Environment group keeping tabs on Crystal Cove project

-- Alex Coolman

A group of Newport Beach environmentalists is planning to attend

Thursday’s California Coastal Commission hearing to express concerns over

proposed development above Crystal Cove State Park.

The group, which includes members of The Alliance to Rescue Crystal

Cove, Orange County CoastKeeper and the League for Coastal Protection,

will attend Thursday’s hearing at the Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort in

Huntington Beach.

The point of the effort, said Laura Davick, director of the Alliance,

is to raise concerns about Irvine Co. water treatment plans that are

being proposed in connection with future residential development in the

Crystal Cove area.

“This is basically the last opportunity for issues to be heard for the

Irvine Co. project,” Davick said.

Irvine Co. representatives could not be reached for comment. Earlier

this year, the developer made revisions to its plans in an effort to work

with local environmentalists.

The project involves modifications to the way residential runoff would

be dealt with in a 980-acre, 635-home development above Crystal Cove. At

one point, the Irvine Co. had hoped to use a detention basin in Muddy

Creek to collect runoff. Under the new proposal, the basin would be

eliminated.

Davick said the group hopes to highlight the way the plans would

affect water quality in the ocean off Crystal Cove and the potential

impacts of development on public access to the state park.

The Waterfront Hilton is at 21100 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington

Beach. For more information, call (714) 960-7873.