Decision on wetland near Hilton delayed

Eron Ben-Yehuda

The California Coastal Commission will not rule on the fate of a small

wetland by the Waterfront Hilton until April, a commissioner said.

A decision was expected on Tuesday, but a lengthy public debate on

another issue forced a postponement, Coastal Commissioner and City

Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff said.

Developer Robert Mayer Corp., with the city’s support, proposes to

fill less than one acre of wetland to make way for a residential

community at the northwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Beach

Boulevard.

Although the city already gave its approval, the commission’s staff

appealed the decision, which is opposed by environmentalists even though

the developer has agreed to reintroduce native vegetation in Central Park

in exchange for the loss.