EAT AND MEET AT:
M A LIB U ’S AWA RD W INN IN G N E WSPA P E R S I N CE 1 94 6 VOL. LXXVIII • NO. XLVII
Malibu couple battles city over request to build ADU
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
malibutimes.com • $.50 • WEEKLY
Citizens attend City of Malibu town hall sessions on exterior elevated element inspections
Legal dispute over proposed unit for family member goes all the way to state Supreme Court By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
Like many Malibu and American families, Jason and Liz Riddick have undertaken the responsibility of ensuring that Liz’s elderly and ailing mother’s needs are met and they decided that the mother, Renee Sperling, should live with them. Liz serves as Sperling’s primary caretaker. With three kids, three adults, and pets, the Riddicks’ West Mali- (From left) Malibu/Lost Hills Sgt. Chris Soderlund, California Highway Patrol Lt. Matthew Zane, Michel Shane, Sheriff’s Capt. Jennifer Seetoo and Streets are for Everyone founder Damian bu neighborhood home is cramped, Kevitt stand in front of the Ghost Tire Memorial on the corner of PCH and Webb Way. Photos by Fireball Tim Lawrence. which is not only uncomfortable, but also concerning because such close conditions are not recommended for Sperling, who is immunocompromised, according to Sperling’s physicians. a black vehicle was backing out of CONTINUED ON PAGE A10 Community members a driveway on the south side of continue to advocate PCH when it crashed into Piedra. for a safer road for all He died at the scene of the crash. The City of Malibu released a By SAMANTHA BRAVO statement on the incident on social Of The Malibu Times media. On Feb. 26, members of Streets “The city’s thoughts are with all are for Everyone and Fix P.C.H. those affected by this tragic event. and other officials gathered on the The city is committed to working corner of PCH and Webb Way for with Caltrans in its efforts to a moment of silence as they added improve safety conditions on PCH another Ghost Tire, bringing the while simultaneously exploring ways that the city can address number to 59. Last month, the Malibu Township Council’s latest Ghost Tire was placed in PCH safety concerns within its appeal sets forth 20 bases honor of 32-year-old Jose Alfonso jurisdictional ability.” De Lira Piedra, who was killed in After the tragic incident that for overturning Planning December last year. took the lives of four Pepperdine Commission’s approval On Dec. 24, at 6 p.m., Los students — Deslyn Williams, Niamh Rolston, Asha Weir, and Angeles County Fire Department By BARBARA BURKE and deputies from Lost Hills Peyton Stewart — in October 2023, Special to The Malibu Times Station responded to a vehicle family, friends, and community The Malibu City Council will versus motorcycle traffic collision members have been advocating to soon hold a public hearing con- on 33400 Pacific Coast Highway. make PCH safer for all motorists cerning an exhaustive appeal filed The male motorcyclist, was Sheriff’s Capt. Jennifer Seetoo (left) and Michel Shane install the newest Ghost Tire, on and pedestrians. by the Malibu Township Council identified as De Lira Piedra, of Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way, for Jose Alfonso De Lira Piedra, who killed in a The Ghost Tire memorial was seeking review of the Planning Burbank. According to authorities, motorcycle crash on Dec. 24, 2023. CONTINUED ON PAGE A8 Commission’s approval of the Malibu Inn, a project that involves construction of a new 7,693-squarefoot, 20-room motel above a new Heirs of Malibu pioneer for commercial uses,” owner Greg subterranean parking garage across London said. “The city supports family breathe new life from the Pier. what we are doing and now we are The project also includes a sur- into their parcel by working on obtaining proper perface parking lot, a rooftop deck celebrating artisans, mits for some events we want to with swimming pool, spa and creativity, and community host for the community.” bar area, grading, retaining walls, Longtime Malibu resident Don By BARBARA BURKE landscaping, a new onsite wasteMaclay, who currently serves on the Special to The Malibu Times water treatment system and auPublic Works Commission, was a thorization for the planning di“This is more what I thought member of a team of dedicated rector to submit a letter of public Malibu would be like, with business- residents who helped to found the convenience or necessity for the es based on talent and passion more City of Malibu. Maclay has great sale of alcohol. The project will than franchises and corporations.” institutional knowledge concerning be located at 22959 Pacific Coast Malibuite Darlene Dubray said as the status of commercial properties Highway. Burdge and Associates she walked through Surf Canyon, a that date back to before cityhood in Architects, Inc. / Surfrider Plaza, parcel of land with Anawalt as the 1991 such as Surf Canyon. “The very first thing the new city LLC represents applicant Alexan- anchor tenant located right before der Hakim, who originally filed a one enters Serra Retreat across from did was to form a bunch of advisory committees,” Maclay said. “Walt permit request on June 11, 2018. the Park at Cross Creek. The Planning Commission apThe property has undergone an Keller, Malibu’s first mayor, appointproved the motel project on May inspiring and exciting renaissance. ed me and a lot of attorneys to a Dustin Coury makes travel bags at Surf Canyon. He is one of many vendors at the property. Photo by Amy Smyth 31, 2023. The MTC appealed to “We’ve had the property in our committee that considered matters the City Council on July 27, 2023, family since 1892 — my great, concerning parcels with existing eral Plan Task Force.” by former City of Malibu Attorney raising 20 substantive challenges to great grandfather was Frederick uses during the early cityhood era. Maclay provided The Malibu Christi Hogan explaining that the CONTINUED ON PAGE A6 H. Rindge — and we are zoned The committee was called the Gen- Times with a legal opinion authored CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
Fifty-ninth tire added to Ghost Tire memorial to honor motorcyclist killed on Christmas Eve
Malibu Inn project delayed by appeal to City Council
For locals, by locals: Surf Canyon
State-mandated inspections for multiresidential dwellings must be completed by Jan. 1, 2025 By BARBARA BURKE Special to The Malibu Times
A group of building and architectural professionals, members of homeowners associations, and citizens who own condominium complexes or other multi-residential dwellings in the City of Malibu met with representatives of the city on March 12 to learn how to comply with a new, state-mandated requirement entitled Exterior Elevated Elements (E3) Program, which mandates that, by Jan. 1, 2025, E3s in multi-family buildings with three or more dwelling units must be inspected by a California-licensed architect, or a California-licensed civil or structural engineer. Affected properties include condominiums, apartments, hotels, motels, vacation timeshare properties, dormitories, fraternities and sororities, and social rehabilitation centers. CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
INSIDE
this week
‘The Surf Sounds Loudly’ here: Photo exhibit on display at Surfrider Gallery on the Pier |B1
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 News Briefs . . . . . . . . . .A3 • Pepperdine establishes scholarship in honor of four students killed on PCH Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . .A4 • Events Business . . . . . . . . . . . A6 • Cross Creek Ranch sits vacant, fully landscaped, and unoccupied for another season Real Estate . . . . . . . . . A8 Malibu Life . . . . . . . . . .B1 • A Mending Kids success story People . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 • Nuovo Olloyal Legal Notices . . . . . . . . .B3 Business & Directory . . . B5 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . B9 • Sharks boys and girls swimming to wins