Council Vote to Develop Park Angers Conservationists

The City Council on Monday night voted 4 to 2 to reject a plan that recommended little new development in Central Park and instead approved an alternative master plan that calls for considerably more potential development in the 370-acre park.

The vote infuriated some conservationists who have for years urged that the city’s largest park be preserved as a natural oasis.

“This definitely is going to be an issue in the city’s November election. Don MacAllister is up for reelection, and he will be aware of how we feel,” said Doug Langevin, a frequent critic of the council’s pro-development decisions.

Councilman MacAllister was one of four voting for the more active use of the park.

The other three in favor of the plan were Mayor Jim Silva, also facing reelection; and Councilmen Earl Robitaille and Jack Kelly. Voting against the plan were Mayor Pro Tem Grace Winchell and Councilman Peter M. Green, both of whom are strong environmentalists. Councilwoman Linda Moulton-Patterson was absent.

The split vote reflected the same political divisions that stirred this city in 1990, when a citizens’ movement placed an initiative on the ballot to keep the City Council from unilaterally building in city parks and on public beaches. A new citizens’ group, Save Our Parks, was formed in 1989 because the council proposed building a golf course in Central Park.

Save Our Parks circulated a petition for an initiative--a rare move in this city--and succeeded in placing it on the ballot. The initiative, called Measure C, was vigorously battled by the City Council majority in 1990, but it passed nonetheless with more than 70% of the vote.

Protection of Central Park has continued to be a key issue with Save Our Parks and with a another citizens’ group, Huntington Beach Tomorrow. Both groups favored the plan that would have restricted more development of the park.

But several people Monday night spoke in favor of the alternative plan that calls for more expanded development of the park. Many of these speakers were leaders for youth sports. They said Huntington Beach badly needs more fields for youth soccer and baseball diamonds for Little League.

Tom Duchene, a youth sports leader who was a member of an advisory committee that proposed plans for Central Park, praised the council majority for rejecting the low-development plan and adopting the alternative that would allow for more sports activities.

“The council has voted to help the youth of this city,” Duchene said.

Most of the audience at the council meeting, however, appeared to be stunned and angered by the council vote. Many spectators filed out of the council chamber after the vote and huddled in the halls talking about political retribution.

Dave Sullivan, president of Huntington Beach Tomorrow and a member of the council-appointed park advisory committee, said many surveys of city residents have repeatedly shown that a majority want Central Park to remain primarily for “passive” use.

Carrie Thomas, a city resident who spoke during the public hearing before the vote, similarly referred to citywide surveys.

“People have said they want a passive park,” she said. “Why can’t you believe that?”

During the council debate, Kelly rejected arguments that supporters of Measure C would be unwilling to allow all the new development made possible by the alternative plan.

“I don’t want my council tenure to be under the threat of Measure C,” Kelly said.

Despite the new master plan for the park approved by the council, city residents retain the final veto power over any proposal for building within the park. This is because Measure C, which is now city law, forbids any construction on park or beach land without a citywide vote.