HUNTINGTON BEACH : Holly-Seacliff Deal Now Up to Council

The city’s proposed Holly-Seacliff development agreement with the Huntington Beach Co. has cleared a last hurdle before heading for City Council approval.

The Planning Commission voted 4-1 this week in favor of the agreement, which the council will consider at a special meeting Monday.

Under the plan, forged during two months of intensive discussions, the company will provide the city with 41 acres for a planned linear park.

But least two questions still must be resolved. Officials for the Huntington Beach Co., which owns about 90% of the 750-acre Holly-Seacliff area, have balked at demands to pay any fees that the city may impose in the future. For example, the city is considering establishing a developer fee to create new child-care facilities, which, under the existing proposal, the company would not be obligated to pay.

Additionally, Commissioner Victor Leipzig, who voted against the pact, said he was concerned that the agreement does not require the company to help pay for the proposed northwesterly extension of Garfield Avenue, which would serve up to 3,780 homes in the development.

Officials of the Huntington Beach Co. hope to finalize the agreement by the Nov. 6 election, when three City Council members will be stepping down, said Bill Holman, the firm’s project manager.