HUNTINGTON BEACH : Meeting Planned on Holly-Seacliff

The Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting Monday to consider adopting the development agreement for the sprawling Holly-Seacliff development, a project being proposed by a subsidiary of the city’s largest landowner.

If approved, the agreement would lock in the developer’s right to build the project in return for the company making certain public improvements.

The hearing, however, is contingent on the agreement being completed by 5 p.m. Monday. Officials said they plan to work overtime this week to complete it, but if any unforeseen problems arise, it could push negotiations past the deadline.

Despite protests by Chairwoman Geri Ortega not to rush approval of the agreement, four commissioners said they support holding the special hearing Monday. They argued that the commission should bring the issue to the City Council as soon as possible.

“We really have no say in this matter,” said Commissioner Jan Shomaker. “The City Council will be making the ultimate decision, so I’d like to see it expedited.”

After this week’s commission meeting, Ortega said she believes that a majority of her colleagues want to adopt the agreement as a favor to the developer, a subsidiary of the Huntington Beach Co. That company is the city’s largest and most influential landholder.

If the commission does not approve the plan by next week, the agreement may not go before the council until after the Nov. 6 election. And since three incumbents, all considered pro-development councilmen, are stepping down, some observers believe that the developer is hoping to sign an agreement before the new council takes office.

In other action this week, the commission also rescheduled its consideration of the environmental impact report on the controversial Pierside Village project.

That hearing, which was postponed while city planners try to resolve several issues with the developer and respond to all public comments made in the report, is now set for the commission’s regular meeting on Oct. 2.