Shea Homes

Jose Paul Corona Two major projects poised to change the face of Surf City hit roadblocks last week when appeals were filed with the California Coastal Commission. While very different in scope -- one a housing development, the other a multi-use retail and entertainment venue -- both gained overwhelming approval from the Planning Commission and City Council in October, and both have met opposition from residents. The Strand, which would revitalize the first few blocks of Downtown, calls for a 152-room Residence Inn, several major retail stores -- such as Victoria's Secret and Express -- and an underground parking lot to be built.

GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Independent. If you'd like information about getting your organization listed, call (714) 965-7170. Access to Sailing Inc. offers sailing programs for disabled children and adults. Duncan Milne, (714) 722-5371. Adult Day Services offers therapeutic programs for memory-impaired adults. Volunteers are needed to assist with group activities, clerical and reception work, board committees and advocacy. (714)

Dave Brooks A decades-old battle over the fate of the Bolsa Chica wetlands might have finally come to an end after the Coastal Commission approved a plan to build 349 luxury homes on the wetlands' upper mesa. The April 14 decision wraps up one of the final components of the wetlands debate. Once slated for 5,700 homes, several marinas and hundreds of acres of commercial development, the coastal wetlands running along Pacific Coast Highway will now remain mostly intact, save 105 acres along the Los Patos Boulevard border where the new homes are slated to be built.

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK And so ends another year. Despite the ever-constant threat of war and the sluggish economy, I count 2002 as my best in several. Sure, it held its share of aggravations and hardships, but overall, it was a triumph. Personally, I developed and nurtured friendships I will cherish always. Professionally, it was my goal -- one I shared with a dedicated group of journalists -- to inform the residents of Huntington Beach of the most important happenings in the city and to deliver that news in a clear, concise, unbiased format.

The campaign to restore the Bolsa Chica wetlands and the ongoing battles over development have undergone many twists and turns over the last 10 years. Here are some of the highlights:   November 2000: The California Coastal Commission limits Hearthside Homes’ 1,235-unit residential project, originally slated for 183 acres, to 65 acres in an effort to preserve land. Hearthside and landowner Signal Landmark file a lawsuit, but the Superior Court judge upholds the commission’s decision in 2001.