Photo: World Tours USA

The last underdeveloped beachfront property in Malibu has been causing a lot of controversy recently. This piece of property has been restricted from development by environmental protection laws and various other legalities. Most recently, locals went to court to challenge a short public review process, which they said violated the California Environmental Quality Act; the city’s General Plan required that any development remain 100 feet away from the eco-important dunes, while the Coastal Commission approved a 5 foot setback.

This beachfront parcel is currently owned by the Malibu Bay Company, who, last year, requested an amendment to Malibu’s Local Implementation Plan that would allow the company to split the property into four pieces to make individual development possible within each section. As a result, to keep zoning laws consistent, Malibu approved an amendment to the Implementation Plan that reduced the required width for all parcels in that district from 80 to 45 feet.

As of now, the Second District Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the new, smaller setback and the Coast Commission’s initial approval. Regardless of this ruling, the property will be hard to develop with its close proximity to the flood plain for Las Flores Creek.

Source: Curbed Los Angeles

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