Coastal Commission Approves Permit for Malibu Pier Repairs

• Work to Include Replacing 31 Support Poles in Phases So Pier and Businesses Can Remain Open

BY BILL KOENEKER

The California Coastal Commission, at its regular meeting last week, granted a permit to the state Department of Parks and Recreation to conduct pier repairs and maintenance activities on the Malibu Pier.

There are currently 14  missing or damaged pier piles that need to be replaced and about 17 other pier piles have been identified as potentially needing repair within the next three years, according to state officials.

State Parks representatives told commissioners they want to conduct an ongoing pier repair and maintenance program to replace the missing or damaged support piles and to repair and replace other piles, decking, stringers, tile caps and cross braces as needed.

The commission staff had expressed concern about how the repair work might impact public access to the pier.

State officials agreed the proposed work would be phased so as not to require the closure of the public access to the pier at any time.

Specific work zones will be fenced off in such a way that pedestrians will be able to pass the work areas to get to the end of pier.

The CCC staff recommended that commission members approve the proposal, but not without also approving six conditions regarding permit term, construction responsibilities, debris removal, piling materials, project timing and public access.

All of the pier's existing piles and structural framing members consist of timber. The existing timber piles are all chemically treated and a significant number of the timber piles have been wrapped with a fiberglass coasting.

The historic landmark is a 780-foot-long wooden pier that is owned by the state and is used by the public for fishing and other recreational purposes.

The historic structure was originally constructed in the early 1900s under private ownership.

It was designated a California Point of Historical Interest in 1985, according to state officials.