As a former 22-year resident of Malibu, I have some thoughts regarding the proposed hotel development of Mr. Richard Weintraub. First of all, Malibu is not a destination resort. There is limited shopping in the mall that contains Ralphs and CVS and on the other side of PCH, there are two small shopping areas. There are no antique stores or art galleries where people can browse and there are a couple of expensive restaurants on PCH and several average coffee shops and restaurants.Â
In the event conventions and/or meetings are held at the proposed hotel and wives accompany their husbands, the drive into Beverly Hills and other Westside shopping areas is going to be time consuming and if one attempts to drive prior to 10 a.m. or return after 3 p.m., traffic on PCH is generally bumper to bumper. Also, the hotel will have no beach access and when visitors think of Malibu they think of the beach and the ocean and there is one motion picture theatre.Â
From a realistic standpoint, there is not much to do in Malibu. Residents want to limit growth and the intrusion of large stores. For a community such as Malibu, that makes sense. The hotel may offer certain amenities such as a restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts, but there is no available golf course. Many persons who attend meetings also want to play golf.Â
Then there is the problem of entering and leaving the hotel. As the entrance will be on Malibu Canyon Rd. the only manner in which one can leave is by turning right which is headed toward Agoura. So how is one going to get to PCH? There better be a workable plan. I have always told others that anyone who attempts to build a large conference type hotel in Malibu is headed toward a financial disaster. I hope I am wrong but facts do not look too promising.Â
Robert L. FoxÂ