We all need to wake up before it’s too late. City hall seems intent on urbanizing Malibu despite residents success at cityhood in 1990 to stop the county from doing exactly that.
Consider that in 1998, the city approved a 146-room hotel to be built at Malibu Canyon Road and PCH. Consider the subdivisions built near the corners of Kanan and PCH in the past few years. Now consider the potential upcoming approval of approximately 50,000 square feet of new retail space with 21 stores proposed on either side of ESHA-declared Trancas Creek. (Oh, and by the way, no worries, a variance may be granted to avoid that pesky 100-foot required setback from the creek. Too bad wildlife, you’re not welcome in Malibu any longer!) To boot, this development is proposed for the part of Malibu that the city has zoned as rural. Now consider some extracts from the city’s general plan.
City Web site: Malibu is a unique land and marine environment and residential community whose citizens have historically evidenced a commitment to sacrifice urban and suburban conveniences in order to protect that environment and lifestyle, and to preserve unaltered natural resources and rural characteristics. The people of Malibu are a responsible custodian of the natural resources for present and future generations. Malibu will maintain its rural character by establishing programs and policies that avoid suburbanization and commercialization of its natural and cultural resources.
Where is the city proposing the thousands of new car trips per day (and trucks to supply the 21 stores and serve a 146 room hotel) will fit on our already gridlocked Pacific Coast Highway? Whereas, another lane cannot be built in each direction to accommodate these developments they are the definition of unsustainable. Adding to the existing gridlock, thus producing more green house gases, pollution, ozone and noise is too unsustainable thus not allowed by the city’s own mission statement.
How are these projects consistent with city halls goal of avoiding suburbanization and commercialization? How are these projects looking out for the interests of several generations from now? The last 10 years have seen unprecedented urbanization in Malibu. Can you imagine several generations from now? I think the city needs a field trip to coastal towns in Northern California to learn how other cities have remained true to their missions to protect their rural environment for present and future generations.
Tom Molloy