City Moving Closer to Finalizing Deal for Lumber Yard Site

• Plans for Use to Go Before ERB

BY BILL KOENEKER

The City of Malibu’s Environmental Review Board is scheduled to meet on March 28 to discuss an application to permit a remodel of an existing lumber yard and hardware store located in the Civic Center as an upscale boutique shopping center consisting of retail and restaurant space.

The old Malibu lumber yard and hardware store is owned by the city and was purchased as part of the Chili Cook-Off acquisition. The city is currently negotiating with Richard Weintraub for a master lease agreement.

The application, according to city officials, is being processed before the city inks a deal with Weintraub, who has been negotiating with the city manager to operate the facility.

“We haven’t signed anything. There are still ongoing negotiations,” said City Manager Jim Thorsen, who added that the matter is still being conducted in closed-door sessions and he could not comment on details.

“We are finally getting close to a final agreement,” said Thorsen, who acknowledged that the applications were being processed as a matter of “good faith,” during the last days of negotiations. “There is a good faith effort on everybody’s part,” he added. The applications for a coastal permit and Conditional Use Permit were submitted on December 6, 2006 for processing, according to municipal documents.

The city manager said he thought the leasing agreement would be back before the city council for approval within the next 60 days.

At a previous meeting, council members announced they were pleased with the ongoing negotiations and have already been discussing that the extra money promised by the leasing agreement could be used for other municipal projects, including proposed park improvements at Trancas Park.

The ERB staff report indicates that the property, which is owned by the city, contains four vacant buildings totaling 30,331 square feet.

The applicant proposes to remodel the existing lumber yard. The proposal calls for remodeling the buildings to contain 11 new retail areas totaling 27,396 square feet and two new restaurant areas totaling 2000 square feet.

The staff report indicates the plans would not increase existing onsite square footage or floor area. Plans also call for 120 parking spaces on the property, including 46 valet and 74 self-parking stalls.

The property is located near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Cross Creek Road.

The planning department indicated an initial study will be prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and the preparation of the initial study triggered review and comment of the project by the ERB.

“The initial study is still being reviewed [in-house],” said city planner Evan Langan, who said it is not yet available for public scrutiny.