Shea Homes accused of harming wetlands

Paul Clinton

The California Coastal Commission is investigating a claim from a

local environmental group that developer Shea Homes is improperly

removing wetlands habitat from the proposed site of Parkside Estates.

The Neighbors for Wintersburg Wetlands Restoration, based in

Huntington Beach, brought the charges against the developer of the

proposed 170-home project after members of the group noticed what

they say was the destruction of wetlands vegetation.

“It’s flat-out illegal to do this in a coastal zone,” group member

Mark Bixby said.

Bixby said he submitted photos of the work, which he says damaged

pickle weed plants, vegetation that typically grows only on wetlands.

Removing them could make it harder for environmentalists to get the

land declared as a wetlands and potentially eligible for special

protections from development.

A farmer hired by the developer created a drainage ditch a week

ago, said Ron Metzler, a Shea vice president. No wetlands were

disturbed, he said.

“I disagree with what they’re asserting,” Metzler said. “We’ve

done nothing wrong. ... [The farmer] restored a drainage course, but

we’re not planting crops.”

Since purchasing the property in 1996, Shea has planted green

beans, barley and cabbage in other sections of the parcel, as a way

to generate some income on otherwise fallow land. Farming has

occurred on the land since the 1950s.

The neighbors’ group says the pickle weed shouldn’t have been

removed.

“We’ve received the assertions,” said Steve Rynas, the

commission’s Orange County area supervisor. “It’s been forwarded to

the investigative staff.”

Shea Homes has secured approval from the City Council to develop a

50-acre parcel at 17301 Graham St., near Bolsa Chica. The council

approved the project on Oct. 21, with a 4-3 vote.

Shea was cited by the coastal commission in 1998 for damaging

vegetation on the property. That citation was rescinded after the

developer agreed to remove “fill” dirt it said was dumped on the

property by someone else, Rynas said.

The environmental group also filed a complaint last week

challenging the Planning Commission’s Sept. 24 approval of the

project.

The group filed its complaint with the Orange County District

Attorney, alleging the seven-member planning board violated the

state’s open-meeting law by holding several unannounced meetings.

Commissioner Don Stanton said he attended one meeting at City Hall

on Sept. 23 with several city staff members and Commissioner Randy

Kokal, but said it wasn’t improper.

Under the state’s Brown Act, a majority of members from a

legislative body can’t meet without first posting a public notice.

“There was never a quorum,” Stanton said about the meeting. “I

certainly wouldn’t call it a meeting. If you don’t have four

commissioners together, it’s not a meeting.”

* 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.