Problems with Pot Shop Application

The following letter was sent to the and about Twin Lyons Wellness Center's application for a permit to open a medical marijuana facility in Malibu. The application is one of two the Planning Commission will consider Tuesday. City law limits the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Malibu to two. Since PCH Collective has been in operation for several years, the commission can approve only one of the applications.

[Editor's Note: The previous introduction to this letter referred to the applicant as Twin Lyons Wellness Center Zuma J. The applicant is Twin Lyons Wellness Center. The building owner is Zuma J LLC.]

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The city of Malibu Planning Commission on Feb. 15 considers applications for two new medical marijuana dispensaries. What impacts are there on public safety?

No concerns evident with Malibu Collective Caregivers, 22235 PCH Unit A, which is to operate only by appointment and by providing home care.

Many concerns with Twin Lyons Wellness Center, 22775 PCH (site of ).

The number of parking spaces is not sufficient for the proposed operation.  Parking lot ingress, egress, and the traffic flow within the lot is not safe (I rank it among the worst parking lots in all of Malibu.). Vehicles backing up on PCH waiting to get into the lot creates a hazard.

Page 3H of Twin Lyons’ application says: “The proposed project site has 10 spaces reserved in the parking lot immediately adjacent to the site.”

Twin Lyons could see 100 customers per day plus employees given the scope of their business plans as outlined in their application to the city of Malibu. Ten parking spaces is not sufficient.

Page 3H of Twin Lyons’ application says: “The proposed site is located next to two public lots on both sides of the property.”

This is not true. There are no public lots there. 

Page 17, third paragraph of Twin Lyons’ application: “Twin Lyons Wellness Center’s interior environment and facilities will function similarly to a medical clinic and wellness center. It will offer an array of holistic services for patients, including yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki and hypnotherapy.”

Page 20, first paragraph of Twin Lyons’ application: “Many programs and services are available at no charge, and some are offered to non-members. The list includes workshops, support groups, classes, and other programs.”

Page 16, first paragraph of the Twin Lyons’ application: “As a small retail operation, Twin Lyons will conduct business similar to neighboring retail operations.”

So which is it? Retail? Medical? Educational? Only patients? Open to the public? How safe—or how dangerous—PCH gets at this location depends on how Twin Lyons uses its space.

Clearly, Twin Lyons is not planning a small operation and it is not just any old retail. It is medical/wellness with an array of services. Couldn’t be any clearer: their name says it’s a wellness center, their product is medical marijuana and they tout their array of services. 

How can so little parking and no improvements or mitigations to PCH handle so many people and so many services?

Twin Lyons proposes to occupy 1,200 square feet, according to City Planner Ha Ly in her Oct. 19, 2010 review of their application. Ms. Ly states that Malibu Municipal Code for a medical office requires “one parking space for each 150 sq. ft. of gross floor area.” And Twin Lyons must “demonstrate that the proposed project site can accommodate the required parking spaces for the proposed operation.”  

Twin Lyons plans nothing to mitigate its impact on the safety of PCH, yet it is required to prove “that the proposed use would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience or welfare.”

Page 13K of Twin Lyons’ application: Twin Lyons says it “will not adversely affect the public interest, health, safety, etc ...”

But the traffic and parking it generates will adversely affect safety on PCH. 

Page 17, fourth paragraph of Twin Lyons’ application: “Twin Lyons plans to donate to local charities and have continuous involvement with the community.”

Page 21, last paragraph of Twin Lyons’ application: “We will conduct ongoing efforts to seek feedback from patients, employees, advisors, government officials and the general community on key matters involving the center.  Examples will include periodic surveys, open meetings and actively encouraging submission of feedback.”

Twin Lyons Wellness Center’s opening could be in just a few months, yet there has been no involvement in the community by Twin Lyons that I can find. Has Twin Lyons reached out to you or to any local residents or local charities you know? Has Twin Lyons talked with anyone about PCH safety? Coming to town stealthily is a bad start when you promise “continuous involvement with the community.”

Page 8, bullet points of Twin Lyons’ application: “You must be at least 18 years old...to enter the building.”

Page 11, first paragraph of Twin Lyons’ application: “Any patient under the age of 18 years entering Twin Lyons Wellness Center shall be accompanied by a parent or court-appointed legal guardian.”

Personally, I think the policy should be 21 years old and no one under 18 admitted at any time. 

And one more personal note, it's not about what's being sold. I would feel just as worried about safety on PCH if they were selling jellybeans. It's about putting safety first!

My bottom line:  Twin Lyons Wellness Center’s proposal is too much for Malibu. I urge Planning Commissioners to say no to Twin Lyons Wellness Center.  

—Cindy Vandor, Malibu West