Airing the Pros and Cons of Bolsa Chica Wetlands Plan

Many people have argued the merits of the Bolsa Chica plan--the revenue and jobs it will bring to the community, and having the wetlands restored at no cost to the taxpayers. The only argument against it is that homes will be built on portions of the wetlands. Obviously the planning commissioners saw that the benefits far outweighed the negatives, and voted to approve the plan.

Now it goes before the Board of Supervisors. I hope they, too, will see that the arguments of those opposed are selfish and that the good of the many will be served by approving the plans and restoring the wetlands.

There’s one added benefit--we’ll all be able to enjoy the restored wetlands, along with the wildlife that will live there. I’m looking forward to that.

STEVEN D. ANDERSON

Huntington Beach

* According to the Orange County Planning Commission, it now appears that the Bolsa Chica wetlands will have to be destroyed in order to save them. The commission’s vote to approve the construction of 3,300 houses at Bolsa Chica would add some 10,000 people and who knows how many cats to prey upon wild birds. This is a ludicrous way to save a wetlands.

The notion that development is the only way to finance wetlands restoration is very narrow-minded. Many biologists say the planned tidal inlet could upset the delicate balance of the wetlands, as well as cause destructive impacts on the adjacent ocean beaches, which we value so highly. More moderate, unobtrusive and economical ways can help Mother Nature repair the damage that was done over the last 70 years by the unrepentant oil companies. They ignored a basic tenet of civilized living: clean up your own mess. Instead the oil companies took their enormous profits and ran right out of Orange County with them.

It took more than half a century of aggressive oil drilling to almost destroy Bolsa Chica. A walk through the present ecological reserve proves that nature is more resilient and self-healing than we think. It is ironic that now we face more despoliation of the wetlands by another profit-hungry company.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors can show true leadership and courage by voting to stop development of one of the last remaining wetlands in California: the rare and valuable gem of Bolsa Chica.

MARINKA HORACK

Huntington Beach

* The Orange County governmental machine is ramrodding its development plan for the Bolsa Chica through the approval process.

The Orange County Planning Commission voted to recommend to the Board of Supervisors the building of 3,300 homes on the Bolsa Chica mesa and wetlands. Why?

The Bolsa Chica area of Huntington Beach does not need more homes. There are already more than enough homes approved but not yet built to thoroughly congest the area and gridlock traffic in the years to come.

The county is under no obligation to approve development in this area based on property rights because the land is zoned agricultural now as it was when purchased.

Does the county have to prove again that they are a government of the developer, by the developer and for the developer?

SCOTT H. RUNGE

Huntington Beach

* On Nov. 16, I was present at a ceremony at which the county of Orange dedicated the Linear Park (at the southern end of the Bolsa Chica). Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, after whom the park has been named, was the last guest speaker.

Wieder, during her concluding remarks, told the gathering how wonderfully the open space at the new park would complement the Koll project (which calls for the construction of somewhere between 2,500 and 4,884 homes on and around the Bolsa Chica wetlands).

Considering the supervisor’s comments, it is little wonder that many citizens in Huntington Beach are skeptical of the county of Orange’s review of the ill-advised and unnecessary Koll housing project at Bolsa Chica. The expensive and time-consuming county review process seems, at this point, to be little more than a rubber stamp approval of what Supervisor Wieder apparently perceives will be a personal victory.

PAUL HORGAN

Huntington Beach