs there, because it

would so greatly alter the atmosphere and general emphasis of the park,”

Audrey says.

“There are so few lovely natural places left, I just can’t see losing

this one. A long time ago we voted in the Coastal Commission so our

coastline wouldn’t become a Miami Beach, so how can we rationalize

building that kind of a development?”

A reasonable question, as is the definite truth that, if the thing gets

through, it’s there for the rest of your life. Audrey also points out

that those who are against the resort development are not necessarily in

favor of sustaining private leasing of the cottages at Crystal Cove.

The goal is, Audrey says, “an open use available to all.”

So now what?

If you think converting Crystal Cove into a luxury resort is a bogus

deal, there will be three opportunities to shut it down. First is a

General Plan Workshop the state Parks Department is required to hold. In

a unique turn of events, this will not be held in secret and the public

will be invited to attend.

This will be followed by meetings of the state Parks Commission and

then the Coastal Commission. The public will be able to be heard at all

three meetings. No dates have been set.

Meanwhile, write your congressman, your assemblywoman and your state

senator. Because of the politics involved, they’re not going to help you

on converting El Toro. The least they can do is help prevent the sellout

of Crystal Cove.

* FRED MARTIN is a former Newport Beach resident who now writes from his

home in Fort Collins, Colo. His column appears on Wednesdays.