HUNTINGTON BEACH : County Parks Chief Opposes Condo Plan

A controversial development proposal in the Bolsa Chica area by the Huntington Beach Co. has drawn criticism from County Harbors, Beaches and Parks Director Robert G. Fisher.

Fisher, speaking at a city Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday night, spoke out against allowing high-rise condominiums to be built on the edge of a newly evolving county park in the Bolsa Chica area.

The new public park, part of which was dedicated this year, is called the Bolsa Chica Regional Linear Park. When completed it will cover 113 acres, extending from Pacific Coast Highway to Central Park, following a long, linear pattern.

The Huntington Beach Co. has proposed two major residential developments, both called Surfcrest, next to the new park. The site is at the intersection of Palm and Seapoint avenues, in the Seacliff Country Club area.

One project, calling for 115 three-story townhouses on 9.9 acres, was approved by the Planning Commission Tuesday night on a 6-1 vote.

The other development, on 9.8 acres, calls for half a dozen five-story buildings that would contain 216 condominiums. The structures would come within five feet of the new county park.

The Planning Commission, while approving the project in concept, voted 4 to 3 against allowing the condos to be five stories tall and to be built so close to the park. The commission directed the Huntington Beach Co. to revise its height and setback plans.

Before the commission voted on the condo project, Fisher was among the critics who spoke against it. He said the proposed height and proximity of the buildings would hurt the character of the Bolsa Chica park.

“It will cause a bad effect not only on the use of the park but also on the natural resources that we’re taking great pains to protect,” he said.

The Planning Commission urged the Huntington Beach Co. to work with Fisher’s county parks staff for a more acceptable building plan.

The Surfcrest projects drew criticism from the Amigos de Bolsa Chica last week because the initial development plans did not specify parkland dedication. Members of Amigos, an environmental group, said they feared that the Huntington Beach Co. was going to renege on its pledge last year to donate about 36 acres of land to the new linear park. However, a Huntington Beach Co. official on Monday said the development firm still intends to donate the parkland.