L.A. Panel Approves Wetlands Plan
Following the Port of Long Beach’s lead, the Los Angeles Port of Harbor Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved an agreement by which $62 million from the two ports would be set aside to acquire and restore a large portion of the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach.
“We feel pretty good about it in light of the benefits to us and to the environment,” said Ralph Appy, assistant director of environmental management for the Port of Los Angeles.
In exchange for the money, the two ports will be given permission to add 227 acres each.
The port money will be turned over to an agency representing the U.S. Department of the Interior, which has already agreed on an undisclosed price for the purchase of 930 acres of the Bolsa Chica wetlands from the Koll Real Estate Group. The land in question represents about 75% of the Koll group’s 1,200-acre Bolsa Chica parcel, on which the company is planning a housing development.
If approved by several local, state and federal agencies, the plan would result in a reduction in the number of houses planned at the site from 3,300 to 2,500.
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