Signal Tribune Newspaper

by E. Medosch
Staff Writer

(above) Aerial view of wetlands where Loynes Drive and Studebaker Road intersect.

After a special press conference held at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific yesterday, the dream of an adult-league sports park on properties in Signal Hill and Long Beach could be just that– a fading dream.
At the press conference, it was announced that next Tuesday, November 18, the City of Long Beach will hold a study session with its city council. That evening, during the council meeting, the city council will be asked to vote on a proposal to “bundle” various non-contiguous parcels throughout Long Beach (including a piece of land within Signal Hill’s borders) and exchange that bundle of land for 194 acres of Los Cerritos Wetlands.

“We need to take action now that benefits future generations, and that’s what this proposal does,” said Suzanne Frick, assistant city manager, at the press conference. “But make no mistake, it is a proposal.” When asked if the City of Signal Hill has been apprised of the land-swap proposal, Frick said, “The City of Signal Hill is one of our partners [on the Sports Park]. We’ve certainly informed them what’s going on.”
However, Signal Hill City Manager Ken Farfsing said, “The City of Long Beach has not contacted me about any land swap, but we are open to discussions.”
The plan basically involves taking a number of under-utilized parcels throughout Long Beach, such as 1.35 acres at Cherry and Creston avenues, 29 acres of hilltop property (which was meant for the sports park, but, if the proposed land swap takes place, it would be available for commercial/industrial uses), 9.47 acres at Spring Street and Temple Avenue, 12 acres on San Francisco Avenue and 18.9 acres of privately-owned property in Wrigley Heights.
In turn, 66 acres known as the “Bryant Property,” which was purchased in 2006 by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA), and 175 acres known as the “Hellman Parcel,” sold in 2007 to a private party by then-owners Bixby Ranch Company and Bixby Oil and Gas, would be restored to wetlands status. According to a report given by Long Beach City officials, “The new owner of the Hellman parcel is willing to consider a land exchange rather than an outright sale.”
The importance of this land-swap arrangement is to preserve one of the very few remaining salt marshes left in Southern California. Estimates show that 95 percent of tidal marshes in Southern California have been overtaken by commercial and/or residential development.
But the sports park dream is something that is sure to be an issue at the upcoming Long Beach City Council meeting. Tonia Reyes Uranga, Long Beach’s 7th District Councilmember, said in a written statement, “The City of Long Beach established a goal of eight acres of parkland and open space per 1000 residents, and our residents in East Long Beach enjoy over 16 acres per 1000 while West Long Beach residents are left with one acre per 1,000.”
Meanwhile, the wetlands preservation proposal obviously requires substantial funding– at least $37.4 million. Belinda Faustinos, the LCWA executive officer, said that the organization would be seeking funds from the LA Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, among other groups. Fourth District Councilman Patrick O’Donnell, an appointee to that Conservancy, released a statement saying, “It is clear that the advocacy to protect the wetlands played a role in getting everybody to the table. Further, as the City’s appointee to the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Board, a board that allocates state money for wetlands preservation, I will strongly advocate for this project.”
Frick also said that the city would seek funding from the Port of Long Beach, perhaps even as mitigation credits for the new developments unfolding at the port itself.
The Long Beach City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18, beginning at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd. Call 570-6101 for more information about the meeting.

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