Malibu's Planning Muddle

If Malibu City Hall was an organic, anthropic conceit, a physical exam by a political/medical scientist I believe would reveal a grave hardening of the bureaucratic arteries and a cretinous cognitive condition impairing its municipal duties.

Prompting this dour portrait of the Malibu city governance was reading several items on the agenda of the upcoming City Planning Commission meeting concerning two proposed, questionable, residential projects, one on Point Dume, the other above the Colony edging the PCH,

The Planning Staff takes reams of bureaucratic babble to painstakingly try to rationalize its apparent favoring the projects: because it is frankly difficult to wade through its bloviating report in which its tries mightily to put a mustache on these piggy projects, The prospects of overtime for both City Hall and its consultants is staggering

In my opinion as an immodest planning authority, staff fails to put the projects in a broader perspective consistent with the city’s vision and mission statements, or more simply neglects to look at the projects as if they lived next door. And just think of the time it took them to research and write the reports, while hundreds of applications for the Woolsey rebuild sit on staff desks, no doubt molding,

Meanwhile, others, and the persevering, venerable Malibu Township Council will be reciting several sound reasons for the rejection, of 25200 PCH, also known as the “Weintraub Ruse" and 7352 Birdview Ave, the latter quite specifically for bloating to three times the size of house it is replacing and to 28 feet in height.
This in effect overwhelms the neighboring one story residence just 7 feet and inches away, thoroughly compromises its privacy, impacts its enjoyment, and, in no doubt reduces its value property value and could make the city liable for the amount. The lawyers would love that. But reason prevails.

As the long-time residents of the house being impacted have suggested, their objection to the proposed Birdview project can be assuaged by the footprint being simply sited further away from their house.

I trust the applicant will amicably agree to this at or before the commission meeting, and with everybody signing off on this as a condition of approval, let the project move forward.

Not so for 25200 PCH. I fear no matter as promoted how attractive the architecture. if built as proposed will impair the view that warms my heart and others driving west on PCH and seeing revealed Malibu magnificent coastline and the Point Dune peninsula. Sunset seen from this stretch of highway can be spectacular.

Also concerning is that the project is being processed and presented as a single family residence of no less than 9,219 square feet, including 7 bedroom, 10 ½ baths, an office, a 1,000 square foot subterranean garage, a 1,523 square foot basement, a large gym, guest house, swimming pools, spa, decks and water features.

’ The project actually indicates not a single family residence but a drug and alcohol addiction rehab center or a luxury sober living facility. With 44 already located in Malibu, they are decried by the city and impacted neighborhoods, though the fact is that these facilities once built and operating are protected by State laws that supersede local zoning. It is now propitious to put the project to rest.

Still, whatever the proposal is called, a residential or rehab structure, contrary to the staff report, it fails to meet the paramount local building codes, and as indicated by the variances requested and my reading of neighborhood character, It should be opposed, and the Planning Staff put to work on the rebuild processing.