Who’s going for who’s throat? Developer and City FAce Off

Monday Night Council Meeting will discuss pending litigation between the city and the group that wants to develop the old power plant property on First street.  So what’s all the fuss about?  ( Ed. Note “What’s Up” inadvertently said it was happening 2 weeks ago.)

In a nutshell the land has long been approved for a small hotel or residential at a 75% / 25% split between what is left as open space and what is used for development.  That’s percentage was arrived at several years ago and was the subject of considerable discussion at past council meetings. Perhaps before Bay City Partners even owned the land.

Naturally any developer wants to get the maximum number of homes it can when doing a development. Especially when the land is literally on the water. Conversely the city wants to protect the very unique “smallness” of Seal Beach and at the same time protect
the citizen’s rights to have view and access to the water in this world of larger and larger developments.  Bay City Partners would like to have more of the land developed and less kept as open space.

The city balked, rightfully in this reporter’s opinion, at increasing the developable area.  Not long after that Bay City Partners put a large green cover  on the wire fence that surrounds the property.  Not sure why they did that but it certainly did affect any “open space viewing” that the neighbors might have enjoyed.  Then it was said that a small part of the road going down to the River’s End area actually was owned by Bay City Partners      ( about 10,5000 feet) and they might be taking it over…it also would have affected some underground sewage lines that had been there for decades.

The city received a large grant from a conservancy to be spent on the area for acquisition and improvements and started eminent domain proceedings to buy the land and keep it open access to River’s End, Windsurfer Park and the parking lot and beach. Bay Cities said their offer wasn’t high enough…BUT….they’d accept the offer… IF… the city agreed to let them build the additional houses.

It almost sounds like a family squabble that just got out of hand….but when we’re talking about protecting the atmosphere Seal Beach and Old Town…..it takes on a whole new meaning.

Anyhow, Monday night you should attend the council meeting and state your preference.  Tell the council how you feel….and what you want them to do.

For the entire story go to: http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-245606-land-bay.html