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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem J;y V July 24, 2000 STAFF REPORTt�p�� To: Mayor and Members of the City Council Attention: Dan Dorsey, Acting City Manager From: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services Subject: APPROVAL OF CITY COMMENT LETTER TO COASTAL COMMISSION RE: BOLSA CHICA PROJECT SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Authorize Mayor to sign proposed comment letter to the California Coastal Commission regarding the Bolsa Chica Project. BACKGROUND: The City of Seal Beach is aware of the Coastal Commission staff position regarding the elimination of additional housing units from the lower bench of Bolsa Chica Mesa, as recently reported in the local newspapers. This position of staff is reported to be the result of additional concerns as to the preservation of habitat corridors between various sensitive habitat areas on the Mesa and the Lowlands. The City of Seal Beach has consistently taken a position of fully supporting the restoration of the Bolsa Chica wetlands. Seal Beach has consistently opposed any development on the Bolsa Chica, which includes the Mesa, due to the adverse impacts to the surrounding communities that cannot be mitigated. The proposed action of further limiting residential development on the lower bench of the Mesa strongly supports the previous position of the City of Seal Beach, which was in strong opposition to residential development on the Bolsa Chica Lowlands. Staff has prepared a comment letter for City Council approval that encourages Coastal Commission approval of the appropriate mechanisms to allow those activities to proceed in an orderly and timely manner, ensuring the preservation of the appropriate wildlife corridors between the Mesa and Lowland wetlands areas and other sensitive habitat areas. C \My Documents \BOLSACHI.Molsa Chica Comment Letter.CC.doc\LW\07 -20 -00 AGENDA ITEM `- Approval of City Comment Letter to California Coastal Commission re: Balsa Chico Project City Council Staff Report July 24, 2000 The Coastal Commission anticipates consideration of the Bolsa Chica Project at their October 10- 13 meeting at Oceanside. Upon review of the Coastal Commission staff report regarding the Bolsa Chica Project, staff will return to the City Council with another comment letter directly relating to issues set forth in the Coastal Commission Staff Report. FISCAL IMPACT No direct impacts. RECOMMENDATION Authorize Mayor to sign proposed comment letter to the California Coastal Commission regarding the Bolsa Chica Project. Receive and File Staff Report, and Instruct Staff to Forward to Planning Commission and Environmental Quality Control Board for information. e Whittenberg, Director Development Services Departmen Attachments: (1) NOTED AND APPROVED ATTACHMENT 1: Draft City of Seal Beach Comment Letter to California Coastal Commission re: Bolsa Chica Project Bolsa Chica Comment Letter.CC COPY TO PETER M. DOUGLAS AND STEVE RYNAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH EX PARTE COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS July 24, 2000 Sara Wan, Chairman California Coastal Commission 45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94105 -2219 SUBJECT: BOLSA CHICA PROJECT Dear Ms. Wan: . *% 01 The City Council of the City of Seal Beach is aware of the Coastal Commission staff position regarding the elimination of additional housing units from the lower bench of Bolsa Chica Mesa. This position of staff is reported to be the result of additional concerns as to the preservation of habitat corridors between various sensitive habitat areas on the Mesa and the Lowlands. The City of Seal Beach has consistently taken a position of fully supporting the restoration of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, and encourages your agency approval of the appropriate mechanisms to allow those activities to proceed in an orderly and timely manner, ensuring the preservation of the appropriate wildlife corridors between the Mesa and Lowland wetlands areas and other sensitive habitat areas. We are particularly pleased that a coordinated effort between the various resource agencies can take place, and that a very important step in natural resource protection and enhancement at the Bolsa Chica can be the outcome of what has become a very long and difficult process. Seal Beach has consistently opposed any development on the Bolsa Chica, which includes the Mesa, due to the adverse impacts to the surrounding communities that cannot be mitigated. The proposed action of further limiting residential development on the lower bench of the Mesa strongly supports the previous position of the City of Seal Beach, which was in strong opposition to residential development on the Bolsa Chica Lowlands. CAMy Docunnents\B0LSACHI.2\Mcsa Housing Reduction Leuer.doc\LWN07 -19 -00 City of Seal Beach Comment Letter re: Balsa Chica Mesa Housing Concerns July 24, 2000 Any additional reduction of housing upon the Bolsa Chica Mesa would result in a beneficial decrease in future vehicular traffic through the City of Seal Beach from future residents of the Bolsa Chica project, and also significantly reduce the resulting noise and air quality impacts upon our community, and is strongly supported by the City of Seal Beach. Our city considers the Bolsa Chica wetlands to be an invaluable, indeed essential, natural resource in our environment, and we urge the Coastal Commission to strongly support any actions that would further enhance and preserve the viability of the sensitive habitats of the Bolsa Chica. Thank you for your serious consideration of the concerns of the City of Seal Beach. Upon completion of the Staff Report regarding this matter, the City of Seal Beach will be providing additional specific comments. If you have any questions regarding this matter please contact Mr. Dan Dorsey, Acting City Manager, at (562) 431 -2527, extension 300, or Mr. Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services at (562) 431 -2527, extension 313. Both Mr. Dorsey and Mr. Whittenberg will be most happy to provide any additional information or to further clarify the position of the City regarding this issue. Sincerely, 41 Patricia Campbell Mayor, City of Seal Beach cc: City Council - Huntington Beach and Seal Beach City Attorney - Seal Beach Planning Commission - Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board - Seal Beach Archaeological Advisory Committee - Seal Beach Bolsa Chica Land Trust Distribution: Commissioner Cynthia McClain -Hill Commissioner Christina L. Desser Commissioner Paula Daniels Commissioner Mike Reilly Commissioner Greg Hart Commissioner Christine Kehoe Executive Director Peter M. Douglas Orange County Supervisor Steve Rynas Mesa Housing Reduction Letter 01 Commissioner Cecilia Estolano Commissioner Pedro Nava Commissioner John Woolley Commissioner Dave Potter Commissioner Shirley S. Dettloff