On Monday, the Malibu Planning Commission unanimously approved three proposed building projects.
The Forge Lodge project, a bed and breakfast inn to be located near the BeauRivage restaurant, was brought before the commission once again, this time to certify the final environmental impact report (following modifications made after the last planning meeting) and to approve the project with the conditions attached by the Planning Commission’s resolution.
The project was reduced from a 32-unit inn to 28 units and will have 111 parking spaces, including 17 dedicated to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The owners, Daniel and Lucia Forge, must provide a letter of credit of $50,000 to be used for a traffic signal at Corral Canyon and PCH.
Minor modifications to the original resolution were made. Commissioner Robert Adler proposed “additional language,” which included a start time for traffic mitigation and specifications for the nonvehicular access route beneath Pacific Coast Highway. Construction of the passageway will require consultation with the National Park Service as well as the Department of Fish and Game, and certification of occupancy will not be granted until the nonvehicular access route has been completed.
The final touch-up to the resolution addressed the condition requiring approval of the city biologist. The resolution’s project-specific conditions stated: “Approval shall be obtained from the City Geologist prior to stamping project plans approved.” However, since the city biologist is not contracted to provide such service, an eighth project specification was added requiring the project’s applicants to work “in consultation with” a biologist recommended by the Environmental Review Board. This additional language encourages a cooperative climate without pending approval from a state agency. With the finishing touches in place, the Planning Commission placed its final stamp of approval on the project in a 4-0 vote.
The subsequent agenda items were two applications for single-family residences. The first one, proposed by Vida Tarassoly, was approved without much discussion. Adler said simply, “I can only say good luck and it’s fine with me.”
Other commissioners were pleased with the applicant’s environmentally conscientious attitude. “I think the applicants have done a good job of minimizing the impact on the environment,” Commissioner John Sibert said as he echoed Adler in wishing the applicants good luck. All four commissioners voted to approve the project.
Though the second application for construction of a similar residence was approved, commissioners offered less enthusiasm than they had in their previous decision. Applicant Michael Bosetti’s proposal for a 3,423 square-foot, single-family residence and request for construction on slopes in excess of a 2.5-1 ratio were within city guidelines.
Therefore, in accordance with the law, commissioners voted to approve the project-but not without reluctance. The commissioners agreed with the residents living adjacent to the future building site who expressed concern over “loss of lifestyle” once the new structure is completed.
The height of the structure was also addressed by the Planning Commission. Commissioner Deidre Roney was displeased with the “imposing” height of the structure, which she said would be like “a wall on the street.” Sibert also commented on the structure’s wall-like appearance along the roadside.
Having recently returned from China, the commissioner compared the proposed construction project to the Great Wall of China: “It’s a wall. You build it all along there, and it’s a Great Wall.”
“Regrettably, I will support it,” Adler said, summing up the sentiments of the entire commission who voted unanimously in favor of a project compliant with the law.