City to Seek Funds for Bolsa Chica

The Huntington Beach City Council voted late Monday to seek funding to purchase the Bolsa Chica mesa, beginning a process that could ultimately preserve a majestic bluff overlooking the largest protected wetlands complex in Southern California.

The measure passed 4 to 3, despite concerns by several council members that crucial questions were not addressed in the proposal, including whether the owner, Signal Landmark, is even willing to sell the 183-acre bluff-top property.

Mayor Pam Julien Houchen and Councilwoman Debbie Cook, who went to Washington on Tuesday to meet with the city’s lobbyist there, were directed to find out if the council has a realistic chance to acquire the funds from state, federal and local sources.

Houchen, who made the motion to acquire the property, said she had spoken with the developer, who indicated a willingness to take part in discussion on such a purchase, and “even has ideas for funding.”

Lucy Dunn, executive vice president of Hearthside Homes, which manages Signal’s assets, refused to comment. There were no representatives of the developer at the meeting.

The 2,600-acre Bolsa Chica coastal area, which stretches from Seal Beach to Huntington Beach, is a key stopover for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway. Environmentalists and developers have been at odds over the property for decades.

The move to seek funds to acquire the property was applauded by speaker after speaker at Monday’s meeting.

Linda Moon, president of Amigos de Bolsa Chica, said the group “has always supported purchase of the private parcels. Each one of them is important.”

Bob Winchell, a representative of Huntington Beach Tomorrow, said: “Yes, it will cost the city, but not as much as the problems of residential development.”

No one spoke against the purchase, but some did favor a competing motion by Councilman Ralph H. Bauer, which set more restrictions.

Council members backing Houchen and environmentalists are largely counting on money from the $2.1-billion Proposition 12 parks bond measure, which voters approved in March 2000.

But the amount to buy out the mesa’s owners may be as much as $200 million, according to Bauer and fellow Councilman Dave Garofalo.

“Wow. That’s huge,” said Roy Stearns, spokesman for the state Department of Parks and Recreation.

Charlie Willard, head of the state parks department’s office of grants and local services, said the department administers about $900 million of Proposition 12 funds. He said it is unlikely the department would finance the entire purchase price.

“It’s a big state and there are a lot of different jurisdictions competing for the money,” he said.

Flossie Horgan of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust said that Proposition 12 is not the only funding source available, citing the Wildlife Conservation Board and state Coastal Conservancy. The council also incorporated in Houchen’s winning motion most of the provisos in Bauer’s motion. These include obtaining an appraisal of the property, but not at city expense, and not sacrificing any other Proposition 12 projects the city may wish to undertake.

Signal Bolsa Corp., Signal Landmark’s predecessor, bought approximately 2,000 acres, including the mesa, for $20 million in 1970, and envisioned a marina, hotels and more than 5,000 homes on 1,547 acres. Signal and its affiliates have spent about $90 million in attempts to develop the land.

But the state Coastal Commission ruled in November that the development must be restricted to a 65-acre upper tier.

Houchen had favored developing the mesa to fund buying and restoring the nearby wetlands. Since the state has taken title to the wetlands, she wants to preserve the mesa.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Ongoing Land Battle

The Huntington Beach City Council voted to seek funds to buy Bolsa Chica mesa, including 65 acres approved for homes.

Source: Superior Court