SMMC Board Approves Modified DEIR

• Camping Reduced and Propane Use Cut from Modified Plan

BY SUZANNE GULDIMANN

It was standing room only when the board of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority met to vote on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Malibu Parks Malibu Parks Public Access Enhancement Plan—Public Works Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report Modified Redesign Alternative on Monday night at Temescal Park in Pacific Palisades.

A large contingent of Malibu residents—some complaining bitterly that the meeting was in Pacific Palisades, not Malibu—attended the meeting, but the tone was generally calmer than at earlier meetings.

For many, recent changes, including a reduction in campsites and other development and a new prohibition on propane use, appeared to have allayed at least some fears.

However, opposition to a variety of plan aspects remained strong, especially among among residents of Ramirez Canyon and Malibu Road.

Paul Edelman, MRCA Chief of Natural Resources and Planning, began the meeting with a presentation on the Modified Redesign Alternative, stating that the redesign addresses many of the concerns expressed during the project’s development. “No more propane or lanterns,” Edelman said. “Every  alternative strictly forbids any kind of campfire.”

Edelman explained that while the original Proposed Plan included campsites at five parks: Corral Canyon Park, Conservancy Malibu Bluffs Property, Ramirez Canyon Park, Latigo Trailhead, and Escondido Canyon Park, the MRA concentrates “the bulk of the proposed campsites” into one PCH-adjacent cluster at Corral Canyon Park and in two clusters on the Conservancy’s Malibu Bluffs property.

The MRA retained the potential for two Americans with Disabilities Act accessible campsites at Ramirez Canyon Park, but eliminated all camping at the Latigo property, and Escondido Canyon Park.

According to the MRA’s DEIR,  the plan now includes 54 campsites, compared to the 71 in the Proposed Plan. However, the MRA includes a higher percentage of large sized campsites to equalize the number of campers that could be accommodated between the two versions of the plan.

The remaining camping sites at Corral Canyon are close to PCH. In the modified plan, an upper camping area is now reserved for day use only.

At Bluffs Park, the main campground would now be located to the west end of the property. A central camping and access from Malibu road have been eliminated.

Edelman stated that, in addition to the 54 campsites, the MRA includes 71 new parking spaces, 12 day-use areas and 17.5 miles of new trail.

 “Most ESHA impact is from trail construction,” Edelman said, adding that the maximum number of trees that could be removed is 13, with one or two the preferred number. “There are no unmitigatable impacts,” Edelman said. [The MRA] is environmentally superior.”

Not everyone agreed. Many Ramirez Canyon residents expressed concern over a component of the plan that calls for widening the narrow canyon to 20 feet, 25 feet at fire hydrants.

Steve Amerikaner, the attorney representing the Ramirez Canyon Preservation Fund stated that the plan would create “two slashes in Ramirez Canyon 60-65 feet wide,” with “no shade, no specimen trees. It will fundamentally change the character of the canyon. We do not object to camping for the disabled. We do not object to trails, we object to the road,” he said.

“How in good conscience can you deliberately ruin a neighborhood?” asked Joyce Ball, a 45 year resident of the canyon. “We're never been able to get a bridle trail, we've tried for 40 years. We would like that but we don’t want to see caravans of trucks driving through.”

“We’re like you,” RCPF member Rick Mullen said.  “We own property. You do too. We would hope a neighbor like the conservancy would be an ally. Ironically, we find ourselves opposing [you] because of excess development.”

Many of the Ramirez speakers stated that they would prefer that the conservancy pursue an easement into its canyon property from Kanan by a road called Via Accero, limiting its canyon road use for emergencies.

After public comment, SMMC executive director Joe Edmiston described the road widening plan as “grossly exaggerated,” and explained that the project was included in the plan at the request of the fire department, to ensure that the road would be accessible during an emergency.

The actual language in the MRA states: “In response to receipt of the LACFD comment letter, MRCA communicated with LACFD by email, phone, and in person to better understand the fire department's comments and to ensure that, as necessary, that the MRA adhere to LACFD’s recommendations. The Proposed Plan and the Redesign Alternative included the widening of the existing access road and removal of encroachments in the road easements, as necessary, to provide 20-foot clearance for emergency ingress/egress in the canyon along Delaplane Road and Ramirez Canyon Road. In addition, the MRA provides for additional widening to a total road width of approximately 26 feet, for a length of approximately 50 feet adjacent to all existing fire hydrant locations. This additional widening would occur in order to maintain adequate room for operations during an emergency incident along Ramirez Canyon Road and/or Delaplane Road, if required by the responsible fire agency.”

Representatives of the Malibu Road Association were also unappeased by MRA modifications, cautioning that the Bluffs area is “geologically unstable and fire prone.”

“It's not NIMByism,” Malibu Road Association attorney Greg Aftergood said. “We are strong advocates of public space. If you drive alone Malibu Road, two things apparent: undulating road and water mains above ground. We submit that less could be more. More undisturbed areas, more oversight. [Eliminating campsites] eliminates inherent risk of having waterline and electrical all over,” he said.

Other Malibu Road residents criticized plans for a two stall restroom, located on the road near the public beach access, potential view impacts, and loss of what was described as grasslands deemed “ESHA-worthy.”

The City of Malibu, represented by associate planner Joseph Smith, requested more time to review the DEIR documents. “The city hopes you will not take action tonight, that you will take time to reviewed the documents.”

Upper Winding Way and  and Murphy Way Homeowners Association representative attorney Stanley Lamport was there to thank the conservancy for listening to the HOA's concerns and modifying the plan in that area. “The association supports the modified alternative,” he stated.

Retired firefighter and Santa Monica Mountains open space advocate Don Wallis applauded the MRA. “This is the best and most thorough fire plan ever devised. I rise in support of modified plan. Adopt it soon and get us on trails,” he said.

After public comment and a break for dinner, the board voted to approve the Modified Re-design Alternative with just one no vote—cast by City of Malibu representative Mayor Jefferson Wagner—and one abstention.

The entire DEIR document is available online at smmc.ca.gov