The Whole Foods and the Park project, under the moniker Measure W, is the first proposed development subject to the rigors of Measure R and, ready or not, it is finally going up for a vote in just four short weeks.
In each of those weeks, The Malibu Times will help serve as an election guide. Each week will feature information related to the election — details on the project, arguments for and against it, and a roundup of polling places, hours and procedures.
This week, The Malibu Times goes inside the 28-page sample ballot to break down what voters will see when they step inside the voting booth on Nov. 3.
Legal analysis
The sample ballot begins with a 500-word impartial analysis of Measure W provided by City Attorney Christi Hogin. Hogin’s review lays out specifics of the Whole Foods project (called the Civic Center Northeast-Specific Plan [CCN-SP] in the ballot).
In essence, the CCN-SP will narrow down exactly what can be built on the land, which is currently zoned for a variety of visitor-serving uses. If Measure W passes, certain restrictions would go into place; for example, no motel or golf driving range could be placed on the land, to use Hogin’s examples.
“ … the CCN-SP would eliminate such uses and limit the property to specified uses, including, among others, grocery store, restaurant, retail, and recreation uses,” Hogin wrote. “The CCN-SP would allow required landscape area to include the canopy created by trees, planter areas, and ‘green’ walls or vertical plantings.”
The issue of green walls as part of required green area was debated and eventually passed by the Malibu Planning Commission.
Hogin went on to describe certain restrictions in the CCN-SP, “such as limiting business operations to between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and requiring electrical vehicle charging stations.”
Hogin also specified that this plan has been approved by Malibu City Council, after recommendation by the Planning Commission.
“The City Council adopted the CCN-SP as was recommended by the Planning Commission. Voter approval is required for the CCN-SP to take effect,” Hogin wrote.
Arguments
The next five pages of the sample ballot contain arguments for and against the adoption of the Whole Foods project, as well as rebuttals to those arguments.
Arguments in favor of Measure W are endorsed by five community members, including Justine Petretti, vice chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission, and Michael Mazzola, former owner of Giovanni’s Restaurant.
The rebuttal to that argument is endorsed by City Council Member Skylar Peak and Planning Commissioner John Mazza, as well as PC Greens owner Michael Osterman, among others.
The argument against Measure W is endorsed by residents Steve Uhring and Carol Moss.
More will be said about the arguments in upcoming issues of The Malibu Times.
The Measure W Ordinance
Finally, the last nine pages of text in the sample ballot describe the CCN-SP and the ordinance itself.
Construction would be limited to 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends.
Business operation would be limited to 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:
5.88 acres of land in the total CCN-SP
28 ft. height limit on buildings
24,549 sq. ft. Whole Foods Market
13,876 sq. ft. additional commercial retail
4,800 sq. ft. outdoor seating
107,855 sq. ft. landscaping
– 80 western sycamore trees
– 50 additional trees
220 parking spaces
– 16 bicycle spaces
– Seven accessible spaces
– Five electric vehicle charging spaces
– Four golf cart spaces
– Four loading spaces
– Two motorcycle spaces
~$150,000-$170,000 projected sales tax revenue generated annually
~2,290 additional vehicle trips will be made to the Civic Center every day.