August 11, 2010 Update on the Bluffs Attorneys for the Bolsa Chica Land Trust have filed a petition for writ of mandate challenging the City of Huntington Beach approval of “The Ridge” housing development with the County of Orange today. The Bolsa Chica Land Trust believes the City Council action of July 6, 2010 violated the California Environmental Quality Act ( CEQA). The approved development if it goes forward would have significant adverse impacts on the Bolsa Chica wetlands ecosystem. The City Council’s action Changed the Land Use Designation from Open Space- Park to Residential Violated the Coastal Element of the City’s General Plan Subdivided the approximately 5 acre site into 22 single family residential to accommodate homes with 2-3 car garages. Granted concessions because it will allegedly be the City’s first “green” project. Permitted construction on a site with greater than a three foot grade differential Reduced the ESHA buffer approved by the California Coastal Commission Will destroy a 9,000 year old archaeological site of international significance Allowed for flexibility in accommodating the total number of required parking spaces in PUD development “It is really unfortunate when a citizens group has to take legal action against the City because it does not uphold it own standards and laws. The Land Trust had no choice but to go to court over the Ridge development project.” Connie Boardman President, Bolsa Chica Land Trust Click here to Donate Now to the legal defense fund for the Save the Bluffs Campaign Do we really want to destroy this prehistoric site at Bolsa Chica for 22 housing units?     HB Council Votes 5-1 to Change the Land Use Designation on 5 Acres of the Bluffs at Bolsa Chica to Residential Dear Friends of Bolsa Chica, In a disappointing, but not totally unexpected outcome, the Huntington Beach City council voted 5-1 Tuesday night to change the land use designation on land on the Bolsa Chica Mesa from open space parkland to residential. Other than the developer, all of the speakers asked the council to deny the project. The council received over 600 postcards from Bolsa Chica supporters asking them not to change the land use designation, however, they were not moved by this outpouring of public opinion. Part of the crowd at the council meeting standing to show their support. The only ones not standing are with the development company. Photo courtesy of Joe Shaw. Thanks to Jill Hardy for her support. Jill Hardy made many excellent points, among which included the observation that once open space is gone, you can't get it back. She also recognized the special nature of that area of the mesa as far as archeological resources. The other council members basically dismissed this important aspect of the site. Joe Carchio, Cathy Green, Don Hansen, Keith Bohr, and Gil Coerper all voted against the wishes of the community, and with the developer. Joe Carchio is running for re-election to the council this fall, while Green, Hardy, and Coerper are termed out at the end of this year. I find it very sad that the majority of this council is fine with the developer spraying herbicides on the land prior to the biological assessment so the biologists would not find rare plants found on adjacent property. The assessment for rare plants was done in January 2010, and as you can see in the lower photo even in March of 2010 the land still looks barren. August 2009 March 2010 The council majority also voted to violate the city's general plan coastal element that specifically prohibits residential development on the very bluffs where the housing project is proposed. The majority of this council obviously does not value open space. The city has a deficit of parkland, yet the council just voted to turn five acres of it into housing in the most sensitive ecological area in the city. The many Native American speakers expressed how important the remaining undeveloped sites on the mesa were to them, but sadly, their testimony meant nothing to this council. Fortunately for the Bolsa Chica, the Huntington Beach City Council does not have the final word on this development. The project will have to go to the California Coastal Commission for approval. The Trust has also established an excellent record we can use if we have to take the issue to the courts. If we do have to sue, we of course don't know how our law suit will conclude. We do know however, that in the future people in this city will ask "what in the world was the city council thinking when they voted to approve a development project that destroyed a 9,000 year old archeological site?" Thanks so much to everyone who came to the meeting, and all who contacted the city council. We of course will let you know when this project will be before the California Coastal Commission. Sincerely, Connie Boardman President, Bolsa Chica Land Trust       New World War II Kiosk at Bolsa Chica The Huntington Beach Rotary Club