Two Corral Fire suspects to stand trial
Two young men were ordered Jan. 15 to stand trial on charges of causing the November 2007 Corral Canyon fire.
A Van Nuys Superior Court judge found sufficient evidence to require Brian Alan Anderson, 23, and William Thomas Coppock, 24, to proceed to trial. Both are charged with one count of recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury and recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure.
The criminal complaint includes the allegation that the crimes were committed “during and within an area of a state of emergency,” which, if the suspects are found guilty, could mandate a state prison sentence. The fire destroyed 53 homes and injured six firefighters.
Anderson and Coppock, who are free on their own recognizance, are due back in court Jan. 29 for arraignment.
Eric Matthew Ullman, 19, and Dean Allen Lavorante, 20, are due back in court Feb. 26, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for them to stand trial on similar charges.
The fifth suspect, Brian David Franks, 28, pleaded no contest last Oct. 1 to a felony charge of recklessly causing a fire, and is awaiting sentencing Jan. 26. He faces up to five years probation and 300 hours of community service.
Authorities allege that the men went to a cave and notorious party spot on state park land overlooking Malibu to drink beer and light a campfire when the area was under a red flag warning because of high winds and low humidity.
Planning to hear medical pot dispensary application
A request to permit the operation of a medical marijuana dispensary in an existing building located at 22605 Pacific Coast Highway, near Pacific Coast Greens, will be heard at a Planning Commission meeting on Feb. 3. The request was on the agenda for last Tuesday’s meeting, but the meeting was adjourned due to lack of a quorum.
Planning Commission staff recommends approving the permit applied for in September 2008 by Stanley Zahn, owner of PCH Collective. The dispensary would inhabit approximately 660 square feet and consist of a waiting room, reception room, one restroom, medicine room and an office.
The City Environmental Health Administrator has reviewed the proposal and determined that no renovation of the existing onsite wastewater treatment system is required.
Merchandise would include medical marijuana dried plant, edible and concentrate forms, and pipes, water pipes, rolling papers and vaporizers.
There would be two employees onsite per shift, one of which is a security guard.
The City Council passed and adopted an ordinance in August 2008 limiting the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Malibu to two, and requiring conditional use permits. A number of regulations were approved for the dispensaries, including buffers from schools and requirements for security. PCH Collective and Green Angel were two dispensaries operating in Malibu at the time of the ordinance’s passage.
The Feb. 3 meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 23815 Stuart Ranch Rd.
Carbon Beach condos under foreclosure
Eight apartments located at 22065 Pacific Coast Highway, just northwest of Malibu Fire Station 70 and which are still in phases of construction, have been foreclosed upon for an estimated $15.4 million.
The owner, Carbon Beach Partners, LLC, will sell the apartments at a public auction to the highest bidder on Feb. 4 at the front entrance to the Pomona Superior Courts Building, 350 West Mission Blvd., at 11:30 a.m.
SMMUSD Financial Oversight Committee accepting applications
There is currently one vacancy on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Financial Oversight Committee. The school district is seeking a qualified candidate who will bring a depth of business and/or financial expertise to the committee. Application forms are available through the Superintendent’s Office or online at www.smmusd.org/fiscal/application.pdf.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 6, with the appointment scheduled to be made at the Feb. 19 Board of Education meeting at the Santa Monica City Council Chambers. More information can be obtained by calling 310.450.8338.
Local coalition stops proposed LNG project
Led by Santa Monica Baykeeper, a local coalition of community organizations, elected officials and citizens forced Woodside Natural Gas Inc. to stop pursuing a proposed liquefied natural gas project, according to a press release by Baykeeper.
Woodside announced Jan. 15 that the company has suspended work on its proposed offshore LNG project that would have imported LNG on massive tankers across the Pacific Ocean to a location 27 miles off the coast of LAX.
Congressman Jane Harman said the Woodside LNG project “posed serious environmental problems and made LAX a bigger security risk.”
“The project posed unnecessary risks to communities, to the environment and to Californians,” said Diane Moss, a leading coalition member. “This is a victory for sustainable, renewable energy options. Now we can focus on investing in a greener future that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels.”
PCH extended lane closure scheduled
Caltrans will close one northbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway between Cross Creek Road and Serra Road, daily, starting Jan. 21 to Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Malibu employees honored for rescue efforts
Mike Dwyer and Jason Sandoval, employees of Malibu toy company JAKKS Pacific, were honored Jan. 14 by the Los Angeles County Supervisors and the Malibu City Council for aiding in the rescue of two pilots whose private plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean last October. The awards were presented by Zev Yaroslavsky, Supervisor 3rd District, in conjunction with other Supervisors and Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich.
The single engine plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Santa Monica airport into the Pacific Ocean off the Malibu coast. The two passengers were pulled ashore by Dwyer and Sandoval, who had witnessed the crash from their offices and swam out to the sinking plane. One of the two victims, Griffith Lisle Hoerner, died of injuries sustained in the plane crash.
-Olivia Damavandi