Edward Pinchiff Huntington Beach City Council

Sunset Beach

Huntington Beach City Council candidate Edward Pinchiff talked to Sunset Beach residents at the September meeting of the Sunset Beach Community Association.

Sunset Beach is a unique beachfront community established in 1905 and further developed as a result of the 1920 discovery of oil in the Huntington Beach Oil Field.  Sunset Beach was annexed by Huntington Beach in 2011.

Sunset Beach is a small tight-knit community that takes pride in its beauty, serenity and unique character.  Many residents were concerned about the annexation fearing that their community’s identity and concerns would be lost in the larger city of Huntington Beach.

“When Sunset Beach was annexed, the Huntington Beach City Council promised residents that Sunset Beach would retain its quaint and unique character.” said Edward Pinchiff.  “As your City Council member, I will make sure that Huntington Beach keeps that promise.”

Community concerns in Sunset Beach include parking, beach rules, the greenbelt, taxes, housing and business regulation, development and land use rules, lifeguard services, approval of the Local Coastal Program Amendment by the California Coastal Commission, and other issues.

Edward Pinchiff, Chairman of the Huntington Beach Planning Commission, has been working for years to protect the unique small town character of Sunset Beach.  He has served as the liaison to the Sunset Beach Area Committee, regularly reviews the monthly agendas and minutes of the local Sunset Beach Community Association, and monitors progress of the Local Coastal Program Amendment.  He has also been a frequent attendee of Sunset Beach community meetings and events.

“I understand your issues and concerns,” Mr. Pinchiff told Sunset Beach residents.  “Your concerns are my concerns.”

At the time of the annexation in 2011, Sunset Beach Community Association President Mike VanVoorhis commented “Change is scary, but life in Sunset Beach should stay pretty much as it’s been.”  Edward Pinchiff intends to make sure of that.

For example, in July of 2015, Huntington Beach was considering a full “high-density” re-zoning of the Don The Beachcomber and Peter’s Landing areas as part of updating the Huntington Beach General Plan.  Sunset Beach area residents opposed the re-zoning fearing it would change the quality of life and character of Sunset Beach.  At a joint City Council / Planning Commission meeting, Edward Pinchiff spoke against the re-zoning which was defeated.

Sunset Beach Post Office

Sunset Beach features one of the widest beaches in southern California.  Running parallel to the beach, from the north of town to the southern edge is the Green Belt, a bucolic 14 acre park on which residents walk their dogs and celebrate Mother’s Day with the historic Sunset Beach Art Festival, sponsored by Las Damas.  Southeast of Sunset Beach is Bolsa Chica State Beach.  To the east is the community of Huntington Harbour.

Sunset Beach does not have residential mail delivery.  Instead, residents pick up their mail at post office boxes in the centrally located post office or at private post office boxes located on 22nd Street.  Sunset Beach is served by the Sunset Beach Sanitary District and by the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Sunset Beach residents are civic minded and the town boasts three long term associations – the Sunset Beach Community Association (SBCA), the Sunset Beach Woman’s Club, and Las Damas, a woman’s philanthropic organization.

Annual events in Sunset Beach include the Art Festival, Pancake Breakfast, Disaster Preparedness, Rock Concert, Chili Cook-Off, Children’s Halloween Party, Firehouse Ball and “Yot” Parade.

In connection with the Sunset Beach annexation, the City of Huntington Beach and the County of Orange entered into a pre-annexation agreement on November 15, 2010 (see Sunset Beach Annexation Agreement).  The City of Huntington Beach has taken on responsibility for managing Sunset Beach despite delays in approval of the Local Coastal Program Amendment by the California Coastal Commission.