Sweetwater development on Coastal Commission agenda
The California Coastal Commission will hear coastal permit applications regarding the construction of five homes north of Sweetwater Canyon Road on Feb. 10 in Chula Vista.
The development, which would require the construction of a 1,669-foot long road to the site, has been the cause of local controversy. Dispute over the building of the access road dates to 1999. Musician David Evans, also known as U2’s “the Edge,” is a part owner of the properties. Many local homeowners oppose the construction, citing primarily environmental issues such as grading, placement of homes on the ridgeline and the destruction of reportedly sensitive habitat areas. Evans has countered these arguments by stating on his Web site that the homes will be made of “sustainable building materials” and that they will “minimize energy use.”
Residents have also voiced concern that the construction of a road to these properties would lead to the construction of another road connecting Sweetwater Mesa to Piuma Road, increasing traffic to the area.
The Coastal Commission is also scheduled to hear a proposal regarding the request of Malibu Family Farms to build an equestrian facility, but the item has been postponed.
The meeting can be viewed online at www.coastal.ca.gov
Weintraub puts $75 million home on the market
La Villa Contenta LLC and Richard E. Weintraub, president and founder of Weintraub Real Estate Group, have listed Weintraub’s 13-bedroom, 14-bathroom, 16,107 square-foot home for sale for $75 million. The home, which was built in 2002, is located off Pacific Coast Highway.
Weintraub, who is also the co-owner of Malibu Lumber Yard, and his wife Liane have been fixtures in the community for a number of years. The pair has hosted many notable local events and parties at their home. They donate to many Southern California causes, such as the Los Angeles Public Library, the San Fernando Valley’s Valley Community Clinic and the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu.
Safety tips for children issued
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has released safety tips for children walking to or from school and other activities due to two recent incidents.
In the first incident, on Jan. 19, a boy was walking home from school alone in Hidden Hills when he was approached by a suspect in a white van who told him that his mother sent him to pick him up. The boy ignored the suspect and continued walking. In the second incident, on Jan. 26, a girl in Calabasas was approached while walking home from the park by a suspect in a red Nissan Titan truck who told her the same thing, that her mother sent him to pick her up. The girl ran and hid before returning home to tell her parents. Incidents such as these serve as a reminder for parents to talk to their children about the dangers of child abductors.
The Sheriff’s Department says children should travel with a friend or a group of friends while going to school or other destinations. Parents should instruct their children that if a stranger, any person they do not know, offers them a ride they should ignore the person and run away. They can head in the opposite direction of the car or on a path where a car cannot drive. Similarly, if a child is being followed on foot, he or she should get away as quickly as possible or go to a friend or neighbor’s house. Children should be aware that if a stranger tells them that there is an emergency or a family member is hurt they should always check the information with their parents or another trusted adult first.
Malibu’s 20th anniversary
The City of Malibu will host a celebration of Malibu’s 20th anniversary of cityhood March 27 at Legacy Park. The celebration will be a community gathering featuring guided tours of the park, an open house at City Hall and other activities.
Creek crossing repair project planned
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will begin a project that consists of providing design, construction and inspection services to repair a damaged water transmission main at eight creek crossing locations. The project, which is expected to begin construction in Spring 2011, will also develop a corrosion-monitoring program to aid in preventing future damage.
DUI checkpoint planned
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will conduct a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint in the City of Malibu Feb. 4 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Officers will check drivers for signs of impairment due to alcohol or drug consumption.
“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed two lives and resulted in 61 injury crashes harming many of our friends and neighbors,” Malibu/Lost Hills Traffic Sergeant Philip Brooks said.
Malibu Canyon Road construction to finish Monday
The road construction on Malibu Canyon Road is scheduled to be finished by Monday, Feb. 7.
“They’re just restriping right now-that’s all that remains,” Los Angeles County Public Works Public Information Officer Mike Kaspar said. “They’re going to be done by Monday.”
The resurfacing project on Malibu Canyon Road that has delayed motorists for more than 30 minutes traveling in each direction began in November.
Originally scheduled to be completed by the end of December, the project, which is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was delayed due to the cold and rainy weather.
Salary bill reintroduced
The California Newspaper Publishers Association reports that Sen. Lou Correa, a Democrat from Santa Ana, has reintroduced Senate Bill 46, which would require local government officials to file a compensation disclosure form each year. The bill would also require that the information be posted on each city’s Web site. The bill, which was originally introduced last year, failed on the last day of session.