SMMC Victorious: Coastal Commission Opens City of Malibu to Public Camping

Readers of The Planning Report would welcome your reaction to and assessment of yesterday's California Coastal Commission decision affirming SMMC's public access and camping plan for the city of Malibu.

The Coastal Commission's unanimous approval on October 13th of our public access and camping plan is significant in two ways. Most importantly, this decision paves the way for the first new coastal camping in Southern California in several generations. It also means that, when fully implemented, we will have 280 additional campers overnight in the city of Malibu. That is something that has never happened before. There is no public camping in the city of Malibu. It is a testament to the fact that the Coastal Act process can work. Even though it was a very difficult process, it has resulted in significant new public access. That is something that is very exciting to all of us.

Why was it a difficult, tortuous journey to get to this result?

The U.S. Census Bureau could probably reflect that there are probably more lawyers per capita in Malibu than any other place. Second to lawyers are rich financiers. We had just about all of those arrayed against us. That is why it was damned difficult.

What was the deciding issue for the Coastal Commission?

The Commissioners were most impressed with the idea of connecting the parks that we have already acquired. We have spent tens of millions of dollars acquiring an open space system that is today principally used by the residents of Malibu. This really opens it up to everybody. That was what impressed the Coastal Commission most-they come from all over the state.

What is the promise in years to come? How will this be integrated into the network of parks? What should our readers throughout the state and around the region understand about this ruling?

At just about any other place in the Santa Monica Mountains, there is a coordinated system of trails-not as many campgrounds as we should have, but there are picnic areas, overlooks, trailheads, etc. A big gaping hole in that picture was the city of Malibu. Now we are going to fill in that recreational map with a dozen new picnic areas and four or five new trailheads, in addition to the camping areas and filling out the Coastal Slope Trail. What is now an open spot in the recreational map of the Santa Monica Mountains, we hope, within a couple of years, will be filled in with these recreational facilities.

Press Release

California Coastal Commission Unanimously Approves Historic Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and MRCA Plan to Increase Public Access to Coastal Parks in Malibu

Malibu-The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously (12-0) last night to approve and certify the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) Malibu Parks Public Access Enhancement Plan-Public Works Plan to improve and increase public use of five open space parks owned by the Conservancy or MRCA in Malibu. The Plan provides the first public camping ever in the city of Malibu, day-use picnic areas, 17.5 miles of new or improved recreational trails, new parking, restrooms, and two new trailheads.

"The people of California who purchased these parklands have won a major victory," said Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. "This superb plan is the culmination of an effort that goes back 17 years. It owes to the resolution of the board members from both agencies, our public agency partners, and most of all from the outpouring of support from the public at large for increased access to public parks in Malibu. When the plan is fully implemented, 280 campers per night will be able to enjoy the blue water view of Malibu's coast when they awake-an experience heretofore afforded only those who are residents of Malibu."

At the Commission hearing in Oceanside, the many speakers in support of the project included public agencies, environmentalists, and community members who will be able to further enjoy nature in the public lands of the Santa Monica Mountains. A group of young people led by Charles Thomas, Executive Director of Outward Bound Adventures, spoke passionately about the value of nature, conservation, and the outdoors to build appreciation of wilderness, self, family and communities for urban youth. "California can lead the way in ensuring that all people have access to nature," said Thomas.

Several homeowners groups in Malibu have fought to oppose the plan, citing fire danger from use of public parklands and from public camping. For this reason, the Conservancy and MRCA have worked diligently to provide a plan that addresses local concerns including an unprecedented, comprehensive fire protection plan which includes not allowing open flame of any kind at the campsites. The plan also clusters campsites at two parks-Corral Canyon Park and the Conservancy's Malibu Bluffs Park-near Pacific Coast Highway and away from residences.

The Public Works Plan connects five coastal parks owned by the Conservancy, the MRCA, and the National Park Service-Ramirez Canyon Park, Escondido Canyon Park, Latigo Trailhead, Solstice Canyon Park, and Corral Canyon Park with seven new miles of the regionally significant Coastal Slope Trail. In addition to camping, 12 new day use picnic areas will be created at the parks and many ADA-accessible facilities.

"This (plan) is a really fabulous step forward, and will bring so much public access," said Coastal Commissioner Sara Wan. "This will really tie together what's missing in this area in the Santa Monica Mountains for the public."

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy was established by the California State Legislature in 1980. Since that time, it has helped to preserve over 60,000 acres of parkland in both wilderness and urban settings, and has improved more than 114 public recreational facilities throughout Southern California.

The MRCA is a Joint Powers Agency of the State of California which includes the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, and the Conejo Recreation and Park District. The MRCA provides natural resources and scientific expertise, critical regional planning services, park construction services, park operations, fire prevention, ranger services, educational and leadership programs for thousands of youth each year, and is one of the lead agencies providing for the revitalization of the Los Angeles River.

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