generously donated funding for new interpretive kiosk on the Bolsa Chica Mesa. The Huntington Beach Rotary Club’s donation of five kiosks at Bolsa Chica is a great service to this community and we thank them. We especially want to thank Bill Kettler one of our Miracles of a Marsh docents. He initiated this project with the Rotary. Photo left to right, Huntington Beach Rotary Club members: Dottie Rodgers, Dale Dunn, Bill Kettler, BCLT docent, Margaret Nerio, President Huntington Beach Rotary, Dick Wilson, Oscar Rosales, Mary Baley, Carol Kelly, John Baley, Wally Buchanan, Mike McMahan, Board member BCLT To learn more about the World War II kiosk go to Miracles of a Marsh     Professor Boardman, Bolsa Chica Land Trust SCE-Environmental Hero Award winner and Jenna Burnett, Edison International The Bolsa Chica Land Trust Board member and former Mayor of Huntington Beach Professor Connie Boardman receives the Environmental Hero Award from Southern California Edison Professor Boardman is the Chair of the Department of Biology at Cerritos College. The Environmental Hero awards were presented on Friday April 29th at the Southern California Edison corporate headquarters in Rosemead. The Environmental Hero Award recognizes individuals and organizations in the Southern California region who have demonstrated environmental stewardship. Former Mayor Boardman was selected for her work with the Bolsa Chica Stewards- the Restoration Team of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust. For over 14 years the Stewards have planted over 18,000 native plants with the help of over 10,000 volunteers. Currently, the Stewards in cooperation with the Department of Fish and Game have launched the CPR (Community Promoted Restoration) for the Bolsa Chica Mesa. This ambitious 10 year Program will restore 118 acres of the Bolsa Chica Mesa with native habitats. Working to protect, preserve and restore the Bolsa Chica has been Professor Boardman’s passion for close to 20 years. The Bolsa Chica Land Trust is delighted that SCE has recognized Connie’s years of dedication to the vision of saving all of Bolsa Chica.     Building Bridge to Nature Pedestrian bridge installed January 2010 Now there is a safe way to walk across to the Wildside At Bolsa Chica.   Bolsa Chica Land Trust Our vision is to preserve the entire Bolsa Chica…         Hey Kids! Check out our new program called the Junior Stewards. You can get a stylin' t-shirt and free cookies – and help the environment! The really cool part is you can have fun digging in the dirt, but your parents won't mind because you'll also be getting documented volunteer hours. For all the info, click here.         "Federal recognition for ORA 83 Cogged Stone Archaeological site Eligible as a National Historic Site" READ More         CPR for The Mesa (Community Promoted Restoration)       The Bolsa Chica Land Trust mission is acquisition, restoration, preservation and management of the entire 1,700 acres of Bolsa Chica. Recently saved from bulldozers, the newly acquired 118 acres of the Bolsa Chica Mesa restoration begins. CPR For The Mesa' is an ambitious ten year $4.3 million dollar project.  Partnering with the California Department of Fish and Game who own the Bolsa Chica Mesa Lower Bench, the Land Trust has spent the past 3 years planning the best restoration project possible.  The vision is for the creation of six habitat zones, the largest being a 65 acre native coastal prairie grassland which will provide much needed foraging habitat for our raptors and mammals. Additional Southern California Coastal Sage Scrub, seasonal wetlands, an improved Warner Pond ESHA and Eucalyptus ESHA and riparian/herbaceous wetland habitats will one day replace the 120 acres of non-native invasive European grasses which currently choke the land. Most importantly, one aspect which sets the CPR project apart from all other restoration efforts is the amount and depth of community support. The Trust is unique in that our strength is two-fold, our bond with Bolsa Chica and our bond with you, our members without whom we would never have prevailed.  It is this special commitment which is leading us to embark on this amazing journey of restoration. To learn more about CPR for the Mesa check out our project link.     Upper Bolsa Chica Wetlands In 2009, Shea Homes designed a new tract map calling for 111 houses on 27 acres, a 30% reduction of their prior proposal. The project has again been submitted to the state Coastal Commission for approval.     Make a Difference at Bolsa Chica On the first (1st) Sunday of each month and the third (3rd) Saturday of each month, the Bolsa Chica Stewards are out on the Bolsa Chica Mesa restoring native vegetation to the landscape. They plant new plants, water old plants, pull invasive weeds, and generally have a fun time doing their part to restore the Bolsa Chica ecosystem. For more information on how you can volunteer, call Kim at 714-717-6304.