Ann Hoffman, in last week’s letter, inaccurately implies that that the Malibu Coalition for Slow Growth (MCSG) and I wholeheartedly embrace the Local Coastal Program’s plan for the Civic Center area. This simply is not true.
Except for the Chili Cookoff site which the Coastal Commission designates as “visitor serving” instead of “commercial general,” the LUP follows the city’s commercial land use designations and density intensities. Both plans allow for well over a million square feet of new commercial development in the Civic Center. That is, it is more than 12 Ralphs shopping centers. For an area that has severe infrastructure constraints, is the flood plain of Malibu Creek and is an historic wetland, this degree of development is far too intense. It is not needed and is totally inappropriate.
While most governmental agencies are trying to restore the natural beauty of their streams, both the city and commission support further destruction of Malibu Creek. They have designated the westerly banks of Malibu Creek to allow warehouses and other light industrial uses in an area that repeatedly floods when banks overflow.
MCSG advocates a plan to make much of the Civic Center Malibu’s own mini Golden Gate Park. The park will involve both recreational uses (such as playing fields, picnic area and jogging paths) and a water element consisting of restored wetlands with foraging areas for migrating birds, which depend on wetlands for survival as they move up and down the Pacific Flyway. Since 95 percent of California’s wetlands have been destroyed through development, also decimating the nurseries where marine fisheries begin life, this use is far more vital to the long-term sustenance of the planet than more shopping centers, offices and motels.
Needed development would be allowed under the MCSG plan. Through a series of land swaps, development would be located above the flood plain out of harm’s way. It would overlook a beautiful park, which would enhance the value of the commercial entities located there.
This is not a pie in the sky scheme. Monies are available to achieve the MCSG park plan. Malibuites who have seen our plan are very supportive of it. What is now needed is City Council members who share this vision and landowners who are willing to sell their land at the fair market value in order to achieve a center for Malibu that Malibu can be proud of and enjoyed forever.
Patt Healy
Malibu Coalition for Slow Growth