Malibu Council Members to Tour Charmlee Park

Two members of the Malibu City Council -- Laura Zahn Rosenthal and John Sibert -- will tour Charmlee Wilderness Park Saturday as part of their consideration of a proposed land swap.

The walk through Charmlee, which is located at 2577 Encinal Canyon Road in Malibu, is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9.

Under the proposed swap, the city of Malibu would gain ownership of 83 acres of Bluffs Park in exchange for Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy control over 532 acres at Charmlee Wilderness Park.

Sibert said he plans to answer questions about the proposed swap, which he said is not a done deal.

"We’d like more people to see what we’re talking about up there," Sibert said. "... I’ve walked Charmlee a number of times so I know what is there."

Sibert said he hopes the tour will include a representative from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to answer questions about their plans for the park.

Earlier tours were held at Malibu Bluffs Park, where the city hopes to build recreation facilities, including more fields and a skate park.

Some residents oppose the swap because of possible fire danger from planned camping at Charmlee Park. SMMC executive director Joe Edmiston is already working to submit plans to the California Coastal Commission for eight campsites outside the city of Malibu's limits at Charmlee. Others support the proposal because it would allow for more fields and recreation area in the center of Malibu at Bluffs Park.

Edmiston said Tuesday he is comfortable with allowing the city to do its due diligence on the proposed land swap "as long as the process is moving forward toward a conclusion, one way or the other."