DAVE GAROFALO -- MAYOR’S COLUMN

In an unprecedented surge of business activity, the world’s largest

retailer applied for, went through the public process and built 45 new

retail outlets in the state since 1997. Their newest store will now be

located in Huntington Beach after a rigorous public process, debate,

referendum vote and final validation by the residents that they want a

Wal-Mart on the former Crest View school site.

During the three-step process, neighboring cities were able to move

forward with similar projects.

The majority of the Huntington Beach City Council -- including myself,

Ralph Bauer, Shirley Dettloff and Pam Julien -- led staff-recommended

plans to use the abandoned school site for the highest and best use.

The mutual goal between the Ocean View School District board, their

administration and the city was to maximize the benefit to the children

and the community.

This was accomplished through a long-term lease relationship with the

developer. Now, with the election results of March 7, the task given to

the city by the voters is simple. On March 7, Huntington Beach voters

cast their ballots to let stand a decision made by the majority vote of

the City Council to allow commercial development to move forward on the

Crest View site, located on Talbert Avenue, east of Beach Boulevard.

The process to designate the property for commercial development started

more than two years ago when the Ocean View School District, in

cooperation with Arnel Development and Wal-Mart, applied to the city to

have a commercial land designation placed on the former Crest View school

site.

The applications went through the normal city planning process, which

included meetings and public hearings before both the city Planning

Commission and the City Council. The final decision by the City Council

resulted in approval of a commercial land-use designation and approval

for the construction of a Wal-Mart store.

The approval of a majority vote by the City Council was given only after

the council had placed more conditions of approval on the project than

any other single project that has ever come before a Huntington Beach

City Council.

Despite the large number of conditions, residents who opposed the use of

the Crest View site for commercial purposes exercised their right to seek

signatures from registered voters in the city of Huntington Beach to have

the issue placed on a ballot for consideration by the voters of

Huntington Beach. The opponents were successful in gathering the required

signatures to have the issue placed on the ballot.

While the Crest View land-use issue has been contentious, with passion on

both sides of the issue, the democratic process at the local level of

government worked, and the will of the city’s voters has been made known.

The voters of Huntington Beach have spoken regarding Measure I, and I

respect the decision of our residents. I am confident that the City

Council and residents of Huntington Beach can put this land-use issue

behind us and move forward to address the many other issues that face our

community.

When one stands back and objectively looks at the process, it works, and

I have a great deal of respect for our process. It’s one of the elements

that makes our nation great.

The city remains committed to protecting all of the rights of the Crest

View community, as well as those of the entire community. Let’s get to

work and spend this newly found and well-earned money on the projects we

have determined to meet the needs of this great city.

* DAVE GAROFALO is mayor of Huntington Beach.