Scaled-Down Bolsa Chica Restoration

The Bolsa Chica Land Trust has serious concern about the development agreement between the county of Orange and the Koll Co. for the proposed development of Bolsa Chica. There are still many fiscal impacts to the city of Huntington Beach that have not been addressed. According to Huntington Beach city staff, this project will cost Huntington Beach an estimated $5 million per year forever. Despite the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ resolution that this project not have a negative impact on the general fund of the county, there will be a $437,000 loss per year forever to the general fund of the county.

We also have serious concerns about the restoration proposed. If the Koll Co. does not receive permits to build on the wetlands, it may still build up to 2,500 units on about 200 acres of the Bolsa Chica mesa and do no restoration. If the Koll Co. receives permits to build 900 homes on the wetlands but decides to not build for any reason, Koll need only deed over 88.7 acres in the lowlands and pay the county a maximum of $7 million to be used to restore the 88.7 acres.

So we go from a $48-million restoration of over 700 acres to a $7-million restoration of 88.7 acres, if the Koll Co. gets permits to build on the wetlands but decides for what ever reason not to build. All along, the Koll Co. has sold this project to the public as a restoration plan. Now it is obvious that even having permits to build on the wetlands does not guarantee any restoration.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the approval of the development agreement on April 11. We urge the public to contact their supervisor, or Supervisor Jim Silva and express their concerns about this agreement.

CONNIE BOARDMAN

President, Bolsa Chica Land Trust