Coastal Commission to decide fate of small wetland

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The fate of a small wetland by the Waterfront Hilton

rests in the hands of the California Coastal Commission, which is

scheduled to hold a hearing Feb. 15 to determine if the sensitive habitat

should be filled in exchange for restoring a nature center in Central

Park.

The city supports developer Robert Mayer Corp.’s plan to build a portion

of a gated residential community over the “degraded” wetland, which takes

up less than an acre, said Howard Zelefsky, the city’s planning director.

The developer more than makes up for the loss by agreeing to reintroduce

native vegetation on about 2 1/2 acres of the Donald G. Shipley Nature

Center, he said.

“It’s more beneficial to the environment,” he said.

Preservationists argue that wetlands can’t be substituted.

“Wetlands should not be filled -- period,” said Nancy Donaven, a member

of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust. “We’ve lost more than 90% of our wetlands

in California. We need every bit we have left.”

The sensitive habitat is located at the northwest corner of Pacific Coast

Highway and Beach Boulevard. It sits on part of the 23 acres where the

developer plans to build up to 230 upscale homes.

The city had issued a permit approving the land swap, but the matter was

appealed July 28 by Coastal Commission staff, according to the agency’s

documents. The appeal is based, in part, on a state appellate court

ruling in April that prevents the developer of the Bolsa Chica mesa from

building homes where a eucalyptus grove stands.

But Bolsa Chica is in an unincorporated part of the county, and the same

rules don’t apply to a project in the city, Zelefsky said.

“This isn’t Bolsa Chica,” he said. “It puts the city in a completely

different standing both morally and legally.”

QUESTION

SAVE THE WETLAND?

Do you think the Robert Mayer Corp. should be allowed to fill in a small

wetland for a home development in exchange for the restoration of a

nature center in Central Park? Leave your thoughts on our Readers Hotline

at 965-7175, fax them to 965-7174 or send e-mail to hbindy@latimes.com.

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