No Wetlands Deal Until People Speak

When is a deal not a deal? A deal is not a deal when the deal dramatically affects the lives of tens of thousands of people without their consent. The so-called “deal” mentioned in the editorial of Nov. 11 (“A Deal’s a Deal in Bolsa Chica”) concerning Bolsa Chica was arranged by three pro-developer factions (city of Huntington Beach, county of Orange, and Signal Landmark/Koll), an environmental group (Amigos de Bolsa Chica) and a neutral fifth party (State Lands Commission). Despite two requests, the homeowners of Huntington Beach were excluded from membership in the coalition.

Fortunately, the coalition plan specifically states that “all final decisions on the type and densities in each geographic area will be determined by the county and city, through the usual public hearing process. Lowland development will require federal permitting.” Thus, as anyone can see, the Consortium of Organizations Planning for Bolsa Chica, a group of 16 homeowner and resident groups representing more than 10,000 households, is exercising its prerogative as specifically stated in the coalition plan.

We hope that those who ultimately determine the nature of Bolsa Chica will listen to CoOP. Failure to do so may result in a ballot measure that could preclude any building in Bolsa Chica whatsoever.

I do not believe we should sell our souls for 1,100 acres of wetlands.

Any deal that is made must include homeowners and must include planning parameters based on traffic, water supply, pollution, sewer capacity, financial impact on the city budget, etc. In other words, rational planning is the real “deal” that should be made.

A deal is not a deal without the consent of the governed.

RALPH H. BAUER, Huntington Beach