HUNTINGTON BEACH : Coast Panel OKs Bolsa Chica Park

The California Coastal Commission on Thursday gave a green light to 3.3 acres of a proposed 106-acre park on the southeast edge of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, despite the objections of some environmentalists and residents.

“It’s a great breakthrough,” Robert Fisher, the county’s director of harbors, beaches and parks, said of the commission’s action. “It’s a symbolic start to a much larger park that we’ve been trying to get going on for 20 years.”

Bruce Monroe, a member of the Sierra Club’s Preserve Bolsa Chica Task Force, disagreed. “I’m terribly unhappy,” he said. “We have a responsibility to turn over a healthy planet to our children, and this park won’t do that.”

Overturning the recommendation of its own Planning Commission, the City Council had approved a first phase of the park in May. But a group of residents and environmentalists appealed that decision to the state Coastal Commission, contending that the proposed relocation of a culvert and filling of a 120-foot drainage ditch would adversely affect the wetlands.

County officials apparently overcame that objection by agreeing to proceed with only the first 3.3 acres of the project, which does not include the culvert and drainage.

On Thursday the commission, while acknowledging that the environmentalists’ appeal raises “substantial issues” regarding the project, unanimously approved the initial 3.3-acre increment. County officials promised that before proceeding with the rest of the project they will alter their plan to eliminate environmental concerns.

The approval of even the first few acres, however, raised the hackles of some environmentalists.

In a letter to the commissioners, representatives of several groups--including the Sierra Club, Bolsa Chica Land Trust, Huntington Beach Tomorrow and the Surfrider Foundation--had requested that the commission add several conditions to its approval of the project’s first increment, among them that:

* The removal of non-native vegetation be done by volunteers provided by the various groups--rather than by contractors or construction equipment--to minimize the disturbance to existing wildlife.

* The county hire a wetlands restoration expert to oversee the work.

* A proposed pedestrian trail be made of crushed granite to reduce its impact on the wetlands.

* A comprehensive survey be made of archeological sites in the immediate area before work commences.

* A ranch-type fence be installed to deter developers of adjacent housing projects from destroying wildlife habitat by running bulldozers over the park.

None of the requested conditions were included in the final approval, although Fisher said the county sympathizes with their intent. “We agree with the spirit” of the recommendations, he said. “We intend to do the project sensitively with a minimum of” damage to the environment.

Residents’ and environmentalists’ reactions ranged from anger to acceptance. Marcia Hanscom, an area resident, said she was hopeful but skeptical that the county would do the right thing. “We’ll keep working with them,” she said. “I’m willing to give them a chance.”