By Jonathan Friedman
Associate Editor
June 13, 2016 -- Santa Monica
College (SMC) passed one of last major hurdles toward building a campus
in Malibu when the California Coastal Commission last Thursday declined
to hear an appeal of that city's approval of the project.
There are still some other government agency reviews ahead, and the Malibu
activist group that challenged the project could file a lawsuit, but it
appears a Malibu campus first proposed 12 years ago is on the horizon.
“This project provides a unique opportunity,” SMC President
Kathryn Jeffery told the commission at its meeting in Santa Barbara. “This
brings to the community affordable educational services and programs.”
The 25,000-square-foot campus will be located in Malibu’s Civic
Center area.
It will include a 20,000-square-foot educational area with five classrooms,
a lecture hall, student lounge and office for as many as 210 students
and 12 faculty members as well as a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department substation and an interpretive center.
A Malibu campus was proposed as part of an SMC District (which includes
Santa Monica and Malibu) bond measure that went before voters and was
approved in November 2004.
Various issues have led to a long delay in getting a specific proposal
before officials in Malibu.
Malibu officials approved the project earlier this year, granting variances
on height and other development restrictions. The activist group Malibu
Township Council filed an appeal on the grounds that the campus presented
environmental and view issues.
Coastal staff told the commission there was “no substantial issue”
putting the project at odds with Coastal Act policies, including environmental
protection, and that the appeal should not be heard. All but one commissioner
agreed on Thursday.
“This is a very good project and will enhance the community and
not impact negatively on the coast,” Commissioner Dayna Bochco said.
The one opponent was Commission Chair Steve Kinsey, who said that although
he supports SMC, approval of the project with its variances “has
all the appearances of [the commission] being easy on an applicant because
we like them.”
He noted the recent well-publicized accusations against the commission
that it is too friendly with developers.
“We have been unfairly characterized on this commission as one
that perpetuates development by a number of stakeholder interests up and
down the coast,” Kinsey said. “This just allows for that misinformation
to be perpetuated.”
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