The Malibu Bay Company Development Agreement defines the most significant development in the history of Malibu. It will have the most profound impact on our treasured environment of any development that can be envisioned for all future time as well as the historical past. Since the time of May Rindge, the people of Malibu have resisted uncontrolled development and tried their best to preserve Malibu. We became a city largely because we were afraid that the LA County Supervisors would not represent the interests of Malibu when it came to a conflict with development interests. Well-funded developers and their promises of campaign finance support would, we were afraid, influence the supervisors to make decisions not in the interests of Malibu. So we voted to become a city, and elect our own council members. Now is accounting time and we will soon see whether our city council members really represent us or not.
The Malibu Planning Commission, because of the magnitude of the agreement, wisely, I believe, asked for more time. I assume that they wanted to make sure that environmental considerations had been addressed thoroughly, that the cost /benefits trades had been properly evaluated and the city’s interests had been supported. After all, no matter how highly we may think of Ms. House and Mr. Hasse, they were negotiating with big-league pros, and it just might be true that they didn’t get the best deal possible. Further, I’ve always thought that requiring a second opinion when faced with a major decision makes good sense. Once this genie is out of the bottle, for sure we’ll never get him back in. “Proceed with haste, repent in leisure” is the axiom of the moment.
Therefore, we urge you to represent the best interests of the city in your capacity as a council member. Deny the Malibu Bay Company’s appeal and sustain the Planning Commission’s decision. Give the Planning Commission a chance to do the job we charter them to do-represent the city in their professional capacity as city planners. Any other decision could only be interpreted as self-serving.
Bonnie L. Schulze
Erwin “Dutch” Schulze