I have been a tax paying resident of the city of Malibu since 1999 and have had the painful and frustrating experience of dealing with the City in regards to a single family residential building project over a three-year period.
Since the inception of Malibu as a city, the various city councils, with the help of its planning commission, were supposed to come up with its own coastal plan. In-fighting and personal agendas by various city leaders and activist groups resulted in no coastal plan over a ten-year period. Finally when CCP thrust a plan down the city’s throat, the City Council (with the city attorney’s blessing) decided to fight it in the courts where the judge reiterated the CCP position. Now, one year later, 130 tax-paying residents of the city are being held hostage because of your LCP fiasco. The longer the legal battle, the fatter the “Christy Hogin fund.”
I am appalled that there is no outcry from the realtors, architects and local builders as real estate is a big part of Malibu’s economy. Shenanigans such as LCP workshops and 20/20 vision will not settle this matter any faster. Just look at the accomplishments of the City of Malibu on the front page of the January 1, 2004 Malibu Times. Perhaps the City Council should have the common sense of swallowing the political pill and kiss the hand of Governor Schwartzeneggar (R) and beg him to intervene (four members of the CCP are appointed by the Governor) so that “poor” Malibu can have a coastal plan and people can go on with their lives.
Joseph Bornstein