Complaints that the view of ponds from a sewage treatment facility in the Trancas area are unsightly and violate water codes prompts the local homeowners association to make amends with fences and trees.
By Kevin J. Previtali/Special to The Malibu Times
To fence or not to fence? That is the question being asked of residents in the Malibu West and surrounding neighborhood.
The fence, a proposed 18-foot tennis court-style design, would be added to the refurbishing design of the out-dated Trancas Water Pollution Control Plant, which is in the planning process of being retrofitted.
The initial plans to upgrade the 23-year-old sewer treatment plant, which serves approximately 237 homes, began five years ago and has been marred with one legal delay after another during that time.
The facility was originally built in 1963 and was turned over to Los Angeles County in 1971. At that time, there were plans in to build a regional facility, which never came to pass.
In 1995, the state mandated the county to upgrade the facility in order to meet safety updates and clean water regulations.
“We need our plant retrofitted,” said Dermot Stokes, president of the Malibu West Homeowners Association.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works submitted a draft negative declaration and initial study to analyze the environmental impact of the project in July 2002, stating that the project would not have a negative affect on the environment.
Homeowner Hans Laetz, who has lived just outside the Malibu West community for the past six years, cited there were errors with the report and asked that the study be rejected and a new one undertaken.
In a recent interview, Laetz said the view from his home would be detrimentally affected by the upgrade, which he claims is a violation of the State of California’s Environmental Water Quality Control Act.
Laetz claims the plan to build a pair of sewage ponds will impede the scenic view from his living room. To counter the problem, he has requested a fence between 18 feet and 30 feet high be built around the proposed pond perimeter.
“According to the California water code, they cannot build a sewage plant if it causes an offensive view,” Laetz said. “We don’t want to look inside it, and they can’t replace the open field.”
Stokes said he and the Malibu West Homeowner directors have agreed to have a fence built. The directors approved the amendment to the plans as a way to mend the disagreements between the community neighbors.
“It has cost us a lot of money,” Stokes said. “It is important the plant be retrofitted.”
Besides the addition of the perimeter fencing, trees and other landscaping will be lined around the pond area. Even though he likes the idea of the trees, Laetz said it isn’t going to solve the problem.
“Trees take at least 10 years to grow, and there is no guarantee all of them will live after being planted. What will happen then?” Laetz said. “That is why I suggest they put the fence behind the trees.”
Even though there is a mutual agreement for adding a fence, Laetz has remained on the offensive and filed a document July 22 to reject the current plans and force an environmental impact report, which could take years to complete.
In the meantime, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works is on the fast track to complete the state-mandated project.
“We are looking to accommodate the concerns of the residents in the area,” said Public Works spokesman Ken Pellman. “We are trying to get things finished without much delay.”
As for the proposed fence, Pellman said, “The thing about the fence is it will be difficult to get it in anytime soon, via the permit. The permit we want and need is not being issued right now.”
Currently, there is a tussle between the county and the California Coastal Commission on which entity has the right to issue a permit to build a fence on the land.
“Right now, the key is trying to make as many people as possible happy,” Pellman said. “We are trying to find the best solution to get things done.”
Other mitigation included in the refurbishing plans includes roofing to cover equipment and additional landscaping to help improve the appearance of the facility.