HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmailed Comment from Allen Arslanian1
Brandon DeCriscio
From:Allen Arslanian <allenarslanian@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, February 20, 2026 1:26 PM
To:Shaun Temple
Cc:Lisa Landau; Ben Wong; Nathan Steele; Joe Kalmick; Patty Senecal
Subject:Hellman Solar Project at Los Cerritos Wetlands
Dear Mr. Temple and City Council Members,
As a lifelong resident of Orange County in the surrounding city of Buena Park I have grown up enjoying
Seal Beach for its beautiful beach and surrounding wildlife and I am very grateful for you and the city's
stewardship of the land over the years. As an environmental steward myself by working for the city of
Long Beach in Water Conservation, volunteering with the Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach
chapter of Surfrider Foundation, I am well aware of the unique ecosystem that exists in and around Los
Cerritos Wetlands adjacent to Hellman properties and I am reaching out today for your help in preserving
it.
Despite efforts to reduce the amount of solar panels and installation of a non-glare coating on the panels
this project will still have negative impacts on the fragile ecosystem in the area. The disturbance of soil in
the area that goes along with construction of said project will add more negative impacts on the
microbes in the soil, which have already been greatly impacted over the years by human interference for
oil and energy use. Seemingly this new green energy source might be considered a step in a cleaner
direction for energy, but the negative impact on migratory seabirds is well documented by scientists as
many birds are confused by the panels which mimic the look of water from up above.
Besides the various species of migratory birds that coexist in this area that will be impacted, this project
will also negatively affect people's enjoyment of the area and given the new developments in the
surrounding area of Long Beach bordering Seal Beach it is even more crucial to preserve the very few
protected wetlands we have left.
I urge you to please reject this project to continue to align with your wonderful stewardship and care that
you and the city council have provided over the years for the people, the area, the delicate ecosystem
and wildlife.
Thank You,
Allen Arslanian
5816 Los Nietos St.
Buena Park, CA 90620