I respectfully disagree with planning director Joyce Parker’s comments that Malibu’s Interim Zoning Code was a “hodgepodge of different codes and regulations,” from nearby cities and Los Angeles County (“City to hold public input sessions to revise zoning code,” Aug. 4). No, it was not. I was on the Natural Resources Committee and was Chair of the Wastewater Committee that assisted Dr. Peter Warshall in the City of Malibu Wastewater Management Study. When Malibu incorporated in 1991, it inherited the County Zoning Codes. It immediately put together a committee of Malibu residents (John Wall, Marty Cooper, Art London, et al.) to work on drafting an Interim Zoning Code that “fit” Malibu, e.g. the Neighborhood Standards section, Slope Density Formula. This committee worked on all facets of the Zoning Code: single family home criteria, commercial, etc. This committee had many meetings, took public comment, and their final recommendations were forwarded to the Council, who had multiple hearings on the recommendations, before adopting the final version of the IZO.
I do agree with Ms. Parker on the Sign Ordinance, which City Manager Dave Carmany brought to Malibu from Agoura Hills. A Sign Ordinance is highly technical and extremely detailed, so it was amended to comply with the wishes of Malibu residents, as reflected in the recommendations of the IZO committee.
I am quite concerned that, once again, outside forces are trying to “streamline” the Zoning Code. Since 2000, there has been a continuous effort to dilute the “intent” of certain sections of the Zoning Code, plus a complete refusal to implement certain sections of the code, e.g. Neighborhood Standards, as well as try to make almost all development applications an “administrative review” process, with no public notice or surrounding neighbor input. Consequently, I object to the city seeking comments from stakeholders other than Malibu residents. The first hour after the Zoraces meeting is for permit expediters, planners, attorneys and project managers? What business do they have giving input on Malibu’s Zoning Code? And, the next hour is for architects, developers and trades people? I beg your pardon, but something is seriously wrong with this whole picture. The General Plan, LCP and Zoning Code belong to the citizens of Malibu, period.
Jo Ruggles