SEAL BEACH : Mola Project May Go Before Voters

While the Wetlands Restoration Society is fighting Mola Development Corp.’s proposal to build 335 houses on the Hellman Ranch property, another group of residents is fighting on behalf of the project.

The group filed papers Wednesday in preparation for placing the development question before voters next year, committee leaders said. The effort is being funded by Mola.

Members of the group say they support the Mola plan because it will provide 41.4 acres of environmentally valuable wetlands habitat, preserve and restore Gum Grove Park, and provide a new community park.

“There were a lot of residents in Seal Beach who said they thought we had enough support that we should go to the ballot,” said Eileen Padberg, a consultant for Mola who is helping to organize the petition drive.

The city attorney has 15 days to come up with a title and summary for the initiative. After that is completed, the proponents have six months to collect 2,700 signatures--10% of the registered voters in Seal Beach. If enough signatures are gathered, the council would have the option of enacting the initiative or calling a special election.

The city’s original approval of Mola’s project was rescinded by an Orange County Superior Court commissioner in March because Seal Beach’s housing plan was not up to date at the time the City Council approved the project. Three months after the commissioner’s action, a new City Council voted to reject the Mola project.

Mola has since sued the city over its development proposal.

Padberg said some of the committee members are upset because they believe that Gwen Forsythe campaigned on her support for the Mola project and then opposed it after she was elected in May.

Forsythe, however, said she campaigned on sensible growth, not on any particular project.