Shouts of “wrap it up” and “let’s get on with it” punctuated the tension that was already percolating at the Point Dume Community Association Annual General Membership Meeting on March 6 as Mayor Tom Hasse attempted to report on the city’s financial status.
The citizens had gathered at the Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School Auditorium to discuss a completely separate issue: the controversial mini-transit center to be built on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Zumirez Drive.
Last summer, members of the Point Dume community had approached the City Council to complain about the MTA 434 bus that frequently runs through Point Dume. The bus, they said, was polluting the neighborhood, driving dangerously fast and carried few riders.
In response, the council decided to write a proposal to replace the MTA bus with a shuttle service. The decision, council members reasoned, would also comply with a settlement agreement made with the California Coastal Commission in January 2000 requiring limited public access to all of Point Dume and its public beaches.
The transit center was simply designed to accommodate both riders of the MTA buses and future shuttle passengers.
“It was my idea that the shuttle bus would replace the MTA bus,” said Lori Kantor. “But I had no idea that would mean the construction of a transit center. The MTA bus currently runs around without a transit center. Why would we need one for the shuttle?”
Originally, the plan had included a bus bench with a rain shelter, 28 parking spaces, an information kiosk, a propane refueling station, a dividing wall and ample lighting.
The mayor explained, however, that the council had only submitted an application for a grant for the transit center. If the grant were approved, he said, the council would then consider all the conditions and hold another public meeting to hear constituent concerns before implementation.
“We were under a deadline,” said Hasse. “But that doesn’t mean that it’s a done deal. The City Council understands your frustration. We don’t sit down at City Hall and try to figure out ways to make you angry.”
Still, the homeowners were incensed that the very idea of a transit center in their neighborhood had come so far without first consulting residents of the Point Dume community.
Sam Hall Kaplan, who called the proposal “presumptuous,” blamed the plan on “poor planning and worse politics.”
Others complained that the center would destroy the neighborhood character and compromise its simple rustic quality.
“I don’t want lights in my backyard,” said Curt Baker, “and I don’t want the traffic. Not to mention a wall that would be a great place for graffiti.”
“What disturbs me the most is the parking,” said Jim Boyd. “The parking only makes sense if you’re trying to increase public access to the Point and it’s my guess that this was part of an overall design to ultimately bring tons of people over here from all over Malibu and West L.A. so that they could drive through our neighborhoods. It wouldn’t surprise me if we get the Spruce Goose and the Queen Mary soon.”
At the end of the evening, a motion was called by one of the residents. All present voted to halt the development of the Zumirez transit center.
“Does that mean we’re done with it?” the participants asked.
“I’m one of five council members and I can’t speak for my colleagues,” explained the mayor. “All I can do is to go back to the council next Monday [March 12] and report that 150 people were unanimously opposed to the transit center grants.”
Another meeting will be held on March 21 at the Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School to further discuss the transit center.