Malibu City Council Votes To Review PCH Hotel Proposal

MALIBU — The Malibu City Council unanimously voted Monday to start negotiations that could turn what is currently an office building, abandoned gas station, car wash, and garage on the Pacific Coast Highway into a luxury hotel. Through videoconference, the Council agreed to move forward with the negotiations as long as there are “robust” public hearings throughout the process. If approved, this would be the first new hotel or motel in the city in almost 30 years.

The proposed hotel would span two properties at 22729 and 22941 Pacific Coast Highway. Property owner Norm Haynie submitted a draft development in February that includes a zone and land designation change, demolition of the gas station, the merging of the two lots, and change of use for both lots to a hotel with a restaurant and roof deck.

Haynie has offered $400,000 in cash within 50 days after building permits are issued. The offer – which some councilmembers and residents said was too low – would pay for public soccer fields and/or part of the installation costs of City Hall solar panels. During public comment, Haynie said that hotel could provide up to $85,000 a month and up to $1 million a year, increase property taxes, and reduce traffic on the PCH by 20 to 40 percent.

Some Malibu residents said that they felt they did not have enough time to review the City’s report, argued that Haynie’s $400,000 bid is too low given the scope of the project, questioned how the hotel would reduce traffic, and questioned the wisdom of considering the proposal at all during a pandemic.

“I’m offended by this, and I think a lot of people in Malibu would be offended by this,” said resident Hamish Patterson. “I’m not saying anything about the validity of this project being good. I think Norm’s a good dude and his project is probably good but this occurring at this time and space is inappropriate.”

City Attorney Christi Hogan pointed out that the Council was simply determining if staff should allocate the resources needed for a full governmental and public review of the project.

Mayor Karen Farrer said that she agreed the gas station is a blight in the middle of town, and was comfortable moving forward with debate. “This is not a vote to approve a hotel project,” she said. “I’m comfortable with directing staff to negotiate an overlay district.”