VICTORY FOR LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS TASK FORCE

  • Posted on 31 August 2008
  • By Jeff Miller
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Los Cerritos wetland in February, when the water levels are low.
PHOTO BY BOB HANSEN

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust (LCWLT) and the University Park Estates Neighborhood Association (UPENA) are celebrating an important victory in defense of the Los Cerritos Wetlands, part of what Sam Schuchat of California Coastal Conservancy has dubbed Southern California's 'string of pearls' In a Los Angeles Times article, Schuchat noted 'the region's remaining marshes: Ormond Beach in Ventura County, Ballona and Los Cerritos in Los Angeles County, Bolsa Chica and Upper Newport Bay in Orange County, and a series of San Diego County wetlands.'

Schuchat said. 'They're a string of pearls, and we want to restore them all.'

But fending off developers has been tough. In October 2006, the City of Long Beach approved an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a Studebaker LLC's proposed Home Depot and miscellaneous retail located adjacent to the remaining 400 acres of the Los Cerritos Wetlands. LCWLT and UPENA filed suit and in March 2007, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John A. Torribio's decision to de-certify the EIR and vacate all permit approvals was finalized.

LCWLT President Heather Altman said of the March decision, 'this is an important victory for the wetlands, for sensitive species and the environment in general.' Altman's letter continued, '[We] are satisfied with the result and are eager to put this behind us and move ahead with other important matters, namely focusing on fighting for the restoration of the Los Cerritos Wetlands.'

Local news outlets have reported that though the Home Depot has opted out of the project, the landowner, who also owns the adjacent wetlands parcels, wishes to move ahead with plans to develop the property. Studebaker LLC spokesperson, Mike Murchison, reiterated that they are 'moving forward with the proposed project, and, as such, are actively pursuing revisions to the EIR with the City of Long Beach, consistent with the Judge's order.'

Uncertain, however, is how Studebaker LLC will deal with other perceived Project inadequacies. As this Project is in the appealable zone of the California Coastal Commission (CCC), the CCC has the ultimate say regarding Project approval.

A scathing CCC staff report issued in October 2007 recommended denial of the Project, citing many technical inadequacies, environmental concerns and glaring inconsistencies with the California Coastal Act and the certified Local Coastal Plan for the area. Studebaker LLC has not commented on how those issues will be addressed, and have merely indicated that they are working to fix the EIR.

Efforts to rezone the area, including the wetlands parcels, are underway. A recently completed Citywide survey of Long Beach residents showed that 'Seventy-nine percent (79%) of respondents listed wetland restoration as one of their top two priorities'.

The LCWLT firmly believes that the ultimate goal should be to plan for the eventual restoration of the Los Cerritos Wetlands first and then determine zoning of adjacent parcels. Check the LCWLT website for updates:www.lcwlandtrust.org .

This victory would not have been possible without the legal firm of Chatten-Brown & Carstens, as well as the donations of money, time and expertise from wetlands supporters all over Southern California and the staunch backing and encouragement of the Audubon Society, Sierra Club and other local organizations. Additionally, an invaluable resource with regards to how wetlands impacts should be studied was Longcore and Rich's 'Effects of Nighttime Lighting and Noise.'

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