Malibu Voters Pass Growth-limiting Initiative That Some Contend Applies to Nothing

MALIBU, CA-In a city where “development” is a dirty word, a ballot measure initiated by the city council and heavily promoted by the Malibu Bay Company–the area’s biggest developer–won more votes than another growth-limiting measure initiated by a private citizen group.

Measure N, which will give voters a say in development agreements that involve 30 acres or more, got more votes than Measure P, which would have provided voters the right to vote on individual projects of 25,000 sf or more. Measure N received 3,055 votes for and 2,737 against; measure P garnered 2,962 votes for, while 2,973 were opposed. The measure with the most votes will become law.

According to Malibu mayor Tom Hasse, a vote for N gives voters the final say on a development agreement the city has already negotiated with MBC, which allows development of 29.7 of the 60 acres of commercially zoned property the company owns. The city’s agreement with MBC requires the firm to donate a considerable amount of land to the city for parks and community service facilities, as well as funding to build a proposed teen center and senior daycare.