HUNTINGTON BEACH : Council to Consider Land Swap Proposal

A proposed land swap between the city and the Huntington Beach Co. that was voted down last month by the Planning Commission comes before the City Council tonight.

The suggested swap calls for the city to give the Huntington Beach Co. a .28-acre parcel of land at Golden West and Clay streets in partial exchange for a .77-acre site adjoining the Civic Center.

The Planning Commission, by a 4-2 vote on May 7, opposed the proposed land swap with the development company. The commission majority said the city eventually will need the parcel of land proposed for the swap.

For the last two years, the Huntington Beach Co. has allowed the city to use the .77-acre site as an additional City Hall parking lot. The company is asking for the appraised value of $671,000 for the land, but so far the city has not been able to come up with funds to purchase the site.

Mike Adams, the city’s director of community development, has recommended that the City Council exchange a “surplus” .28-acre site at Clay and Golden West, valued at $245,000, as partial payment for the parking lot. Adams said the Huntington Beach Co. would then allow the city to pay the remaining $426,000 over time.

However, the Planning Commission rejected that proposal because of concern that the city might one day need the land at Clay and Golden West for a water pumping station or storage site. Adams, in rebuttal, said the land is not appropriate for any future water use.

Planning Commissioner Victor Leipzig two weeks ago urged the council to reject the swap. He said the Clay and Golden West site “has one of the highest elevations in the city--the elevation alone makes it valuable to the city.”