California: Coastal commission hits city over Target plan -

The Eureka Times-Standard ^ | Saturday, January 25, 2003 | John Driscoll The Times-Standard

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

EUREKA -- The California Coastal Commission agrees Target Corp.'s plan to rebuild the old Montgomery Ward site is better than what's there, but said the city failed to look into the development's effects on birds and mammals in the area.

Addressing an appeal filed by environmentalists, commission staff found that a proposed buffer along Eureka Slough doesn't mesh with the city's local coastal plan. The buffer is less than the standard 100 feet wide in some spots, and the city needed to show why anything less would not harm wildlife. In some areas, the buffer is 250 feet wide.

All that exists now is pavement, right up to the slough. And, city staff said, if the city's permit is denied, the existing development could be used as is.

"That situation protects the environment better than what's existing," said Eureka Community Development Director Kevin Hamblin.

The Environmental Protection Information Center's other claims -- that water quality and wetlands are at risk -- were not substantial issues, staff wrote.

The coastal commission staffer who wrote the report, Tiffany Tauber, said that the issue is with the standard of review for any project that proposes total demolition and reconstruction of a site.

Target wants to raze the Montgomery Ward building and build a 131,000-square-foot retail store. It wants to rebuild the parking lot, landscape the area and build a trail to the slough and the boat ramp there.

"We do point out that we recognize it's an improvement to the existing conditions," Tauber said.

The city, she said, talks about the effects of construction and an increase in noise and activity -- including at night when the store would be open -- but then concludes that the buffer is better than what's there. The city needs to examine what resources are there and how they would be affected by the project, Tauber said.

Calls to Target were not returned by deadline.

Christine Ambrose of the Environmental Protection Information Center said it's about following the rules, and ensuring the Eureka gateway property is used in the best possible way.

"We think there's a real opportunity to put something in that's better than what's there now and something we can be proud of," Ambrose said.

Hamblin said there are several projects that don't meet the local coastal plan buffer-zone rules that the commission has approved, including the Eureka Boardwalk and nearby development.

"Unless this is approved, you don't get any buffer," Hamblin said.

He argued that a commercial establishment could take over the existing building and use the property as it is now.

In related news, while the Coastal Commission's authority has been challenged, and an appeals court has rejected the state's push for another ruling, a stay keeps the panel's power in place. The commission must file its appeal with the state Supreme Court by Jan. 31, however, or risk having the stay removed.

That means there is no change in business for the commission, said Commissioner John Woolley, also 3rd District supervisor for Humboldt County.

The commission will hear the Target report on Feb. 6 in San Diego.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

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[squibs]

This is great. They ( this council ) has an empty building
going to waste but wont let a company remove it and improve the area , create jobs , increase tax revenues from those jobs both construction , labor , services.
That makes a lot of sense but only in commi-calif.

[tubebender]

This is great. They ( this council ) has an empty building going to waste but wont let a company remove it and improve the area

You need to reread the article. The city has signed off on the demolition and new building. It is the coastal staff that is blocking a project that could have started construction this summer. A MARXIST group calling themselves Enviromental Protection Information Center (EPIC) out of Garberville, the dope capital of Calif. filed a complaint because the buffer is not 100 feet wide. In fact the buffer is as wide as 250 feet with some tapering to 75 feet.

Thanks for the post Ernest.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Garberville?

I know nothing about Northern California. where is that?

I thought San Francisco was drug heaven!

[squibs]

That's what I meant. Sorry ,,, The costal marxists bunch.

[Spangler]

Eureka is called EuTWEEKa by some because of the subculture of methamphetamine criminals infesting that city. You would think they would want legitamate business bringing in new jobs to a job starved California North Coast area, but no, rational thinking is to be avoided at all cost least some suffering family breadwinners find some relief by securing a job to support their dependants.

However, to be fair, if this was happening in Arcada just to the north of this small city they would likely have a much bigger outcry then we see here in this article. A neutron bomb set off above the town square there in the height of summer in Arcada would deprive the state of California of a sizable number of anarchist and neo-hippie kids who wander the country in a loose circuit of cities somewhat tolerant of their antics and mooching.

So in my mind, as I have watched the 'Food not Bombs' collective feed these people in the shadow if the statue of the dead President there, I have often pondered the question that name brings to mind: Food or bombs, bombs or food, what a choice to make. Do we feed, or bomb them for free? Gosh, what a hard decision to make. (Disclaimer for those too serious and literal about some things; I am using humor here and not seriously implying any bombs should be used in Arcada, relax.)

[tubebender]

I know nothing about Northern California. where is that?>

Garberville is 60 miles south of Eureka in a remote area with ample water and climate to grow some of the most potent cannibis in the world. C.A.M.P has made them run for cover so most of it is grown indoors under ideal conditions powered by huge generators to power the grow lites and pumps. They can grow 3 or 4 crops a year with up to 10,000 plants per grow. This EPIC group is the white version of Jess Jackson using the court for their pimps to bleed money from anybody in their sight.

[tubebender]

You are sure right about Arcata and the Meth culture pervasive here on the north coast. There was even a rumor that a chemical from a meth lab killed the salmon on the Klamath.

Eureka has been very ProBusiness over the years and may still be so dispite the newly elected mayor that is a director of the biggest nonprofit (read tax money vacuum)in the north state, That would be the RCAA.. I won't mention our new District Attorney and his agenda.

[Spangler]

I often go to the Arcada Eye to read the amusing tongue in cheek police log there. I notice this week they have interesting pictures that says it all about Arcada culture. The Eureka Time Standard Is also a good check in for the North coast too to give local newspapers some equal time.

I found these originally on the North Coast megasite; The Humbolt County Guide (HumGuide) that I also use to stay informed on that part of Cali.

[ArmstedFragg]

Re: not seriously implying any bombs should be used in Arcada..

You couldn't anyway, the City of Arcata Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Commission would have to approve first.

(Yes, there truly is such an agency)