The public has until March 5 to comment on an environmental document concerning the proposed improvement of the San Gabriel River Bike Trail in Seal Beach, including the area around River’s End Café.
The city of Seal Beach intends to adopt a “Mitigated Negative Declaration” for the River’s End Staging Area and San Gabriel River Bikeway Enhancement program.
The California Environmental Quality Act requires the city to determine if the proposed improvements to the Seal Beach segment of the San Gabriel Bike Trail will have a significant impact on the environment.
In this case, an Environmental Impact Report was not required. Instead, the city has determined that the environmental impact of the project can be minimized if steps are taken to minimize the potential harm caused by the bike trail improvement project.
That’s basically what a “mitigated negative declaration” means.
The document was made public on Friday, Feb. 5.
The public has 30 days to comment on the contents of the declaration.
Copies of the Mitigated Negative Declaration are available for viewing at Seal Beach City Hall, 211 Eighth St.; at the Mary Wilson Library, at 707 Electric Ave.; at the Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Library, 12700 Montecito Rd. and at the Leisure World Library, 2300 Beverly Manor Rd.
The Leisure World Library is open to Leisure World residents only.
Written comments may be sent to Director of Development Services Mark Persico at Seal Beach City Hall.
Proposed improvements for the bike trail includes landscaping and rehabilitating the trail as well as improving the bathrooms in the parking lot near the River’s End Café. The trail will be resurfaced and striped.
The restaurant is privately owned, but located on city of Seal Beach property. If the project stays on schedule, the California Coastal Commission will hold a public hearing in April.
The state of California has approved $2 million for the project.
About $200,000 of that money had been released as of early September 2009.
According to the Mitigated Negative Declaration, “The majority of proposed improvements would occur within the southwestern portion of Seal Beach, while linear improvements (recreational trail enhancements) would extend along the San Gabriel River, through both Seal Beach and the eastern portion of Long Beach.
“The focus of project improvements would occur at the River’s End Staging Area, located at the southern terminus of First Street within Seal Beach, adjacent to the mouth of the San Gabriel River.”
The improvements would proceed north until the trail intersected with the 405 Freeway in Long Beach.
According to the declaration, the trail is approximately 35 miles long.
“As a recreational trail, the San Gabriel River Trail does not have a General Plan or zoning designation under the cities of Seal Beach or Long Beach,” the declaration said.
Part of the bike trail traverses property belonging to Bay City Partners. Persico spoke with representatives of Bay City Partners Monday, Feb. 8.
He said Seal Beach was working with Bay City Partners to realign the easement on the property so the easement and the bike trail are the same.
Edward Selich, project manager for Bay City Partners, said it was part of the company’s goal to dedicate the privately owned part of the bike trail to the city.
“We have no intention of shutting down the trail,” he said.
