SEAL BEACH : Judge Halts Building for City Plan Update

An Orange County Superior Court judge on Tuesday blocked the city from issuing any building permits for residential development until officials update Seal Beach’s general plan, a blueprint for commercial and residential development.

State law mandates that general plans be updated every five years, but Seal Beach’s plan has not been revised since 1982. Seal Beach officials expect to approve a revised general plan by late April.

The court’s decision represents a partial ruling in a December, 1989, lawsuit in which the Wetlands Restoration Society sought to block a development that the group claims will destroy 105 acres of wetlands in northwest Seal Beach.

The society is also asking the court to invalidate a land-use permit that the city granted for the 329-unit residential project proposed by Mola Development Corp. As part of this development planned for the old Hellman Ranch property, Mola would restore about 40 acres of wetlands.

The judge is expected to rule on the land-use permit later this week, society attorney Jonathan Lehrer-Graiwer said.

Seal Beach City Manager Bob Nelson said officials don’t know how to interpret Tuesday’s verbal order by the judge.

“We’re disappointed with the decision, of course,” Nelson said. “We don’t know what kind of permits this will affect or if it applies to remodeling. . . . We’re still waiting for an explanation from our lawyers.”

Assistant City Atty. Carol Lynch said city officials hope the ruling will apply only to new development.

“I can’t imagine that the court would prevent us from approving remodeling,” she said. “If someone wants to put a new bathtub in, we should be able to approve that.”

If the court rules that Mola’s permit is invalid, the company would have to resubmit its project for City Council approval.

“I think sooner or later, this development will be approved,” said District 3 Councilwoman Joyce Risner. “It’s just updating that housing element. What I hope for is that everything will be determined valid. We’ve gone through so much on this.”

But society vice president Galen Ambrose believes there is a chance that the council will block the development if it is reconsidered.

“If they don’t try to rush this through before the citizens get a chance to elect a new council (March 27), there’s a chance that the next council will vote differently,” said Ambrose, who is running for City Council in District 3.

Ambrose added that if the court rules that Mola’s development agreement with the city is valid, the society will appeal that decision.