Talks between city officials and Coastal Commission staff appear to be fruitless. Meanwhile, City Council discusses options for ball fields, and releases traffic study.
The volatile issue of the Local Coastal Plan for Malibu is still at the forefront in the minds of many residents and city officials as witnessed at the City Council meeting Monday night.
However, it appears talks with the California Coastal Commission and its staff, which drafted the plan for Malibu, have made no significant changes.
“The staff of the Coastal Commission submitted a draft land use map that makes several changes in our land use designations,” said City Attorney Christi Hogin. “We had objected to those changes in January, but the Coastal Commission nonetheless submitted it to the city and we later (again) raised the issue with [CCC Chairman] Peter Douglas and his staff.”
“So nothing’s happened,” Hogin added. “But this is ultimately a decision that’s going to be made by the Coastal Commission and its staff.”
Search for ball fields intensifies
“Right now the only fields that would be available are at the school locations,” said City Manager Katie Lichtig, indicating the city has joint agreements with some schools to use their sports fields.
However, the outlook seems unfavorable and those using the fields have until May 2003 to find elsewhere to play.
“The options are not very positive right now,” Lichtig added. “The City Council authorized the purchase of property (near) Trancas Canyon in which there will be public workshops held by the parks and recreation department committee where the possibility of adding some practice fields will be discussed.” (See story, Residents go to bat, page A1.)
The process won’t go unnoticed, though, as postcards will be sent to all Malibu residents, outlining meeting and public hearings. City officials look forward to working closely with representatives from the state parks department and governor’s office.
City given grant for Charmlee Park, Malibu Lagoon State Beach to be expanded
Earlier in the council meeting, in a special presentation, California State Parks and Recreation Sector Superintendent Hayden Sohm handed the city a grant check for $65,000 for Charmlee Wilderness Park. The money will be used for maintenance work on the trails in the park.
Sohm also had more good news to deliver during Monday’s meeting. He announced that plans were in the works to consolidate beach land that the city has acquired since 1970 into a state beach through an amendment.
The redesign would become Malibu State Beach.
“We’re in the process of amending the plan for Malibu State Beach,” Sohm said. “We’ll be changing the boundaries of Malibu Lagoon State Beach.”
The beach would incorporate the Malibu pier, the area across from Adamson House, Malibu Lagoon and Malibu Bluffs into the merged state beach area. However, he noted that the process would take some time because of recent area developments, but meetings about the project should begin in the spring.
“This is a participatory process,” Sohm added. “The public will be given a responsibility to comment on any of the proposals. There won’t be any surprises in this document (the amendment).”
However, a report detailing possible environmental, traffic and other impacts by the amendments was released by the state this week. The reports also indicated that the amendments could affect other agencies’ policies regarding land use in Malibu.
Traffic study released
After months of research, the results from the Z Traffic Study were finally unveiled. The $20,000 study compiled data from various transportation agencies, including Caltrans, and examined the road congestion that has plagued Malibu Canyon Road, Topanga Canyon and Kanan Road in relation to Pacific Coast Highway and Freeway 101.
Based on the findings, most cross canyon traffic problems evolve from residents and others on their way to and from work, with severe problems arising because of accidents and increased attraction to local beaches during the summer months. The study was guided by the Council of Governments, which represents areas that are affected by traffic problems the most-the cities of Malibu, Hidden Hills, Agoura and Calabasas.
However, another presentation on the matter will most likely come within the next 40 days, according to Public Works Director Charles Bergson.
The council also addressed the steps already taken in repairing landslides on Corral Canyon Road, which usually hamper the road because of spring rainstorms, forcing necessary closures.
So far $650,000 has been spent on repairs with an additional $50-$100,000 still needed for final settling costs.
At the same time, work on a redesign for Cross Creek Road is approaching, with the council ordering $50,000 for a hydrology study to examine potential flooding on the road. The initial redesign is budgeted for $800,000 but reportedly will not cause traffic problems.