Huntington Beach Preparing Own Plan for Bolsa Chica : Development: The City Council’s will be the fourth proposal for how many houses should be built on the mesa and how much of the wetlands should be restored.

At a special meeting Monday, the City Council began drafting a fourth alternative to development of the Bolsa Chica wetlands.

With details still sketchy, the council agreed that if development occurs, a maximum of 1,000 homes should be built on the mesa and no homes built on the ecologically sensitive lowland areas. Also, any development must include plans for wetlands restoration, the council decided.

The Koll Real Estate Group, which owns most of the wetlands, proposes to build 4,286 homes and to restore 1,100 acres of wetlands. The county has suggested alternatives of 3,200 and 2,500 homes.

“Our first choice,” said Councilman Dave Sullivan, “is to preserve the mesa and lowlands by a land swap or other mechanism.”

But on Monday, the council indicated that if development in the wetlands is inevitable, it wants as much control as possible, with future annexation of the wetlands as an ultimate goal.

“What we have done is clarify the council’s preference,” said Councilman Victor Leipzig. “We clarified that one preference is to utilize the entire Bolsa Chica for open space but recognize that development might occur.”

City Administrator Michael T. Uberuaga added that if the area remains unincorporated, it will substantially affect the city.

“This really should be planned by the city,” Uberuaga said.

In contrast to a September council meeting on the wetlands that drew an estimated 350 people, Monday’s session had only one speaker from the community.

Chuck Nelson, Amigos de Bolsa Chica president, said that talking about a land swap to keep the wetlands undeveloped was tantamount to having the council members bury “their heads in the sand.”

“We think the city needs to be realistically addressing the possibility of development,” he said, adding that Amigos de Bolsa Chica supports some form of development of the wetlands.

While Koll’s proposed residential development of Bolsa Chica is the only plan officially under consideration, city officials Monday expressed concerns about its impact on Huntington Beach’s water supply, sewer system, streets, schools, public safety, city services and finances.

A council subcommittee will hold a public hearing on the city’s alternative on Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.