Environmental Impact Report

Huntington Beach has requested a new trial on the $22-million senior center that was to be built on a 5-acre section of Huntington?s Central Park. Superior Court Judge David C. Velasquez found the city to be in violation of its general plan and the California Environmental Quality Act on Sept. 29. The judge also determined the city couldn?t use the entire $22 million for the center. The city is requesting a new trial and contesting the three violations the judge found, according to a court document the city filed Friday.

Two residents have filed appeals on an Environmental Impact Report for the Downtown Specific Plan that will allow increased development over the next 20 years and was certified by the Planning Commission. David Rice, a member of the Huntington Beach Downtown Residents Assn., a group opposed to any updates that would allow the destruction of the Main Street Library and Triangle Park, and City Councilwoman Jill Hardy filed separate appeals with the City Clerk. Rice and Hardy are appealing the Planning Commission’s certification of the plan’s EIR. The commission approved it at its Oct. 6 public hearing.

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission on Tuesday discussed expanding residential parking and increasing parking fees if the city goes through with the proposed updates to the Downtown Specific Plan. The Downtown Specific Plan is a long-range planning document that dictates building specifications and is being updated to increase development over the next 20 years. The plans encompass the area south of Goldenwest Street and north of Beach Boulevard along the beach and from the pier to Palm Avenue, with Sixth and Lake streets as the boundary lines.

The draft environmental impact report for the proposed Ripcurl mixed-use development is on display for public feedback through Aug. 21. The Ripcurl project, which would include six stories of residential and commercial development at Gothard Street and Center Avenue across from Golden West College, would have 440 residential units and 10,000 square feet of retail space. Planned amenities include a pool and spa area, fire pit, movie projection area, fitness center, and clubhouse.

The draft environmental impact report for the proposed Ripcurl mixed-use development is on display for public feedback through Aug. 21. The Ripcurl project, which would include six stories of residential and commercial development at Gothard Street and Center Avenue across from Golden West College, would have 440 residential units and 10,000 square feet of retail space. Planned amenities include a pool and spa area, fire pit, movie projection area, fitness center, and clubhouse.

Given the lack of information the voters had about the proposed senior center in Central Park, I would not interpret the razor-thin victory of Measure T as any kind of mandate to build a senior center in the park. Only 50.8% of the voters approved Measure T, and opposition was growing before the vote. The proposed senior center in Central Park has turned into a very divisive issue in Huntington Beach. The only way to bring this community together again is to more thoroughly explore the options available and locate the senior center elsewhere.

The city's biggest industrial project in decades rests on the shoulders of two men: City Councilmen Gil Coerper and Don Hansen. The hearing dates may keep changing, but their influence remains the same: If the Poseidon desalination facility is to be approved, these two councilmen will have to give the nod. Both scoff at the notion of being swing votes, but with council members Debbie Cook, Dave Sullivan and Jill Hardy having voted against the...

I voted for Don Hansen as a City Council member to represent our city and make leadership decisions for Huntington Beach as a whole. That is why I commend him not only for keeping the residents in southeast Huntington Beach in mind when making his decision to certify the desalination facility's environmental report, but also for keeping the rest of Huntington Beach in consideration.

A hearing on whether Huntington Beach violated state environmental laws in how it put together its environmental impact report for its downtown specific plan is scheduled for Thursday. Huntington Beach Neighbors filed a lawsuit against City Hall in November, claiming the city simplified the EIR to hide the effects the developments will have on the area. The Neighbors argue that instead of conducting the traffic study during busy summer nights and weekends, the city opted for gloomy and rainy days.