Malibu Park Residents Prevail

The continuing struggle to preserve what makes Malibu a desirable iconic coastal community has scored a significant success in its City Council sustaining a reasoned resident appeal to unanimously overturn a previous Planning Commission approval of a questionable fire “rebuild.”

The Malibu Park project promoted by the Bolour family of the so named Beverly Hills real estate finance firm piecemealed as a post Woolsey Fire a like-for-like proposal submerged in a massive addition for a total square footage of nearly 9,000 square feet, four times the size of the burnout.

The development was labeled a single-family residence, but as an over designed, like-for-profit project by the Topanga based JTD Architects, featuring eight bedrooms, 11 baths and various community rooms, which appears to be an undesirable drug and alcohol rehab facility or, as several councilpersons commented, a sleight-of-hand hotel.

The appeal professionally put forward in a rare afternoon Council hearing were studied presentations by Charlotte Frieze Jones of Malibu Park, a renowned landscape architect, and Jo Drummond of the respected Malibu Township Council. Also compelling was the testimony of Tiffany Murray and Nell Stephenson. Cited among other things were gross errors in the commission’s ill-considered approval of an unallowable stacked and serial development, and the adverse effect on neighborhood character.

Particularly persuasive was Mayor Bruce Silverstein in what was a masterly legal tutorial on Malibu’s legislative codes and a heartening advocacy of the city’s noble Vision and Mission statements.

It also was apparent in Silverstein’s protracted comments that he was making an inconvertible record that should discourage any thoughts of a legal appeal by the nonplussed Belour family. The mayor also spoke movingly that the neighborhood character and resident involvement evidenced at the hearing were why he and his family had moved to Malibu and what motivated him to serve as a city councilperson.

In a word Silverstein was peerless in convincing the Council that the Commission’s approval was in fact illegal, and cited a critical city ruling in 2005 addressing additions. In effect, this also hung out to dry planning neophyte Tyler Eaton of the city’s Community Development Department, who vainly tried a defend the staff’s questioned approval. Beside him looking askance was Aakash Shah, the city's contract planner who is said to have facilitated the Bolour's application

In support of Silverstein’s motion to uphold the appeal was the stalwart Steve Uhring, who spoke of his long commitment to preserve Malibu’s value and vision.

Councilperson Doug Stewart in his remarks commented the project appeared more like a hotel than a home, though it should be noted his appointment to the Planning Commission of the controversial pro-development Drew Leonard who had supported the project.

Seemingly confused was conflicted councilperson Marianne Riggins, who though wanting more information yielded to Stewart, and when he voted for the appeal, she with apparent difficulty did also.

Councilperson Haylynn Cohen Conrad did not vote, having to recuse herself for having been one of the signatures of the appeal, as, surprise, was I.

Hopefully taking note of all this and perhaps viewing the proceedings on YouTube is incoming City manager Joe Irvin.