CCC to Hear Lighting Extension Request

• Amendment Is Anticipated to Be on October Agenda

BY SUZANNE GULDIMANN

Reportedly bowing to pressure from both sides of the Malibu High School lighting debate, the City of Malibu has submitted an extension request to the California Coastal Commission for its amendment to the Implementation Plan portion of its certified Local Coastal Program to permit field lighting, so the item can be heard during a meeting in Southern California, closer to home.

The amendment, submitted in July, proposes to "add new definitions for categories of slopes and amend Site Plan Review requirements for structures constructed on the different categories of slopes; and modify Table B of the IP to allow lighting of main sports fields at public high schools in the Institutional zone pursuant to a conditional use permit."

The lighting issue, promoted by the school district and several members of the Malibu City Council, has drawn extensive criticism from Malibu residents and environmental activists, who say that the negative impact on western Malibu's dark skies and wildlife cannot be mitigated.

On July 15, 2011, the Coastal  Commission's executive director determined that the city's amendment submittal "was in proper order and legally adequate to comply with the submittal requirements of Coastal Act Section 30510(b). Pursuant to Coastal Act Section 30512 and California Code of Regulations Section 13522, an amendment to the certified IP portion of the LCP must be scheduled for a public hearing and the Commission must take action within 60 days of a complete submittal. The 60th day after filing the complete submittal is September 13, 2011.

"[The Coastal Act] states that the Commission may extend for good cause the 60-day time limit for a period not to exceed one year. Commission staff is requesting an extension to the 60-day time limit in order to allow adequate time to review and analyze the amendment. Therefore, staff recommends that the Commission extend the 60-day time limit to act on the City of Malibu LCP Amendment No. MAJ-1-11 for a period not to exceed one year.

Staff has recommended that the panel vote to extend the deadline for commission action for one year. The item is anticipated to be on the October agenda.