Coastal Commisson Approves Nix on Ball Fields in Bluffs Land Agreement

BY BILL KOENEKER

A key element of a development agreement, the donation of 1.75 acres for ball fields adjacent to Bluffs Park, in exchange for a five-home subdivision was nullified by the California Coastal Commission last week when it approved the revised findings made by the commission staff.
The commission had previously reviewed the proposed agreement and subsequent zone changes, permits and entitlements as part of a Local Coastal Program Amendment submitted by the city.
The coastal panel rejected the city’s LCPA, adopted its own with modifications
The revisions to the city’s proposal including no ball fields was so low key during a previous commission hearing, not even city officials were certain about the commission’s direction.
Before the city council has a chance to consider those modifications, the coastal panel last week formalized the modifications including changing the 1.75 acres of land proposed for dedication for active recreation to passive recreation.
Most of the modifications including the $2 million the developer agreed to donate for restoration of the Topanga Ranch Motel and donating another seven acres to the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority for a conservation easement were also approved in the revised findings.
The rationale for scuttling the ball fields is the coastal agency’s determination that they would best serve the local population and not have a regional use.
The city council can reject those modifications and the development agreement would not go into effect.
By the time the council gets the package, there will be new members on the council dais and at this time it remains uncertain what the newly formed council might do.
The commission postponed a hearing on the site of the former Albatross Hotel and Restaurant. The agenda item was to change the zoning from commercial visitor-serving to multi-family.