Now that the CCC’s Local Coastal Plan for Malibu is in front of the public, I feel that I can again bring up some of the projects which I have previously brought to the city for consideration and which were rejected in what I can only describe as a degrading and frankly nasty manner.
First and foremost, now that the CCC has made visitor serving our primary objective, I want to re-visit the linchpin of my proposals
The Topanga Malibu Tunnel: We can keep Malibu Canyon a scenic byway by building a tunnel under the mountains with an entrance near Topanga and Ventura Boulevards, exiting in Malibu near PCH and Malibu Canyon Road. Traffic will not empty onto our overcrowded highway but will instead be diverted to a multi-story parking structure nestled just below the hills on the Yamaguchi property. Pollution efficient shuttles will ferry visitors the length and breadth of our city. No traffic, no pollution, and plenty of people with money to spend on our hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and theaters. It’s a win/win/win deal. Good for business, good for visitors and good for our tax base.
But it is not enough.
We need also to consider the needs of the entire southern portion of the county from where residents may find it inconvenient to use the tunnel. So here are some ideas which I have brought up before and which still have merit.
The Santa Monica Malibu cruise boat: Visitors can board a luxury cruise boat at Santa Monica Pier for a leisurely, scenic ride up the coast. The Puget Sound type ferries would anchor just off Malibu Pier and visitors will be brought to the pier where our fleet of shuttles will take them wherever they need to go.
The Malibu helicopter shuttle: This is a no brainer. So easy, simple and convenient that it’s hard to image why it isn’t already operating. The new “whisper quiet” heli-technology would permit 16 or so hours of service per day from anywhere in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Riverside counties and, of course, from LAX.
I have spoken to several air entrepreneurs who think this has great merit. One already has a group of investors and is currently scouting suitable heliport sites. The investors have requested anonymity but you can be sure that they are good people.
The Malibu Beach Boardwalk: I really didn’t get too far with this proposal when I first brought it before the General Plan task force, but that certainly doesn’t matter now. What is obvious is that there are stretches of beach perfect for the Malibu boardwalk. I am thinking primarily of Carbon and La Costa beaches. They are very nice and have good tidal conditions. This is the best use of the lateral access dedications in order to maximize visitor beach use. Home owners could make good money by establishing attractions along the walk each summer, and many would appreciate extra income which could make it unnecessary to put their homes up for summer rental.
In consideration of space limitations and because I want to encourage more useful proposals by others, I will leave it here for now but I do want to close with one last important point.
Although I have no financial stake in any of the projects discussed here, it is only fair to disclose that I am the owner of a small hotel on the beach here in our city. I have never made a secret of my long term goal of building a ten story, 300 room tower on my property. It looks as though I may finally have my chance. I also have a group of investors who want to build a Ferris wheel on my parking lot. I can’t disclose their identity but I assure you that they are good people. So maybe I’ll do that.
Martin J. Cooper