Overnight Camping Back in the Spotlight

• City and Conservancy Square Off Before Coastal Panel

BY BILL KOENEKER

The big showdown between the City of Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy about overnight camping before the California Coastal Commission takes place in Marina Del Rey on June 10.
The competing interests come in the form of two separate requests from Malibu and SMMC officials.
Malibu city officials are seeking a Local Coastal Program amendment that, among others things, would ban overnight camping within the city limits.
The action was taken by Malibu City Council members in reaction to strong opposition from the community to a plan proposed by the Conservancy that included trails connecting several coastal canyons and camping in those canyons.
When the city denied the SMMC’s request, the Conservancy submitted an application for what is called an LCPA override to make its own proposal to the Coastal Commission that includes the overnight camping and 32 major annual events in Ramirez Canyon where the SMMC is headquartered.
Coastal Commission head Peter Douglas has already critized the city’s stance, saying Malibu, like every other community, has an obligation to provide public access and recreation.
Not only has the matter struck a nerve with residents, but the municipality’s actions have reverberated far outside its borders and the CCC meeting is sure to be packed with environmental groups and other organizations viewing Malibu’s stance as an elitist attempt to keep people out.
For their part, Malibuites see the argument fashioned by an element of public safety since three fires have scorched the community in one year and the yearround threat in a high fire hazard area should be sufficient reason to not allow camping and campfires.