SEAL BEACH : Development Battle May Shift to Ballot

It’s not clear when a special election might happen in Seal Beach, but people on both sides of a controversial proposal to develop the old Hellman Ranch are already gearing up for it.

First, supporters of Mola Development Corp.’s $200-million plan to build 329 homes started an initiative drive to have the voters approve it.

The new City Council majority has rejected the plan but will have to approve it or call a special election if Mola’s supporters--Seal Beach Citizens for Parks, Open Space and Responsible Government--gather signatures from 2,700 of the city’s registered voters.

But the measure would probably not be alone on the ballot.

On a 3-2 vote, the City Council on Tuesday ordered a 15-member residents’ committee to draft an alternative plan by Dec. 1 that could serve as a rival ballot measure.

Frank Laszlo, who introduced the idea and drew support from council members Gwen Forsythe and Marilyn Bruce Hastings, said he thinks voters should be able to choose between two plans.

Mayor Edna Wilson and Councilman Joe Hunt dissented, saying that giving voters a choice of “yes or no” is sufficient. Wilson and Hunt support the current initiative drive.

Critics of Laszlo’s proposal called it an attempt to cloud the issue and said that a comprehensive plan could not be assembled in such a short time. The Mola plan took more than four years to develop and includes input from the Coastal Commission, the state Department of Fish and Game and various city boards and committees.

A third measure might land on the ballot as well if the Wetlands Restoration Society has its way. Don May, secretary for the environmental group, urged the City Council on Tuesday to declare the Hellman Ranch property a hazardous zone because the council’s rejection of the Mola plan was based partly on reports that the ground was unstable.

No serious alternative plan can be offered until Mola is out of the way, he said.

May suggested that the council put the issue before the voters, but the council took no action on the idea and it was clear that the suggestion did not have enough support to pass.

Former Councilman Victor Grgas, who supports the initiative drive by Seal Beach Citizens, said the Wetlands Restoration Society should be required to gather signatures if it wants to put a measure on the ballot.

Tim Roberts, director of finance and operations for Mola, criticized the Wetlands Restoration proposal, calling it an attempt to get the city to help undermine Mola’s plan. Wetlands Restoration and Mola Development Corp. have both sued the city.