Many of us in Malibu West are angered and alarmed by the development deal sponsored by our City Council, this time at Trancas field. A promise of “open space” is being offered by the developer in exchange for changes in the zoning creating a gross disregard for Malibu’s General Plan. In addition, this deal was approved behind closed doors without an Environmental Impact Report or any public input from the surrounding neighborhoods. Specifically, the developer gets to build 32 large condos (over 3,000-plus square feet per unit) instead of up to just seven homes currently permitted by the current zoning. The remaining 26 acres has been much publicized as the possible site of new ball fields, although there are major environmental and slope issues that make this far from guaranteed. There are many problems with this, not the least of which is why this City Council chooses to avoid comment from its fellow citizens. The previous development deal negotiated by the current City Council would have led to massive over-development in the Civic Center area as well as Trancas (remember Prop. M?). Though we may need more ball fields, ignoring our General Plan and allowing greater density of development is not the way to get them. A politically mature city government enlists the support of its people to acquire what is needed rather than rely on the generosity of developers to solve its problems.
Steve Rucker