The former natural habitat at the crossroads of Studebaker and Loynes were met with bulldozers and other equipment this morning as acres of wetlands were destroyed. Residents of the nearby Belmont Shore Mobile Park confronted the workers and called several City offices to compain, and the work stopped when the City of Long Beach demanded so due to a lack of permit.
According to City Manager Pat West, the property was recently purchased by Sean Hitchcock of 2H Construction. Voice messages left with the company have not yet been returned.
“We were alerted earlier today that there was some grading occurring, and we responded and found out there were no permits so we issued a stop work notice and the work stopped,” said City Manager Pat West.
“That said, there was still some asphalt being dropped in. That casued us to go back out to the site to assure that our stop order was being enforced. We had the trucks turn around to go back home. We spoke with the owner and he agreed to take the bulldozers off the site around 2:45.”
Anne Cramer of Councilmember Gary DeLong’s office confirmed that a stop work order was placed on the construction by Roy Bronold of the Building Department. The order was placed because the owner had not filed for the appropriate permit.
“Obviously, you can’t undertake development in the coastal zone without a permit, but wetlands enjoy certain particular protections under The Coastal Act,” said Sarah Christie, spokesperson for the California Coastal Commission.
“The problem is that, A) They didn’t have a permit and that B) They were doing something that is very difficult to get a permit for. It’ll be up to the city to determine where they want to take it from here.”
West said that he is not sure whether penalties will be enforced, but that the City will meet with the owner early next week to discuss the development process.
“There were definitely permits necessary,” he said. “No permits were pulled. Definitely you also need a Coastal Commission Permit, and no permit was pulled.”
Stay tuned to lbpost.com…
An egret wanders around the bulldozed remains of what was a wetland habitat just hours before.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor