HUNTINGTON BEACH : Appeal Will Delay Animal Care Center

Plans for a wildlife hospital for ailing birds and animals and a visitor information center have been appealed by the owner of adjacent property, dashing hopes that the center can be opened this fall, an official said Friday.

The Planning Commission on Aug. 4 gave conceptual approval to a request by the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy for a temporary use permit for the care facility on 1.7 acres of property belonging to Southern California Edison Co. at Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street.

But attorneys for Coastal Magnolia Group, an adjacent property owner, filed an appeal, claiming that it hadn’t received proper notification.

The proposal is now set to be considered by the City Council Oct. 5.

Conservancy Executive Director Gary Gorman believes that the center, which will dispense education about the wetlands and rehabilitate mostly birds, would be the only one of its kind south of San Francisco.

Gorman said he had initially hoped that the center could be opened this fall. But because of the appeal, it probably won’t open until February, assuming that the appeal is denied and the project receives approval from the California Coastal Commission, he said. The center also requires commission approval.

Earlier this month, the Orange County Board of Supervisors issued a license to the conservancy to develop and operate the center.

The County General Services Agency signed a three-year lease with Edison to obtain the necessary rights to the property. The County Environmental Management Agency will make an annual payment of $400 to Edison for the use of the land.

Veterinarians from the Alliance for Wildlife will treat and rehabilitate the injured animals.