Builder, Project Manager Did Not Neglect Mission Viejo Wetlands

The article “Many New Wetlands Wither Away in Neglect” (Aug. 2) carried inaccuracies related to the Pacific Hills project in Mission Viejo and Barratt American Inc.

The wetlands in Mission Viejo discussed in the article are not and have never been owned by Barratt American.

Barratt’s role in the development of Pacific Hills is that of project manager for Home Capital Corp., which is controlled by Home Federal Savings. Home Federal Savings was recently seized by the Resolution Trust Corp. Today the property is owned by the Bank of California.

The development of the wetlands area mentioned in the article is a condition to the grading of Pacific Hills, which, again, is owned by the Bank of California.

When the property was graded in 1988, a detailed plan was approved by the Department of Fish and Game for the creation of a wetlands area as mitigation for an existing wetlands.

At the appropriate time, the area in question was planted and irrigated according to the approved plan, which included the monitoring and maintenance of the area for five years to ensure its success.

Over the first two winters following installation, heavy rains severely damaged the restoration project and washed out much of the planting and irrigation.

In each of these years, Home Capital funded repair of the area in question to meet the requirements of the Department of Fish and Game. The severe rains in early 1992 again washed out all of the plant material and irrigation.

It became clear that the approved plan was not working and an alternative plan had to be designed.

Home Capital agreed to research alternative designs as allowed by the Department of Fish and Game, with the intention of meeting all of its obligations to create the new wetlands area.

As project manager, Barratt worked with engineers and developed an alternative plan that was meant to withstand the rains that were regularly washing out the canyon.

Late last year, Home Capital developed financial problems and attempted to negotiate with its lender to work through the project and meet all remaining obligations.

These negotiations were not successful, and in April of this year, the property was foreclosed on by the bank.

Since that time, Barratt and Home Capital have worked with the bank to identify outstanding obligations, and we are making efforts to have the future owners complete the wetlands once development recommences.

In the meantime, Barratt has spent a considerable amount of its own money cleaning, repairing and maintaining the canyon until a new owner is found.

MICHAEL D. PATTINSON, President, Barratt American Inc.