‘Dreadful’ plans for First Street property
I visit the site of the (Editor’s note: property owned by Bay City Partners formally owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) DWP property every day.
Just standing in front of the tennis courts/park over by First Street and gazing out towards the ocean, it is very easy to imagine how dreadful a block of subdivision housing would look on the DWP property.
Where would be that fabulous ocean view be as one drives out of Seal Beach to the west?
No more amazing sunsets to be seen from Marina Park. No more strolls down the Marina pedestrian walkway to see the ocean.
Development is fine but, please not a block of houses right up to the corner of Marina and First Street.
The owners of that property may be good citizens and certainly deserve to be heard.
But I suspect their motives are not in keeping with what this city is all about.
That ugly green fence was installed at least partially to make us forget that we are at land’s end, a sacred place to many. I wasn’t really sure of their motives till I saw the recent posting of two signs at the entrance to the newly refurbished bike path.
They both read, “right to pass by permission and subject to control by owner.”
That may be legally true, but it is off-putting. Is it really what we want to tell visitors, especially those who’ve ridden a bicycle 37 miles down the bike path and want to go that one more mile to land’s end?
We should be welcoming them to Seal Beach, encouraging them to stay, to come back, and to spend their money here.
The property owners are not behaving in a manner that reflects well on our fair city. How much damage will they be allowed to inflict? It is up to you.
The property owners may not think a small hotel is feasible in the current economy, but a subdivision is not the answer.
I haven’t heard construction noises around here for several years because of the current economy. How feasible is new home building in the current economy?
The owners seem only to want to sell lots and let a developer take control of developing the property.
Dare we trust that scenario?
The construction site might remain just a construction site for a number of years, if in fact we are really considering the current economy.
Why invite that sort of blight?
Please deny the zoning change and make the property owners come up with a plan that keeps our Seal Beach ambiance and doesn’t just line their pockets.
Say “no” to making the DWP property a residential nightmare.
Kathleen Morton
Seal Beach
Los Al Fire Fighters need golf tourney donations
The Los Alamitos Fire Fighters Association is an active organization, which is involved in many different charitable groups.
This year our organization is hosting our first golf tournament for The Seal Beach Families Fund and will be held at the beautiful Naval Golf Course in Cypress (right across from Los Alamitos Army Airfield) on Monday, June 18.
Proceeds for the event will benefit the eight victim’s families of the Salon Meritage shootings in Seal Beach and the Los Alamitos F.F. Association. One of the best ways to raise money for this great event and for the families is through hole sponsorships, silent auction items and raffle items.
Any donation, big or small will be greatly appreciated.
With any donation you will receive recognition during our raffle and awards ceremony the night of the event.
In addition to raffle prize donations, our hole sponsorships will receive advertisement on a select hole and at the club house.
This year’s tournament will have 144 golfers and over 200 members for the dinner/award ceremony.
Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated.
If you would like more information on this event, sponsorships rates, or have any questions, please feel free to give me a call directly at (562) 477-9075 or you can email me at Thetig83@gmail.com.
The Los Alamitos Fire Fighters Association (Tax ID # 95-4615023) greatly appreciates your support.
Jason Tighe, Firefighter
Seal Beach Families Fund Tournament Chairman
Los Alamitos
Too critical of Coastal Commission
Thank goodness for our Constitutionally protected rights for the freedom of the press and our free speech.
However, Bruce Smith’s “drivel”-oriented, rude criticism of the late Peter Douglas who died recently from lung cancer was clearly disrespectful not only to Peter’s family but also the many state, local officials, staffs and hundreds of citizens who, via several media comments, letters overwhelmed the Coastal Commission and his family praising him for his long and distinguished career making very difficult decisions carrying out the federal and state mandates under the Coastal Act.
During my long career as a professional lobbyist I became an opponent to the Coastal Commission on behalf of protecting clients’ property rights in the Santa Monica Mountains and Marina Del Rey.
I was fortunate to win each battle through compromises and legislation. Peter Douglas and I earned mutual respect and admiration even though we were on opposite sides.
We always respected each other protecting our clients.
During the 10 years I was involved with the Coastal Act my clients and I attended/participated in several public meetings of the Coastal Commission and we were always treated with respect and dignity so perhaps Bruce’s attendance/performance prompted those responses from the commissioner and staff. Finally Bruce is entitled to his own “opinions” but he is not entitled to his own “facts.”
His alleged comments where he disagrees with me are totally understood.
But his personal attack on Peter Douglas and the Coastal Commission may well be exemplified through his writings that perhaps that is the way he aspires to be in real life.
And may I add, as a member of the city of Seal Beach Citizens Advisory LCP Committee working to develop and maintain a solid professional relationship with the Coastal Commission and staff so that the city of Seal Beach will be able to proceed in preparing its Local Coastal Plan, I hope that his inappropriate comments will in no way disturb the city’s ability to get its LCP approved by the Coastal Commission and receive the benefits of development jurisdiction, etc.
Les H. Cohen
Legislative Advocate Emeritus
Seal Beach, Leisure World.
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