What have we learned from Measure M’s defeat? We were reminded that everyone wants to preserve open space in Malibu-we just don’t always agree on how to accomplish that. Every City Council since cityhood has encountered a huge dilemma-LA County zoned enough commercial land in Malibu to support a city with a projected population of 300,000. Previous councils have down-zoned much of this land to the greatest degree possible (including Jerry Perenchio’s golf course which was down-zoned from commercial to residential), but we still have over 100 acres of commercial land in the center of town.
With Measure M, the current Council attempted to remedy the problem by having the Bay Company abandon 180,000 square feet of development in the Civic Center in exchange for granting them an additional 13 high dollar value homes on the west end of Malibu. With frightening photos of skyscrapers and bulldozers, M opponents managed to convince voters that the Bay Company could be forced to relinquish even more land to the city. I don’t know what law books they were reading from, but I don’t think that will happen. What is certain is that our City Council made a sincere effort to preserve thirty five acres in the Civic Center for future generations. If M opponents mischaracterize the Council’s effort to eliminate development as an attempt to enable development, they are just launching campaign trial balloons for Malibu’s City Council race next April.
Anne Hoffman