By Jacob Wilson/Garden Grove Journal
In Westminster, Bolsa Chica Road is too dangerous and too noisy.
So say the residents of nearby Anawood Way, which runs parallel to Bolsa Chica on its east side. They can’t do much about the danger, which they blame on high-speed traffic, especially late at night.
Instead they want to do something about the noise, which is produced by the traffic, a variety of ongoing construction projects and even attempts by the California Highway Patrol to slow down late-night drivers.
“We want to build a wall,” 54-year resident Ralph Maes told the Westminster City Council on July 25. “We need to get something done.”
Residents want to build an eight-foot high sound wall on the small strip of land that buffers Bolsa Chica and Anawood. Maes said he has gathered 25 signatures from residents willing to pitch in money for a wall. The problem is the land is city owned.
Some residents have asked about buying the land, especially those whose property borders the land. Purchasing the land would give residents the right to build a wall as well as increase their backyards.
“But the selling price is exorbitant,” said Jeff Billen.
Selling the land, Billen said, would be a big win for the city, but a huge loss for residents who would have to pay for the land, pay for the wall and see an increase in in property taxes.
Maes and Billen both called for the city to donate the land to the residents on the condition that the latter build and maintain the wall as well as the land.
Billen called it a win-win situation: the residents would get their wall; the city wouldn’t have to pay for it or maintain it; and the city would get rid of an eyesore.
Currently the land is covered with overgrown weeds and trash, Billen said.
Mayor Margie Rice was surprised to learn that the land was still owned by the city.
“I thought we sold off all those little strips of land,” she said.
The mayor directed interim City Manager Eddie Manfro to look into the issue.
