A majority of the California Coastal Commission (CCC) voted Sept. 13 to override most of the recommendations made by the City of Malibu and most Malibu citizen testimony regarding Malibu’s Land Use Plan and Local Ordinances. They then adopted an LCP with expensive and sometimes unconstitutional land use regulations, many of which have never been imposed on any city in California. Never before has the Coastal Commission dictated all the local laws for a city to enforce. Malibu represents the first time in state history this has been done.
What Can We Do? State law allows us to have a city referendum to determine democratically whether we want to reject or accept this plan. To do this we have until Oct. 11 to submit a petition signed by approximately 1,000 current, registered City of Malibu voters in order to exercise our legal referendum right. The resulting Referendum for Democracy could be certified for a vote in December.
In the interim, city enforcement of the LCP would be suspended with responsibilities, costs and liabilities rightly returned to the CCC. And Malibu’s prior zoning and land use regulations would remain in place. Meanwhile until December, Malibu voters can debate the many LCP measures in preparation for their vote. This referendum will begin to restore democratic rights promised to us in the Federal and State Constitutions, U.S. Coastal Zone Management Act and California Coastal Act.
How Did This Happen? Our city’s right to democratically debate, write and adopt our own LCP was wrongly given to the CCC. Key CCC commissioners and staff took advantage to dictate their personal wish list LCP version rather than a reasonable one with the city and its citizens. With no possibility of a city veto, many extreme unprecedented changes resulted in LCP definitions, policies, and regulations; these significantly change land use for almost every home, business and lot. Let Malibu voters decide whether the CCC LCP reflects misplaced personal agendas and retributions, or sound public policies.
Encourage the state politicians to react more effectively. State official responses to correct the LCP came “too little, too late” to have the CCC modify their unreasonable LCP. During the referendum debate, they should redouble and extend their efforts. The referendum should help motivate reasonable CCC commissioners to amend the LCP to make it acceptable to Malibu residents and other communities who face similar circumstances in the state. It should also help extend the debate statewide over dangerous new LCP precedents that the CCC and others seek to apply all over California.
Be an active citizen. Malibu exists today with its many beautiful, unpolluted beaches and waters along with gardens, farms, nurseries, horse facilities, trails and homes because we care a lot about our environment. And we will learn how to be better stewards of our city as our population grows. We do not deserve state political appointees forcing us into doing their will.
Read the LCP for yourself. Evaluate the CCC hearings on local television. Register to vote and sign the referendum petition to “Let Malibu Decide.” Call 457-2483 to help with gathering signatures and funding.
Chris Barela, Champion Surfer and Safe Beach Advocate
Robert Bradbury, Equestrian and Rancher
Jeff Harris, Malibu Physician and Clean Water Advocate
Anne Hoffman, Director, Recreation & Land Use Preservation Foundation
Paul Majors, Professional Landscaper and Gardener
Georgiana McBurney, Constitutional Advocate
Norm Patino, Nurseryman and Gardener
Anthony Schaffer, Fireman
Dennis Seider, Maritime Attorney