Malibu : City to Discuss Zoning Law Dispute

Malibu officials are expected to decide formally on Monday whether to settle a dispute with a group of real estate developers over the city’s controversial interim zoning law.

As part of a tentative compromise, the Malibu Village Civic Assn. in September agreed to drop its lawsuit challenging the law in exchange for assurances that the city will consider the group’s ambitious plans to develop Malibu’s main commercial area.

Monday’s scheduled public hearing follows the postponement of a similar hearing last week after negotiations hit a snag over several details, the developers and city officials said.

The proposed settlement also calls for the City Council to reconsider development restrictions that the new law imposed on several parcels in western Malibu owned by the Malibu Bay Co., the community’s largest commercial landholder.

The developers sued the city in April to overturn the interim law. Negotiators for each side want to resolve the matter to avoid a trial, which a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has scheduled for Nov. 12.

Official to Check Sites for Artifacts

The Malibu City Council has named Richard Qun-Tan Shup Garcia, a Ventura resident of Chumash Indian descent, as the city’s cultural resource manager.

Garcia, 23, will serve as a consultant to evaluate properties for the presence of Chumash artifacts and cultural remains. He will work with archeologist Chester King, who was hired under a city contract in July for his expertise in evaluating proposed development sites.

The city requires archeological reviews on all development sites where earth-moving is planned before it issues permits for the work.

The council established procedures for identifying and protecting the city’s cultural resources in an ordinance last October. The procedures, which were incorporated into the city’s interim zoning laws, include a record check with UCLA’s Archeological Information Center to determine whether a property is in an area known to contain Native American burial grounds.

If the preliminary evidence suggests that a property could be a significant Chumash site, a more detailed review, involving digging on the property, may be required, city planning director Bob Benard said.