Briefly in the news

An 18-acre section of Bolsa Chica was unanimously deemed eligible to

be on the National Historic Site Registry by the state Historic

Preservation Commission last Friday because of the Native American

village that was there 8,000 years ago.

The site is located on the area’s upper mesa where developer

Hearthside Homes has been battling for decades to build homes. Known as

real estate to Hearthside Homes, the area is known to researchers as

“ORA-83” and contains evidence of an 8,000-year-old village and burial

ground.

The site’s historical importance and significance lies in the

abundance of rare stone artifacts that were found there called “cogged”

stones, said researcher Patricia Martz, a professor of anthropology at

Cal. State L.A.

It is the only area known to have been a manufacturing place for these

stones, which are believed to have been used in religious ceremonies.

The commission’s recommendation will now be forwarded on to the keeper

of the National Record of Historic Places, Carol Schull, at the U.S.

Department of the Interior National Park Service. But even if Schull

agrees with the commission’s ruling, the site can not officially be

listed as a National Historic Site without the agreement of the

landowners -- something that is not ever likely to occur.

Landowner Signal Landmark, which is owned by the same parent company

as developer Hearthside Homes, will not agree to have it listed.

If Schull agrees with the commission’s evaluation of the site’s

importance then it will be designated as eligible to be on the national

historic site registry.

“It confers the same level of importance,” said Martz, who would like

to see the area listed, but said that this designation means the same

thing.

Now, Martz said, she is just waiting to see what happens in the battle

between Hearthside Homes and the Coastal Commission.

“I think it’s important. If [Hearthside Homes] don’t get enough acres

to make it worth while to build there and decide to sell it the state

might be more willing to purchase it as a park with this distinction,”

Martz said.

Legally the designation does little for environmentalists’ cause. If

the developer needs federal permits, however, they will have to go

through a consultation process with the state historic commission and

have public hearings.

But members of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, who were formed with the

purpose of buying back and preserving Bolsa Chica, feel it is a victory.

“Usually with local permitting groups such as the Coastal Commission

this would carry weight as well,” Martz said. “But even if a site is

listed as a national historic site it can be ruined.”