Developments are good for the city...

Developments are good for the city

The development of the Shea properties has been welcomed by all

residents that have seen the Bolsa Chica groups keep our city in a

quagmire of dissension for the last 30 plus years. Its approval has

many ancillary repercussions that will not only benefit future home

owners at this site but thousands of existing homes and businesses

that the developer will benefit by improved urban run-off control.

The next step should be the approval of homes the Hearthside

developers would build on the Bolsa Chica mesa.

The Bolsa Chica land is outside our city’s jurisdiction.

The state and county should shoulder the responsibility to

maintain it, not our city.

The approval of the Strand is not only a victory for those of us

who have campaigned for progress and prosperity in our city but a

symbolic gesture of the departing council persons that the grip the

Bolsa Chica groups should end and a call to the voters to confine

their concerns to the people of Huntington Beach, not the Bolsa Chica

groups that not only consist of members outside our city but are

presided over by residents as far away as Laguna Niguel.

Bolsa Chica has too long been an anchor to prevent progress and

prosperity to provide a pet project for a few that could not case

less about our economic future.

BOB POLKOW

Huntington Beach

Parkside Estates not worth the price

Parkside Estates should not be built. The Huntington Beach City

Council is in denial about the impact of additional traffic in the

area and cost of continuing burdens on the city’s infrastructure.

Even if these arguments fell on a majority of council’s deaf ears,

the fact that the area is a biological wetland should have protected

it from the possibility of wanton destruction by development. After

enduring a 30-plus year battle over the protection of the Bolsa Chica

wetlands, the majority of members of City Council should have had

their fill of waging their wrong-headed battle for development

against environmentally conscious citizens and agencies who

understand the importance of and necessity for retaining wetlands and

open space.

My understanding was that there were laws in effect to protect

California’s remaining wetlands, and the City Council could have

avoided yet another contentious (and probably drawn out and costly)

dispute by doing the right thing and denying the construction of

Parkside Estates.

KENNETH M. KLEIN

Huntington Beach

I know the term “ironic” gets over-used. However, the City Council

meeting of Oct. 21, at which they voted 4-3 to approve the Parkside

Estates environmental impact report really had the most ironic

timing, given the presentations made earlier in the evening: to local

environmentalists and also to founding members of the local League of

Women Voters for their work advocating protection of the Bolsa Chica.

The Shea property is adjacent to the Bolsa Chica mesa. It is an

extension of the Bolsa Chica. It was once a wetlands, and could very

well become a restored wetlands if only given the chance.

The City Council did not see fit to give the property that chance.

Hopefully the California Coastal Commission will.

JULIE BIXBY

Huntington Beach

The development of this area would be devastating to the entire

Bolsa Chica area. As previously mentioned, the entire immediate area

would be affected with loud noise, tremendous traffic problems and

overall congestion.

I believe Parkside Estates should adequately be compensated for

their property, however, concern should be shown for the surrounding

community.

Traffic on Graham Street is unbearable as it stands now. This is

attributed to the building of homes on Edwards hill. A tri-light

signal is being erected at Springdale/Slater and this should help

with the traffic problem on Graham. As a 32-year resident of the

area, I feel the council should have some concern for my needs.

GARY A. TWIFORD

Huntington Beach

I am a resident of Huntington Beach living in the area that will

be effected by these 171 single-family homes that were approved by

City Council Monday night.

I wish all the council that voted for this project would come over

and see what traffic we have during early morning and early afternoon

when school is in session on Graham Street.

I live off Graham and some mornings its like downtown Los Angeles

getting out of our neighborhood. Now we are planning on adding

another street onto Graham for all 171 residents to enter and exit.

Is this council for real?

Why do we have to develop every piece of parcel? These council

members who claim it’s going to be good for the Huntington Beach

economy are either in another world or don’t care for quiet

neighborhoods. I can hardly believe 171 homes can even fit on this

parcel.

I oppose this project and feel council needs to do traffic studies

before allowing any more homes in this area. We already have more

stop signs and red lights than I would like in our neighborhood.

Restore the wetlands. No homes.

MARIE FLYNN

Huntington Beach

Strand not a good fit with Downtown

The Strand just seems like a bad idea. Our city needs to focus

more on the needs of our city and its residents -- on bringing in

better paying office jobs for Huntington residents. Not adding more

low-paying tourism and retail jobs.

We certainly don’t need another hotel Downtown, and why would

someone (probably a hotel guest) shop at Victoria Secret or Old Navy

in Downtown Huntington Beach when they can shop at those stores in

their home town?

We have little to no office space in this city, and we have a lot

of crummy shopping centers that need some serious maintenance. Let’s

fix those problems before we build a mall/hotel with “one on every

corner” chain stores in an already-crowded area.

Local Huntington Beach shops and residents will suffer with

parking problems and fewer locals going to the existing shops and

restaurants if The Strand is built -- all for the benefit of the

developer(s) and low-paying wage earners, who may or may not be

Huntington residents.

KIMBER SMITH

Huntington Beach