The Malibu Times Staff
The California Coastal Commission at its July 8 meeting will address several Malibu projects, including an application to allow the permanent existence of a 500-foot long rock revetment along the west bank of Malibu Creek; a request for after-the-fact approval for an equestrian facility; and the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order for unpermitted development on Carbon Beach that blocks a public access way to the beach.
Commission staff recommends granting the Mariposa Land Company’s request for a coastal development permit to permanently retain and revegetate a 500-foot-long rock revetment. Located along Malibu Creek next to the Cross Creek Plaza, it was built in 1998 under an emergency permit issued by the commission to protect the plaza from the creek’s flooding. Emergency permits authorize immediate construction during disasters.
Three environmental groups-Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper and Malibu Surfing Association-are opposed to keeping the revetment permanently intact because, they say, it poses various negative environmental impacts and violates the California Coastal Act and City of Malibu Local Coastal Program.
Commission staff also recommends approval of an after-the-fact permit for Malibu Valley Farms equestrian facility, accused by environmental and legal action group CLEAN, or Coastal Law Enforcement Action Network, of allowing horse manure and urine to pollute a stream that feeds into Malibu Creek.
CLEAN this year filed a lawsuit against the commission, claiming in July 2007 it incorrectly issued an after-the-fact development permit for Malibu Valley Farms, located on Mulholland Highway off Kanan Road, which has allowed the pollution.
Public accessway at issue
The Coastal Commission will decide whether to issue a notice of violation and cease and desist order to Lisette Ackerberg and the Lisette Ackerberg Trust for unpermitted development at Ackerberg’s Carbon Beach home. The unpermitted development, obstructs vertical and lateral public access easements, according to a commission staff report, and includes a rock riprap, a nine-foot high wall, a generator and associated concrete slab, a fence, railing, planter, light posts and landscaping. The obstruction of the accessway is in violation of the State Coastal Act, according to commission staff.
According to the commission report, the Ackerbergs had purchased the .95-acre property located at 22466 and 22500 Pacific Coast Highway in 1984 and, soon thereafter, applied for a permit to demolish the existing a single-family residence, guesthouse, and swimming pool on the property, construct a new residence and swimming pool, and renovate an existing tennis court, according to the commission. In 1985, the commission issued a coastal development permit with the condition that the Ackerbergs record an offer to dedicate, or OTD, for a vertical public access easement through the property, from the highway to the beach.
Access for All, which battled with music mogul David Geffen for several years to get Geffen to allow the opening of an accessway next to his home, accepted the Ackerbergs OTD for the vertical easement in 2003 and now holds the legal easement. Access for All, managed by Steve Hoye, stated it is ready to open and maintain the easement for public use. However, due to the presence of the unpermitted material and structures within the easement area, Access for All cannot open the easement to the public, and, thus, the public is precluded from using the public easement to access the beach, commission staff stated in its report.
The commission will meet July 8, 10 a.m., at San Luis Obispo County Government Center, board of supervisors chambers, 1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93408; 805.781.1045