I am outraged that Peter Douglas, who is in San Francisco, has the intent to proceed with the “restoration” of the lagoon project despite pending legal opposition and emergent community concern. Mr. Douglas’s comments quoted in the article published by The Malibu Times are disingenuous at best.
The fact remains that most residents of Malibu did not know about this project until a few weeks before the Coastal Commission’s hearing. While proponents claim the project has been in planning stages for anywhere from six to 20 years, the general public and most stakeholders knew nothing about this. It seems clear that the intent was to keep this project hush-hush. Furthermore, the money was apparently earmarked for this project in the staggering amount of anywhere between $7 and $30 million (different budgets are posted on different sites). This allocation of our financial resources comes at the inopportune time when our state parks are suffering and closure was threatened just one year ago.
Those of us who know and cherish the Malibu Lagoon are vehemently opposed to the bulldozing of these precious wetlands, draining the lagoon and removing the bridge. If this project goes forward it will cause irreparable harm to the natural habitat and could adversely affect the sand flow at Surfrider Beach, recently named the world’s first surfing reserve.
Additionally, during the first phase of this project, the parking facilities at Cross Creek provided access to the area and were perfectly adequate, until they were bulldozed. A decision was also made to remove the asphalt, trees, grass and kiosks for a much poorer replacement. At a cost of millions of dollars, these replacements are not only uncomfortable, they are very impractical and take away from the enjoyment of the space. The “restoration” project will be yet another example of poor decision making in a line of decisions that are hindering and not helpful. This is not a very smart way to spend public money.
It seems illogical and contrary to common sense that our city would construct beautiful Legacy Park to recreate the preservation of wetlands, meadows and riparian waters only for the state to desecrate the natural lagoon that has existed just across the Pacific Coast Highway. However, Malibu has relinquished control of that lagoon to the state whose intent is to go forward, despite the best interests of the community and the environmental sensitive habitat. Beyond the obvious environmental scars that this project would inflict, the resulting project will limit access to beach-goers and bird watchers who spend time here with their families. There needs to be a less invasive alternative, one that does not threaten the wildlife and access at that particular location beyond repair.
I urge all Malibu residents to fight in opposition to this project as the consequences could be extremely adverse. Mr. Douglas is clearly out of touch and does not seem to care about the residents of Malibu or think this project will have any ill effects, a position I find devoid of intellect and hard to believe. Mr. Douglas states, “It is unfortunate that a good project like this is being attacked and causing public resources in my view to be wasted.” In the view of those of us who live here and enjoy the lagoon, spending $7 – $30 million to desecrate that natural site is indeed wasting public resources. I challenge Mr. Douglas to face the opposition and answer the hard questions as to how this will actually benefit the lagoon, wetlands and its wildlife, rather than trying to sneak this one past the good citizens of Malibu.