The People of Malibu
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Malibu Yesterday Today and Tomorrow F M A O L Y I T B I U Malibu C Coastal I 1 n 9 c 9 o Vision 1 r Framework Community Profile and Vision p , o 8 r a 2 t e d M a r c h MALIBU COASTAL VISION Table of Contents I. Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 II. History ...................................................................................................... 5 III. Demographics ............................................................................................ 7 IV. Community Participation .............................................................................. 12 V. Schools and Education .................................................................................. 17 VI. Physical Environment .................................................................................. 23 VII. Land Use ................................................................................................. 28 VIII. Open Space and Beaches ............................................................................. 36 IX. Traffic and Circulation ................................................................................. 43 X. Economy .................................................................................................. 49 XI. Community Utilities and Infrastructure ............................................................. 55 XII. Community Leadership ................................................................................ 58 XIII. Creating a Vision for Malibu ......................................................................... 62 XIV. Table of Figures ....................................................................................... 71 © Copyright 2006-2008, Malibu Coastal Vision, Inc. Malibu Coastal Vision, Inc. P.O. Box 2314, Malibu CA www.malibucoastalvision.com Acknowledgements First, we applaud the City Council in supporting and appropriating the funding for both the Phase I (2003-2004), Phase II (2004-2006) and now Phase III (2006-2008 efforts in planning and visioning the future of Malibu. Without their financial support, this effort could not have been undertaken. This visioning process has been well overseen by mostly the current City Council; Jeff Jennings, Mayor Pamela Ulich, Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Barovsky Andy Stern Ken Kearsley Along with the City Council’s support came the investment of over 4,000 hours of free, pro bono time from over 350 citizens who gave of their time and insights at community roundtables, at public seminars, and who filled out survey forms. A conservative value of the expertise rendered is several hundred thousand dollars. However the primary responsibility for assembling the data contained in this book fell on the shoulders of the Malibu Coastal Vision (MCV) team whose members included Rich Davis, Margaret Shultz, Tony Shafer, Brian Merrick, Gretchen Hays, Bill Wishard, Amir Mahini and the late Chris Hasselquist. MCV employed paid support from the Pepperdine School of Public Policy with project management and support from Danielle Killian, Adam Wingard, Juliet Allup and Jared Ide. Professor Michael Shires of Pepperdine and Alan Kotin of the University of Southern California provided further counsel and advice on a pro bono basis. The Pepperdine School of Public Policy prepared a Capstone Report on Malibu Housing Trends in April 2005. This report is found on the MCV web site and contains many valuable statistics about Malibu Housing. MCV received services from the following public policy consulting firms and consultants on a paid basis: Applied Development Economics, Moore, Iacofano and Goltsman, RRM Design Group, Mary Higgins, Gary Amo and Robert Scott of the CivicCenter Group. Cover Photo: IstockPhoto, slobo 2006 This document is the product of Malibu Coastal Vision, Inc. – a private group of interested residents. It has been prepared to be submitted to the City for its consideration. The opinions expressed here are those of Malibu Coastal Vision, Inc., and not of the City of Malibu. Compilation, editorial and publishing services provided by CivicCenter Group 23679 Calabasas Road Ste 507, Calabasas, CA 91302 [email protected] 818-712-9500 Fax 818-712-9182 I. Introduction The history of California during the 19th and 20th centuries is one of unparalleled growth, from the ’49ers during the gold rush, to the migrants fleeing the dust bowls of Okalahoma during the Depression, and the wave of immigration following World War II. The history of Zuma Beach – 2008 [email protected] Malibu is a microcosm of that The more we understand where we are and where we growth. Residents of 21st have been, the better we will be prepared to look to century Malibu continue to the future, to assess the community’s options for management of change. If we do not control the future, confront the pressures of growth the future will control us. This document addresses our ability to control the future by containing in one place that—without far-sighted checks the most important reference material and projections and balances—could destroy the about this City. This is a compilation of information that is unparalleled in the short history of this City. vision upon which modern We summarize ten aspects of Malibu life that include: Malibu was founded. That need 1. Demographics – Who we are not be the case if the citizens of 2. Community Participation – Our dedication to our Malibu carefully plan for the neighborhoods future. 3. Physical Environment – What we have been given 4. Land Use – Topography and geology constraints 5. Open Space and Beaches – Stewardship and sharing 6. Traffic and Circulation – One of our greatest challenges 7. Economy – Opportunities for our residents 8. Community Facilities and Services – Infrastructure development 9. Community Leadership – How we are governed 10. Schools and Education – Keys to our children’s future Few places in the world possess Malibu’s balance of international reputation and small town quality of life. Malibu is located in the northwest corner of Los Angeles County, occupying a 21-mile stretch of coastline. The incorporated area is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the south and the Santa Monica Mountains on the north. Neighboring communities include Malibu, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 1 Topanga, Santa Monica, Calabasas, Pacific Palisades, Oxnard and Agoura Hills. An excellent history of the area from the time of its first residents, the Chumash Indians, through the founding of the Malibu Movie Colony and to the current day has been published by the Malibu Lagoon Museum and is available on the City website. Access into and out of the City is limited to the Pacific Coast Highway and several canyon roads. The long narrow city is composed of neighborhoods including, Malibu West, Malibu Park, Point Dume, Paradise Cove, Winding Way, Ramirez Canyon, Sycamore Park, Corral Canyon, Malibu Country Estates, Malibu Bluffs, Serra Retreat, Sweetwater Mesa, Carbon Canyon and Mesa, La Costa, Las Flores Canyon and Mesa and Big Rock. In addition much of the 21 miles is beach front property either on the sand or on cliffs directly above the beach itself. The community of Malibu is one of the most desirable beach locations in all of Southern California. Few beachside cities can rival it. This is because of the area’s ambience and blend of ocean front and rural properties. When Malibu’s citizens voted to incorporate in 1991, they did so largely to prevent Los Angeles County from installing sewage lines through Malibu and to take local control away from county government. There was also a strong feeling about minimizing growth, both residential and commercial yet providing better and more extensive public parks and facilities. In the past few years the City has aggressively begun and completed several new and exciting projects Including from east to west: • Las Flores Park • Cross Creek Road Reconstruction • Surface and sub-surface water treatment plants for the Civic Center area • Legacy Park (Former Chili Cook Off field) • Bluff’s Park • Trancas Park Photographs of these parks and facilities or their plans follow. The purpose of this document is for people to better understand where we are and where we have been, so that we will be prepared to look to the future, to assess the community’s options for management of Las Flores Park and Creek – Malibu City Staff change. If we do not control the future, the future will certainly control us. Malibu, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 2 Bluffs Park – Malibu City Staff Charmlee Park – Malibu City Staff Malibu, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 3 Trancas Park Master Plan Malibu Legacy Park Project Malibu, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 4 II. History The past is an important ingredient in shaping a vision for the future. Being in the Path of Progress has been a mixed blessing for Malibu. Residents have always treasured its small town environment, yet, as an international icon, the City can Beach Houses on Pacific Coast Hwy, Near Las Flores Cyn hardly escape the spotlight. The c. 1928, UCLA City’s 1991 incorporation came For decades, the County of Los Angeles had tried to on the heels of a turbulent thirty- force an unwanted sewer system on Malibu, and to slice a new freeway right through its heart, parallel to year struggle with the County of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)—improvements that would have allowed housing subdivisions and development to Los Angeles to control growth. accommodate as many as 117,000 new residents.