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City adopts parks and recreation master plan update; Edison Park debate to continue
Summary
Council approved the parks and recreation master plan update after discussion and a 6-1 vote on a motion to adopt; several residents and a councilmember pushed to delay the Edison Park portion so an alternative neighborhood plan could be fully evaluated, but staff said the EIR/SEQ process will still allow community input and that final project approvals come later.
The Huntington Beach City Council approved an updated Parks and Recreation Master Plan after debate about Edison Community Park, where neighbors oppose a conceptual plan that includes relocation of pickleball courts.
Councilmember Chad (speaker identified during debate) moved to continue the Edison Park portion to allow neighborhood proponents to present an alternative plan; no second was offered for that motion. The council then moved to adopt the full master plan as recommended. The motion to adopt passed on a 6-1 tally with Councilman Williams recorded as opposed.
Staff and the city's environmental consultant said the SEQ/CEQA process that has been initiated can be configured to analyze reasonable alternatives, and that adoption of the master plan is a non-binding strategic document that does not commit capital funds or lock the city into a final design. "Approval of the update tonight does not lock us into anything in that document," staff said, adding the Edison Park master plan will be brought back separately for project-level approval and any grants or 30% design work would follow that later step.
Public commenters and petitioners asked the council to pause administrative momentum tied to the RJM conceptual plan; petitioners said they gathered roughly 506 signatures for an alternative "Southeast Plan option 3." Supporters of the current RJM concept said the community has been consulted for years and the project is the product of multiple commissions and technical reviews.
What this means: Adoption of the master plan sets the city's parks priorities and gives staff a framework for future project work, but the Edison Park design and any project-level commitments (including grant applications tied to 30% designs) will return to council for votes. Council members emphasized continued public engagement before final design or funding decisions.
Outcome: Parks and recreation master plan update adopted; Edison Park will be considered in subsequent project-level hearings where residents may present alternatives.
