Coastal Panel to Vote on Koll Wetlands Plan

The future of the Bolsa Chica wetlands is scheduled to be decided Thursday by the California Coastal Commission after more than a decade of contentious debate over the ecologically sensitive area.

“I’m hopeful that we will have all of the issues before us so we can bring closure to it,” Chairman Carl L. Williams said.

Some environmentalists have bitterly opposed plans to develop the 1,000-acre wetlands, which is home to rare birds.

On Thursday, the commission will vote on the Koll Real Estate Group’s plan to build 3,300 homes around the wetlands area next to Huntington Beach. As part of the project, Koll would fund a $48-million wetlands restoration.

If the commission approves the plan, and other technical plans are complete, restoration of the wetlands and development of the homes would begin in the next two years, Lucy Dunn, Koll senior vice president, said.

Still uncertain is the future of an alternate federal plan. Under that plan, the U.S. Department of Interior would buy and restore 930 acres of the wetlands, effectively shaving 900 homes from the project. In the last few months, Koll and federal officials have been discussing the proposal but have reached no agreement, Dunn said.

Even if commissioners approve the Koll plan, it would not rule out a federal purchase later.

Meanwhile, all 12 commissioners are expected to attend Thursday’s meeting, Williams said. Last week, a power shake-up in the state Assembly raised questions on whether all current members would vote on Bolsa Chica. Under the shake-up, Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) had been expected to replace four commission members--those appointed by former Speaker Willie Brown--with his own appointees.

On Tuesday, Pringle faxed a letter to commission members, saying the commission would not change “until further notice.”