Sunday, October 20, 2013

After 7 years of effort, proposed Big Wave development in Princeton continues


Development on the coast, lawsuits, compromise the project to avoid bankruptcy, scale way back, make-up the difference on this project through fund raising. 

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack, 10/17/13.  "Big Wave supporters scale back project plan."

X marks the spot
transitioning Big Wave into little wave.
Eco-economics:  half a plan is better than none.
Fewer jobs for the disabled,
organization fundraising to offset lost commercial. 
"Representatives on both sides reported last week they’ve reached an agreement that could allow Big Wave to go forward under a modified plan that scales back the development. The deal, they believe, will resolve four separate civil lawsuits centered on the development and allow the project to meet the standards of the California Coastal Commission.

....   Amid the legal skirmish, Big Wave engineers began meeting with Lennie Roberts of the Committee for Green Foothills to see if a workable deal could be negotiated with environmentalists. Roberts had been “a major opponent” of the original project, Peck said, but he added she was willing to lend advice on how to find a solution.

....  Big Wave planners intended to use the commercial space as an “economic engine” to provide jobs for residents and help fund the nonprofit. By agreeing to scale back the commercial development, Big Wave would have fewer employment opportunities and less money, Peck said.  He estimated the plan changes would amount to about 300 fewer jobs resulting from Big Wave. Extra fundraising could also be required to compensate for lost commercial build-out.    Read article, includes scaled back project chart.

Reference-  Midcoast Community Council, "Big Wave Project."  Overview of the initial project, the regulatory process, and the lawsuits.  

Related articles  Half Moon Bay Patch/Christa Bigue (Editor), 10/2/12.  "Many opponents maintained the Princeton plot behind the Half Moon Bay Airport was not the right place. Big Wave proponents say the Commissioners ignored the six-year County process that led to unanimous approval, a 6,000-page environmental impact report, and overwhelming community support."  Note:  photograph from this Patch article.   Also see Fix Pacifica archived reprint articles - "Search this blog" for Big Wave.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

No comments: