After many conversations with opponents and proponents of Measure M, I have learned one very important thing: there is a much smaller gap between these two groups than most people realize. Hence, for the past two weeks I quietly searched for a way to close this gap and end the tension between voters who otherwise view each other as friends and neighbors. The required changes in the current development agreement were relatively minor and logical but with so little time remaining, this effort has fallen. This is why I must voice my reservation about accepting Measure M as what is best for Malibu.
As a planning commissioner and current chairman, I have lived with this issue for the past year. I have read and analyzed every page of every document, talked to experts around the state in and out of government, and have heard from countless numbers of Malibu citizens on all sides of this matter.
There are three core arguments being used to influence voter outcome. The first one is that if Measure M fails, there will be more development because the zoning codes allow it. This is simply not true. The code does not require maximum build-out or granting discretionary relief (variances). In the absence of relief, along with meeting all mitigation requirements stated in the EIR, much of the land on each parcel would remain open. This is substantiated by the fact that the current agreement requires 57 variance requests to achieve Malibu Bay Company’s development goals.
The second argument is that if Measure M fails, we will get two shopping centers (Point Dume and Chili Cook-Off). If it passes, we will have one shopping center and one community center. This is not correct. The EIR showed great difficulty in building even a small community center and two baseball fields at Point Dume. The required mitigation is almost prohibitive and so building a shopping center at that site would be highly improbable.
The third argument is that the wastewater treatment facility is nothing more than a central sewer system and is not necessary. This, too, is incorrect. Malibu must have this type of system if it intends to honor its commitment to manage civic center growth and to clean up the lagoon. I applaud the offer to sell Chili and to use a portion of the land for this purpose.
Mr. Perenchio and all Malibu citizens deserve to have the agreement finished and brought back for acceptance. This does not mean starting over. It means completing the negotiations on a level playing field, fixing some minor things and presenting the voters with a real and valued choice. Malibu’s future look and feel is worth it.
Robert Adler