Some residents say that Malibu’s demographics have changed from rural to high density, and that gated communities have contributed to “isolationism.”
by Lindsay Kuhn/Special to The Malibu Times
At the second workshop of the Malibu 2020 Vision Plan on Saturday at Malibu High School, Pacific Coast Highway and the changing demographics of Malibu were examined under a lens.
While Malibu’s pastoral and small-town feel were mentioned as some of the area’s most attractive features, its increased “density of development,” “isolationism” and “more affluent” population were noted as changes that have occurred in Malibu.
One attendee attributed the isolationism to the larger number of gated communities. Malibu’s affluence was a recurring issue. One resident noted that people in Malibu had become “richer, snootier.” Another resident pointed out that there was less “affordable housing” in Malibu than there used to be.
And the attendees had their views on the highway, too. Pacific Coast Highway was the most important issue to Carol Randall, a resident whose son-in-law was killed on the highway while hosing off a car in front of her house. A few people agreed that the highway should be more diligently patrolled, one citing cameras as a viable solution to that.
Malibu 2020 Vision was set up to collect broad input from the residents of Malibu and to devise a formal plan for the city’s future, based on this information. Such a plan was recently implemented in Venice Beach, Palos Verdes and the Port of Los Angeles. Malibu 2020 Vision is endorsed by the city, but remains independent.
2020 Vision team members Rich Davis and Margaret Shultz opened the meeting by explaining the purpose of the gathering.
“We’re holding these meetings so that ideas well up,” Davis said.
The group evaluated the attributes and issues of Malibu, and then prioritized them, with Keith Gurnee, a representative from RRM Design Group, the consulting firm hired to facilitate the Vision Plan, assisting the discussion.
The overwhelming responses to “What has changed in Malibu?” were “increased Z traffic” and “higher density of development.”
Davis mentioned that Vision 2020’s independence from politics and special interest groups sets it apart. “It’s independence gives it its authenticity,” he said. He also said the city’s General Plan was “cumbersome” and pointed out that it was developed for Malibu more than 10 years ago.