Skatepark Advances In Malibu After Settlement Agreement With Developer

MALIBU, CA — The City Council on Monday cleared the way for the construction of a permanent skatepark at Bluffs Park when it approved a settlement agreement with a neighboring property owner, who had threatened to sue the city over the project.

The Planning Commission in November approved a plan for the 12,500-square-foot skatepark, which was appealed by 600 Spring LLC, owned by developer Scott Gillen. Gillen's company owns the nearby Crummer Property, on which he is building several large homes know as The Case project.

In addition to his appeal, Gillen threatened to sue the city in an effort to stop the project. But he also approached the City Council with an offer to settle, according to city officials.

The council last month sought public input on the proposed settlement and took that feedback to draft up an offer. The agreement was approved by the council Monday in a 3-2 vote.

The settlement includes:

• Allowing 600 Spring to install landscaping at its own cost to improve the park and prevent graffiti along the park's perimeter wall.
• Shifting a portion of the skatepark 10 feet further from the in-development homes.
• Lowering one of the park's above-ground elements.
• Allowing The Case project to lease a portion of the area adjacent to the current temporary skatepark for parking for $5,627 per month until construction begins on the permanent skatepark.
• Assigning responsibility to The Case project for all costs related to the changes and requiring a $150,000 deposit to cover any additional design and construction costs.

The settlement marks a major milestone in the permanent skatepark project, which got off the ground in 2019 when the City Council voted to commission a design for the project and install a temporary skatepark.