I have lived in Malibu for more than 30 years. The reason I moved to this special place was the ocean. Over the years, as more residences were built, more and more foliage was brought in to landscape the houses. As a result, the foliage grew 365 days a year and, lo and behold, my glorious ocean view disappeared.
I brought this issue to Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Barovsky at a City Council meeting in the spring of 2008. She had the forethought to suggest the City Council organize a View Protection Task Force to address Measure E. On June 23, 2008, the City Council created this terrific View Protection Task Force. The City Council put their collective minds together and created a power packed, highly motivated group of volunteer individuals from all over Malibu to address the issue of people having their primary views removed due to a foliage issue on their neighbors’ property.
What were we to do? Well, the committee, with the help of a City hired consultant, spent countless hours going over numerous ordinances from up and down the entire coast to draft a tailor made Draft View Restoration and Preservation Ordinance for the all the citizens of Malibu.
To say this is a wonderful piece of legislation is an understatement. On Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m., at the City Council meeting, our work is going to be reviewed by the members of the City Council. We need all of you to come to that meeting and tell the council members your horror stories of “Once upon a time I had a view.” They need to hear from all corners of Malibu. Without a view, your property values goes down.
In addition, Malibu needs to do lots more to eliminate fire danger, clearing the right of way, working with the fire department to make fire breaks around neighborhoods and lots more. Safety should be our first concern. We need to be a model for the rest of the state.
I am looking forward to seeing many Malibu citizens voicing their concern to the City Council.
Marilynn Santman