Action Delayed on Bolsa Chica Issues

The City Council has delayed action on two controversial issues affecting the Bolsa Chica area.

One item is a long-proposed county regional park bordering the Bolsa Chica wetlands; the other issue is proposed extension of a street from the Bolsa Chica area to Pacific Coast Highway.

For many years, the county has proposed a long, slim regional park that would extend from the border of Huntington Beach’s existing Central Park to the ocean at Pacific Coast Highway. The proposed Bolsa Chica Regional Park would be on the south edge of the Bolsa Chica wetlands.

The county Department of Harbors, Beaches and Parks earlier this year requested that the Huntington Beach Planning Commission approve the first phase of development for the regional park. The city’s planning staff recommended approval, but the commission, by a 4-2 vote on March 1, rejected the county’s plans for the park.

That rejection was appealed to the City Council, which has ultimate approval of city land uses. The council was scheduled to vote on the park issue this week, but it deferred action pending further study by a three-member council subcommittee. The matter is now scheduled to come before the council on May 2.

In another action linked to the Bolsa Chica area, the council decided to seek an alternative to the proposed linking of Seapoint Street to Pacific Coast Highway.

Seapoint Street is in a neighborhood of upscale homes near the Bolsa Chica wetlands. Residents of the area have argued that extension of Seapoint Street to Coast Highway would create heavy traffic into their neighborhood.

City officials have said Seapoint Street must be extended to provide better public safety, including access for police and fire vehicles.

By a 5-2 vote, the council agreed to delay action on Seapoint Street until May 2.