Several Malibu families and the L.A. County Public Works Department object to the La Paz development proposed for Civic
Center Way.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
Nearly a decade after the project application was initially submitted to the city, the La Paz shopping and office complex proposal for the Civic Center area will go before the Planning Commission for the second time this year. The project has garnered many opponents, and although the developer is close to deals with some, at least one objector looks to be more difficult to persuade.
There are two versions of the La Paz proposal. One is 99,000 square feet and the other is 132,000 square feet. Both include a collection of retail, restaurant and office buildings ranging in size from 6,000 square feet to 17,000 square feet on the 15-acre property located on Civic Center Way between Papa Jack’s State Park and the Malibu Library.
The larger option would require an amendment to the city’s Local Coastal Program because of its size and other issues, including that it involves a development agreement. This option would need the California Coastal Commission’s blessing, while the smaller project would not, unless it were appealed. As part of the development agreement, La Paz has offered to donate 2.3 acres of land and $500,000 to Malibu to build a City Hall.
The Planning Commission in January recommended the City Council reject the larger project and approve the smaller one. The proposal returns to the commission because the developer recently submitted a new wastewater disposal plan. The council is expected to hear the project on Sept. 22.
The project has been opposed by a large number of Malibu residents, including those who regularly challenge development in the city. The major opponents have included the neighboring Gustavson and Phillips families, as well as the Los Angeles County Public Works Department. Don Schmitz, a planning consultant representing La Paz, has been meeting with those opposed to the project for some time. He said he is nearing a deal to satisfy the Gustavsons and has one with the Public Works Department. But he said the Phillips, who live and work at Sycamore Farms, have been unreasonable and a deal is unlikely.
“I guess you can’t please everybody,” Schmitz said this week. “We’ve tried very hard, moved parking away from the edge of their property. We’ve done everything they asked for, but they want me to completely redesign the project. And that’s not reasonable.”
The Phillips did not return a phone call for comment.
Meanwhile, Schmitz said he is “95 percent” of the way toward an agreement with the Gustavsons, among whose complaints have included the project’s nearness to their home, lighting and noise issues, and a request for security. The staff report for the Planning Commission says the two parties have reached an agreement. This came as a surprise to the Gustavson’s attorney, Alan Block.
“We don’t have an agreement yet,” Block said. “We haven’t agreed to anything. They’ve made some concessions, and there are certain things we have left to resolve.”
Block sent an e-mail to city officials informing them there was no deal between his clients and La Paz.
The Public Works Department’s issue with the project had been a fear there is not a large enough water supply in the area to deal with a fire. County officials said the water main going through the area is unreliable because it has broken several times in recent years. La Paz has agreed to pay $834,000 toward the construction of a $4.5 million water supply system, which includes an 800,000-gallon tank and several thousand feet of water main improvements.
Public Works official Greg Even said this week the remainder of the construction costs would come from the county and future developments in the area. He said the county would likely kick in about $1 million, but it does not have enough money budgeted to pay for the entire project, even to do it temporarily, until other developers start their construction. If other developers don’t chip in, the project would be delayed, Even said. He said the Lumber Yard Mall was determined by the city not to need to contribute to the fund, but declined to go into specifics.
Schmitz said the new wastewater disposal proposal, which includes a small treatment plant that will allow the water to be reused for landscaping, is a state-of-the-art system that will be environmentally friendly.