Developers and environmentalists at odds over a plan to transform Montebello's last stretch of undeveloped highlands into a $500-million housing project have found common ground in at least one area: the instability at Montebello City Hall.
At stake is the future of 488 acres of rugged open space in the Eastside suburb. Today, the land is an active oil field and refuge for the largest population of threatened California gnatcatchers in Los Angeles County.
But political turmoil at City Hall has complicated matters for both camps as they strive to strike a balance between stoking the local economy and protecting open space that features a rare swath of coastal sage scrub habitat.
Two Montebello City Council members -- both of whom favor the development -- are the targets of a bitter recall campaign related to a legal dispute over trash hauling rights. The other three council members are up for reelection in November. In addition, conflict of interest issues involving the housing project have arisen with several other key city officials.
"Until there is political stability in Montebello," said Byron de Arakal, a spokesman for the developer, Cook Hill Properties of Newport Beach, "they will have a difficult time moving forward and improving their city."
Linda Strong of the Sierra Club's Save the Montebello Hills Task Force agreed. "Montebello is a political mess," she said. "We're very concerned with the process as the city deals with the environmental impact report on this project."
The project has been under discussion by the city for four years. As the environmental impact report nears completion, it is unclear who will be in office to approve or reject it, with all five council members' seats in question.
The development plan calls for adding housing for 4,000 in a city struggling with aging sewers and roads, a stagnant economy and a dearth of parkland for its 62,000 residents.
It also calls for shaving nearly 100 feet off the top of a 540-foot hill and filling in land to create plateaus on which to build a 166-acre neighborhood with panoramic views of the San Gabriel Valley. Housing would range from 900-square-foot residences to 4,000-square-foot luxury homes.
The rest of the property would be used for public trails, oil production and a doughnut-shaped gnatcatcher habitat between the new homes and existing residences below. Once completed, the project would generate about $7 million in property tax revenue each year, according to a fiscal analysis paid for by the developer.
