Mola’s Seal Beach Plan Endorsed by Hellmans : Development: Property owners back ballot measure to allow construction of 329 homes.

For the first time since the controversial Hellman Ranch project became mired at City Hall last year, the Hellman family has entered the debate with an endorsement of a Mola Development Corp.-sponsored ballot measure to build 329 homes on the family’s land.

The Hellmans support the Mola-backed Measure A-91 and say a competing measure, the City Council-sponsored B-91, is economically unfeasible. Some in the city have speculated that the Hellmans’ silence on the issue meant they had no position or even opposed Measure A-91. The election is Tuesday.

“From our standpoint, we hadn’t thought there would be any question of where we stood on A-91,” said Mick Hellman, a member of the family that has owned the property for 100 years.

In addition to houses, the project described in Measure A-91 includes 26 acres of parks and 41.4 acres of wetlands. Measure B-91, supported by the council majority, is an advisory measure that suggests the city should approve a golf course and commercial development for the 149-acre site.

In a letter sent this week to the mayor and a local newspaper, Hellman touted the benefits of A-91 and dismissed B-91 as being an improbable alternative created only to frustrate A-91.

If B-91 defeats A-91, Hellman said, the city might have to spend public money to buy the property and convert it to a golf course and commercial project.

“Indeed, the city may be compelled by law to spend taxpayers’ money to purchase the property for its fair market value if the owner is left without any economically viable alternative,” Hellman said in the letter.

B-91 supporters have insisted it would not be necessary to spend public funds to carry out that plan.

Meanwhile, last-minute campaigning in the bitter election continues, with the latest dispute concerning a videotape produced and distributed by the Mola-backed Seal Beach Citizens for Parks, Open Space and Responsible Government.

Amigos de Bolsa Chica is requesting the recall of more than 800 copies of the videotapes distributed door-to-door last week in support of Measure A-91. The 10-minute tape features residents talking about the benefits of the proposed development, noting that the project would turn some of the now barren, trash-strewn property into valuable wetlands.

In one segment lasting about 10 seconds, the camera pans across the flowing blue waters of the Bolsa Chica wetlands to Jeannie Brueggemann, identified as a longtime member of Amigos de Bolsa Chica.

“Looks deserted out there, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t. It’s crammed with countless forms of life,” Brueggemann says. “That’s one reason the Coastal Commission has approved the project--because it will restore 41 acres of wetlands like these.”

While Wetlands Restoration Society leaders oppose A-91, preferring that the entire area be used as wetlands, Amigos de Bolsa Chica has taken no position on the matter and the tape does not say that either Brueggemann or the group endorses the project. However, the group’s president, Terry Dolton, is concerned that Brueggemann’s appearance on the tape might imply that Amigos de Bolsa Chica favors A-91.

“We basically have tried to stay out of the issue,” Dolton said, adding that he has asked Measure A-91 supporters to place disclaimers about the videotape in local newspapers.

Eileen Padberg, the consultant who put the videotape together, said she has no intention of recalling the videos or placing a disclaimer.

“There is no mention of the group other than a line under the shot that says she is a member,” Padberg said.