The issue of “neighborhood character”—development and building limitations designed to maintain some uniformity throughout neighborhoods in Malibu—has drawn a divisive line down the middle of the community.
Some in Malibu see the issue as a standard pro- versus anti-development argument, with proponents of increased regulations standing against mansionization and the destruction of the small-town feel that many say makes Malibu what it is.
“A primary concern of those who supported cityhood was control over development,” Lucile Keller of the Malibu Township Council said. “If this city isn’t careful, we will wind up with huge homes, most of which are not used on a regular basis, with many bedrooms and bathrooms being rented out individually for short term, which creates health, sewage and parking/traffic safety problems. Those are undesirable to pop up in a residential area.”
Others see the issue as more nuanced—will limiting the size of single-family property development tank Malibu’s property values? Will the addition of stricter development regulations harm Malibu’s oldest residents? Many say yes, including former mayor Andy Stern who described the proposal as the “biggest heist in the history of Malibu.”
The city attempted to tackle the issue head-on this week with a joint hearing of the Malibu City Council and Malibu Planning Commission, though consensus was not easy to come by.
Mayor Pro Tem Rick Mullen brought up the fact that his wife, a 50-year Malibu resident, enjoys living in the small house she grew up in and believes “smaller is beautiful and bigger is not always better.”
“My mission is to follow the mission statement of the City of Malibu,” Mullen said. “It’s not to ensure everyone gets an adequate—you know—a maximized return on investment.”
Mayor Peak seemed to disagree on that point.
“I want to say I apologize for creating any uncertainty for people,” Peak said. “I do believe it’s in the city’s best interest to ensure people’s property values.”
Some suggestions included making neighborhood-specific regulations, though there are varying opinions on how neighborhoods are defined. Key issues addressed in the two-hour discussion included creating “objectivity” and “clarity” for property owners, though at the end of the hearing it was not decided precisely how those goals would be met.
Another factor for both planning commissioners, council members and many members of the Malibu public who came to speak at the hearing was that of “grandfathering in” projects already in the permitting process.
“I don’t want the rules changed on me in the middle,” Richard Holmes, a Malibu property owner, told the assembled representatives Monday. Holmes said he had done a lot of research into what the rules were for building and was just beginning the permitting process to construct his home—and assured council he was not alone. “I’m looking for assurances from the council and the planning commission that at least you will keep the rules in their current form for some reasonable amount of time to allow people who invested their time and money to not be hurt by a change.”
When directing city staff to draw up “options” for various potential regulations, Peak specified those already in the process would fall under the rules “already on the books,” after specific requests from Council Members Laura Rosenthal and Lou La Monte.
La Monte and Rosenthal did not vote in favor of the directive; the vote fell 3-2 with Mullen, Peak and Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner in favor.
The options will be reviewed at an upcoming city council meeting.
Council actions:
- Voted unanimously to repeal Measure R–final repeal scheduled for Nov. 27.
- Unanimously approved rejection of bids for Legacy Park rehabilitation project, following death of landscape due to high salt content of soil. New bid process will include input from longtime contractor Hodgetts and Fung.
- Discussed exploring the construction of a Cultural Arts Center and directed staff to bring back a report on the feasibility of constructing it on city property behind City Hall.
- Directed staff to include the promotion of public utility undergrounding as part of the annual budget.
- Indicated willingness to continue negotiating school district separation with Santa Monica, agreed unanimously to send letter to school board meeting Thursday.