Huntington Beach picks potential home developer for Rodgers senior center site

Huntington Beach has entered negotiations with Shea Homes to possibly redevelop the Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center site.

The City Council voted 6 to 1 during a meeting Monday to have city staff talk with the developer about a two-year exclusive agreement in which Shea could propose a plan to build 22 houses and up to a 17,500-square-foot park on the 2-acre lot at Orange Avenue and 17th Street.

The Irvine-based builder would be responsible for paying for an environmental impact report for the project and the costs of a public vote during the November 2016 election.

In 1990, Huntington Beach voters approved Measure C, which triggers a public vote whenever the city decides to sell open space or a recreational area, like the Rodgers Seniors’ Center, for residential or commercial development.

The election could cost about $8,500, said Kellee Fritzal, the city’s deputy director of business development.

Fritzal said the city could sell the property for $9 million to $11 million. Shea Homes said it is willing to pay about $14.6 million.

Mayor Jill Hardy, who dissented in Monday’s vote, said that although it would be nice to receive the money and use it to improve other parks, she would rather the Rodgers site be developed into park space.

“I will not be supporting, at any stage, selling this property to build homes on it,” she said.

The city has shown interest in selling the Rodgers Seniors’ Center since April. A new senior center being built in Central Park near Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue is expected to be completed by summer 2016.

The City Council had two developers to choose from Monday; Woodbridge Pacific Group was the other option. However, Ed Mountford, vice president of forward planning for Mission Viejo-based Woodbridge, announced earlier in the evening that the company was withdrawing because it had concerns about its investment advisor, Anchorage Capital Group. Mountford said the advisor might be hesitant to support a project at the Rodgers site because of stricter investment criteria.

Several residents voiced concern that the council may be jumping the gun on selling the Rodgers property.

Resident Cari Swan said the Measure C vote should be held before the city picks a developer. However, acting city Planning Manager Jennifer Villasenor and Councilman Dave Sullivan, who co-authored Measure C, said a developer must complete an environmental impact report and other California Environmental Quality Act documents before a project is put to a vote.