After years of political and legal battles, the development of land near the San Gabriel River along First Street is inching closer to becoming a reality.
A new 6.4 acre park to be paid for by the Bay City Partners will have to be complete before the first road is completed for the “Ocean Place” residential development of the former Los Angeles Department of Water and Power property, according to Seal Beach Community Development Director Jim Basham.
The park plan is likely to be on the Recreation and Parks Commission agenda on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The commission meets at 6 p.m.
Basham described the park as “a visitor serving open space park.”
The park plan is likely to be on the Recreation and Parks Commission agenda on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The commission meets at 6 p.m.
The development of the lot came closer to reality last week when the California Coastal Commission approved final conditions for the project. The Coastal Commission approved the project in March, but the details for the conditions had yet to be worked out, so the matter returned to the state agency last Wednesday.
Among those conditions: of the 32 lots originally to be built with single family homes, four will be merged into a single lot to provide overnight lodging. In March, it was not clear precisely how the four lots would be developed.
Basham said the city would work with the developer designing the overnight accommodations required by the Coastal Commission. Basham believes four cottages would be appropriate and would blend in with the houses.
“The commission loved the proposed overnight accommodation plan with small cottages reminiscent of a blending between the Seal Beach Inn and Gardens and Historic Anaheim Landing,” said Mayor Ellery Deaton.
Another issue is the development of a new city park. Bay City Partners had already agreed to deed the 6.4 acres land for park space before March Coastal Commission meeting. However, paying for the development of the park had not been part of that agreement.
According to Basham, the developers will now pay to build the park.
Basham said he believes the park would have to be done along with the street improvements before the houses are built.
Deaton hopes the city will be able to break ground soon.
However, Basham said that the specific plan for the land will have to be amended to accommodate the conditions imposed by the Coastal Commission.
