As a slow-growth pragmatist, I watched the special City Council meeting on Saturday (re-televised this week on Channel 3 at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) with cautious optimism. I know we are far from there yet, but our City Council members and the Malibu Bay Company seem to have made amazing progress toward what in the past has seemed like an impossible boulder-littered highway toward the approval of the Malibu Bay Company Development Agreement.
I’m speaking of their strategic and rapid move toward a “Plan B” adding as part of the Malibu Bay Company Development agreement, the purchase/acquisition of the Chili Cook-Off property (instead of the “Plan A” that guaranteed development rights on the Chili Cook-Off property in 10 years.)
Coming to a successful negotiated development agreement that will allow the City to buy the Chili Cook-Off property, getting the grant money to do it, and then doing it, establishing a water-treatment facility that will treat the dangerous pollution in our lagoon, and create a beautiful waterway municipal park will be nothing less than the greatest win-win-win Land Use and Water Quality triumph of our short history.
Murphy’s law notwithstanding, the plan is not yet finalized, but I for one would like to give credit where credit is due-to our council and staff, a fine team of public servants, and to the Malibu Bay Company for its willingness to sit at the negotiating table in an attempt to balance the needs of a community that wants slow-growth, limited commercial development, and community amenities.
I hope that all parties involved will continue along this road in a spirit of real cooperation and that the community will be supportive of their efforts.
Mona Loo,
Member, Park Bond Measure
Citizen’s Advisory Committee