Mesa to be appraised for possible sale

Paul Clinton

A state panel is moving forward with plans to appraise the Bolsa

Chica Mesa as the first step toward purchasing it for a public

preserve, at the same time that city leaders are pushing for that

purchase.

Al Wright, executive director of the California Wildlife

Conservation Board, said he plans to hire an appraiser next month.

Wright obtained permission to appraise it from a lawyer representing

Signal Landmark, which owns the property, and Hearthside Homes last

week.

At a Monday meeting, the City Council decided to send a letter

urging the director of the California Department of Fish and Game to

direct the board to “move forward in the negotiations” with

Hearthside for the purchase.

Some preliminary talks have occurred between the two sides, Wright

said, but no offers have been made.

“We have an interest [in purchasing the property],” Wright said.

“We have a long ways to go before we get to that point.”

The board could tap into funds from Proposition 50, the statewide

clean water and coastal protection bond passed by voters in November.

Once the appraiser finishes work, in the spring, board officials

and Hearthside could discuss the terms of a sale.

Lucy Dunn, Hearthside’s executive vice president, could not be

reached for a comment. In the past, Dunn has said the company still

plans to build 387 homes on the mesa’s upper section. Dunn has also

said that Hearthside has never received an offer from anyone to

purchase any of the 210-acre property.

However, Signal Landmark has donated some $350,000 in support to

the initiative.

Mayor Connie Boardman has been a strong supporter of using funding

from the bond for the purchase.

It was Boardman who brought the request to send the letter to Fish

and Game Director Bob Hight.

“We wanted to be real proactive,” Boardman said about the letter.

“We’re just sending a letter in support [of the purchase].”

Council members were careful to point out that no city money would

be used to purchase the mesa, which has long been a bone of

contention between environmentalists and Hearthside.

“There’s no expenditure of city funds on this, except for the

price of a stamp,” Councilman Dave Sullivan said.

* PAUL CLINTON is a reporter with Times Community News. He

covers City Hall. He may be reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.