Wetlands Future Should Be on Ballot

* I spoke at the public hearing, and listened to many others do likewise, about the Bolsa Chica EIR (environmental impact report). As a 26-year resident, I am now weary of the actions by the city to obstruct the rights of a private property owner to use property, which is not even in Huntington Beach.

What is sure to follow is a continuing use of city funds, to obstruct, and surely to defend, when the round of probable litigation ensues. But at the root, it is all about money and power. I heard objection after objection.

Our descendants truly deserve for us to leave to them the best environment we can, and can afford, as well as homes to live in, parks, open space, sports fields, and other public and private resources and infrastructure. Not one group I heard objecting stated how they would effect an environmental improvement/restoration of the former saltwater wetlands.

Let’s get practical now, since no progress is being made. Let’s put an item on the ballot, once and for all, whether the residents of Huntington Beach want to pay additional taxes, to buy the Koll property, in unincorporated Orange County, annex it, and to then restore and maintain the degraded wetlands. My own estimate is this could possibly be done for a onetime outlay of about $10,000 by each Huntington Beach household of three people. Start negotiating price and get businesslike about the whole matter.

Being even more practical, we know most households couldn’t possibly afford a onetime outlay of $10,000 to purchase and restore the property.

So who has a plan?

The only plan that is fiscally possible is that of Koll Real Estate Group. Cut your best deal with the county on developer fees. Do this so my descendants have a nice, restored coastal wetlands, and homes to live in. The alternative is years of litigation, at residents’ expense.

Put the cost and the issue on the ballot for Huntington Beach to decide.

STEVEN D. ANDERSON

Huntington Beach