Wetland development may face litigation
Eron Ben-Yehuda
HUNTINGTON BEACH -- One of the country’s largest environmental groups is
likely to file a lawsuit to stop a developer from destroying a tiny
wetland by Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway where it intends to
build luxury townhomes.
The board of directors for the Los Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club is
expected to vote Sunday on whether to take legal action, chairman Gordon
Lebedz said. The board will almost surely give its approval, he said.
If a case is brought forward, the court will be asked to reverse a
decision made earlier this month by the California Coastal Commission,
which will allow the Robert Mayer Corp. to fill in the 0.7 acres of
wetland if the company creates a similar sensitive habitat four times
larger across town at the Donald G. Shipley Nature Center.
But Lebedz said wetlands must be preserved and not swapped with land
elsewhere. The commission’s April 11 decision jeopardizes all coastal
habitats, not just the poorly functioning one by the Waterfront Hilton,
he said.
“It’s not a sexy wetland at all,” Lebedz said. “But it might be the most
important wetland in California right now.”
In arguing its case, the Sierra Club will probably rely on the April
appellate court decision that blocked development of part of the Bolsa
Chica mesa, he said.
The developer defends the commission’s decision, which was supported by
the city. The community benefits much more from the additions to the
nature center four miles north of the site, said Larry Brose, Mayer Corp.
vice president.
“We believe it’s a much better habitat,” he said. “I think we have a very
strong case.”
Construction of the 175 townhomes on the 23 acres that includes the
degraded wetland can’t begin until the work at the Shipley Nature Center
is complete, which is expected by the end of the year. If a court blocks
the land swap, then the development company has no obligation to spruce
up the parkland, Brose added.
To drum up public support for the preservation effort, about 50
environmentalists gathered near the wetland Saturday. Some carried
protest signs as they waved at cars passing by. It was a perfect way to
spend Earth Day, resident Debbie Cook said.
“If you really want to honor the earth, you go out and save some,” she
said.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.