Organizers Say PCH Median Design Project Is Moving Forward

NEW LOOK—A unique design of hardscape and plantings is proposed that would not preclude median use in emergencies.

Members of the group TheGreen Machine recently announced that plans for a $1.8 million Pacific Coast Highway median enhancement project has entered the preconstruction phase.

“The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the great scenic highways in America. As it runs through Malibu, however, it appears neglected, weedy and unsafe,” said Jo Giese, who is the president of the Malibu Green Machine, as explanation for why the group has undertaken the task.

Giese ticked off a laundry list of new developments that have propelled plans much further along. She said Steve Soboroff, who is the chair of fundraising and owner of the Malibu Creek Plaza shopping center, has pledged $100,000 to complete plans.

Soboroff said he is excited about beautifying PCH, but is more impressed by the safety enhancement of the improvements. “That is of even greater importance,” he added.

Another boost has come from Burton Sperber, who is a 30-year Malibu resident and founder and CEO of ValleyCrest Companies, described as one of the nation’s leading privately held landscape companies. Giese said Sperber designed a hardscape executed in wavy blue tones to reflect the Malibu ocean combined with “waves” of flowering softscape—a unique combination never used on a highway median.

Sperber, who is donating his time and some of his company’s efforts, had his preconstruction team and design studio meet with the state Department of Transportation which operates and maintains the highway. ValleyCrest personnel who attended the first preconstruction meeting came away from it saying they have the full support and cooperation of the state agency’s staff.

Traffic experts say that a landscaped median helps emphasize the visual separation of the roadway by defining and separating opposing directions of traffic.

Land forms and woody flowering shrubs can help to slow and possibly deflect vehicles that may inadvertently mount the median curb. A landscaped median can prevent cars from entering oncoming traffic, according to traffic experts.

Planting in medians can reduce the glare of oncoming headlights. The low lying landscape was chosen because trees and other taller shrubs are verboten. Caltrans does not allow trees or other taller plants because they are considered a negative visibility factor.

The improved median, which will extend from near Cross Creek Road to John Tyler Drive, will be maintained by the City of Malibu. The council approved maintenance funds in its 2006-07 budget. The plantings will require irrigation, consequently drought tolerant plants are being chosen and it is hoped the city will supply the water.

Giese said the response from the community and city officials has been nothing but positive. She said Councilmember Sharon Barovsky may have summed it up best. “This is a mother-and-apple pie project. It’s one of those very rare projects where no one is opposed,” Barovksy reportedly said.

The MGM head indicated the group is still soliciting donations since none of the funds for the project will come from government agencies. Malibu officials did establish a trust to enable all donations to be tax deductible.

caption 1.NEW LOOK—A unique design of hardscape and plantings is proposed that would not preclude median use in emergencies.