Seal Beach council continues appeal on Hellman Ranch solar project after hours of testimony

The Seal Beach City Council on Dec. 8 agreed to continue an appeal hearing over a proposed 1.5‑megawatt ground‑mounted solar array at the Hellman Ranch oil site, voting to reopen the public hearing and resume deliberations on Feb. 9, 2026.

The project, proposed by Hellman Properties to supply most of the operator’s own on‑site power, had been approved by the Planning Commission along with a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND). At the council meeting, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust and other speakers urged the council to require a full environmental impact report (EIR), saying the site’s proximity to the Los Cerritos wetlands and nearby homes warrants a more exhaustive review.

“We fundamentally disagree. This is sensitive land. This land deserves a fuller review than the current process is allowing,” said Elizabeth Lam, executive director of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, representing appellants who filed the appeal. Attorney Douglas Karstens warned council that the MND does not resolve factual disputes over biology, glint and glare, and tribal impacts.

Hellman Properties’ representative, Devin Shan, said the project was designed to reduce the operator’s electrical footprint and to provide excess power to the grid when available. “The sole intent is just to reduce our footprint,” Shan said, adding that upgrades requested by Southern California Edison to interconnect the site — an estimated $250,000 — would be paid as part of the interconnection process.

City staff and the project’s environmental consultant said the MND includes mitigation measures intended to reduce impacts to a less‑than‑significant level: preconstruction surveys for endangered species and plants, seasonal limits on construction to avoid nesting periods, Native American monitoring during ground‑disturbing work, anti‑reflective coatings and a glare analysis, and a requirement to avoid construction within 30 feet of an on‑site water line. Consultant John Pearson said the team modeled glint and glare and found no significant glare to residences and only limited, short‑duration glare at a small number of public receptor points.

Despite the technical work, dozens of residents and scientists pressed the council for an EIR. Speakers cited endangered birds, the recovery work underway at the Los Cerritos wetlands, potential changes to hydrology and runoff, and concerns about visibility and property effects for adjacent neighborhoods such as Heron Point.

City Attorney Garelli reminded council of the CEQA standard: the council must find substantial evidence of probable significant environmental impacts to require an EIR. Councilmembers debated weighing the additional time and cost of an EIR — staff estimated an EIR could add roughly a year and cost several hundred thousand dollars — against the public’s request for more analysis and alternatives.

After discussion, the council voted to reopen the public hearing and continue the item to Feb. 9, 2026, to allow resident groups and the applicant to submit additional evidence and to provide more outreach time. The continuance motion passed 4‑1.

The hearing will resume on Feb. 9 with an opportunity for new written and oral comments. If the council ultimately adopts the MND and approves the minor use permit, the project would still be subject to Coastal Commission review for a Coastal Development Permit.