ARTIST’S RENDERING of proposed Bolsa Chica Senior Care Center.

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

A divided Huntington Beach City Council approved the controversial Bolsa Chica Senior Care Community Project in November, clearing the way for construction of the development to proceed.

Or did it?

The final item on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the city council is an item submitted by new Mayor Pat Burns questioning the process and information related to the original approval.

On November 19, the council vote was 4-3. Conservative Councilmember Tony Strickland split with his three conservative colleagues and voted with the three liberals in favor of the project to be built on a 3.10-acre site at 4952 and 4972 Warner Ave. (near Bolsa Chica Street).

It would include 25 memory care units, 134 assisted learning units and a subterranean parking garage.
The controversy at the time was whether the project represented “high density development.”

After the Nov. 5 election, the three liberals – Dan Kalmick, Rhonda Bolton and Natalie Moser – all lost their bids for another term and were replaced by conservatives Don Kennedy, Butch Twining and Chad Williams, creating what Burns has called “The MAGA-nificent Seven.”

He is asking the council to create an ad-hoc committee consisting of three council members to “review the process and information” regarding the Bolsa Chica project, with support from community development and city attorney’s office staff.

Also on Tuesday night, the council will consider a proposal to develop criteria that would classify “high-density development” to be an environmental issue. City voters in November approved a ballot measure requiring the such projects be submitted to a public vote.

The council will meet in closed session at 4:30 p.m. and in regular session at 6 p.m. at 2000 Main St. (at Yorktown Avenue).