I have been a resident of Trancas Highlands above Malibu West for 15 years. A large estate is on the market in our neighborhood, and there is the very real possibility that it will be sold to a developer who will convert it into a drug rehabilitation facility. This would make a total of eight rehab facilities between Malibu West and the end of Anacapa View Drive -one out of every four homes-and I am powerless to do anything about it.
This past Sunday, our neighborhood was put on alert for several hours after receiving a report involving a patient starting a fire at the “Malibu Ranch” rehabilitation facility on our street. This person escaped into a nearby ravine and threatened to set fire to the entire neighborhood before being taken away by ambulance after his rescue deep in the canyon with the assistance of one of our neighbors.
While I am sensitive to the issue of drug addiction in our society, and recognize that these facilities provide help to many people trying to overcome this very real problem, my neighbors and I are now dealing with the process of our neighborhood being turned into a de facto medical subdivision. Currently there is no law that places a limitation on the quantity of these facilities allowed in any one area. This is unacceptable, especially when the operation of these rehabs is a money-making private enterprise that poses a threat to public health and safety.
These facilities need to be more tightly regulated and it is time for our local and state officials to step up and do something about it before something worse occurs.
Eric Myer