Coastal Commission staff suggests slicing mesa development by more

than half

By Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- In a major setback for the developer of the Bolsa

Chica mesa, the staff for a state agency that must approve the plan has

recommended reducing the area where homes may be built by more than half.

“‘It cuts the proposed project way, way, way down,” Assistant City

Administrator Melanie Fallon said.

The state Coastal Commission must approve developer Hearthside Homes’

plan to build more than 1,200 homes on the prime coastal property

surrounded by wetlands.

The plan submitted by Hearthside, formerly known as the Koll Real Estate

Group, proposes building homes on 168 acres of the 215-acre mesa, said

Steve Rynas, a member of the commission’s staff. The remaining area would

be set aside for conservation, open space and recreational use, he said.

But if the commission follows its staff recommendation, development will

be limited to 65 acres, he said. The area staff suggests setting aside is

roughly the lower half of the mesa closest to the wetlands, he said.

Representatives for Hearthside were unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Rynas cautioned that the 12-member commission may not follow the staff’s

recommendations. The commission is expected to hold a hearing on the

issue during the second week of February in San Diego, he said.

With so little suggested room for Hearthside to build, City Councilman

Dave Sullivan echoed the sentiment of many preservationists, saying he

hopes the developer will give up on the plan.