Traffic, safety concerns raised over Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue project

Michele Willer-Allred, Staff Reporter 9:02 am PST December 9, 2020 – Malibu Surfside News

A decision on the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue project has been delayed by the Malibu Planning Commission over traffic and safety concerns.

On Monday, the commission voted 4-0 to seek additional input from the Public Safety Commission about the traffic safety aspects of the project at the center’s existing location at 24855 Pacific Coast Highway.

Planning Commissioner Steve Uhring recused himself from the meeting because he might have to make a decision on the same project after he takes a seat next week on the City Council.

Representatives from the Malibu Jewish Center were seeking permits for the project, which includes removal of four modular buildings and redevelopment of the site with a two-story, 16,410-square-foot classroom/administration building. Within the new building would be two subterranean levels, one for 28 parking spaces and a second for storage.

In addition, the project calls for construction of a new temple building, and redevelopment of the existing surface parking lot to improve internal circulation and parking. The total square footage at the site would increase by 12,800 square feet, but the outside existing footprint would not increase.

In total, 108 parking spaces are proposed on the site, with the center intending to continue to use off site parking at City Hall or an alternate lot for overflow.

George Greenberg, a longtime Malibu resident who serves as chairperson of the Malibu Jewish Center’s building committee, said the center has been at the present location since 1992 and that the modular buildings are at the end of their usable life. He said the new buildings would be more sustainable and fire safe, and provide the center a way to provide more meaningful service to its congregation.

As part of the project, the center wants to add a temporary crosswalk across PCH during larger events.

Ron Goldman, who owns an office building west of the center said he had no problem with the temple use or expansion. However, he said that he has a substantial issue with a project that would create insufficient parking on the site that is not only dangerous, but a clear violation of codes and regulations.

Goldman said a shuttle should not be a solution to inadequate parking. He also said an unsafe situation already exists at the location with people attending events there continuing to illegally park on the highway and other building parking lots.

Goldman, who is also an architect, said that the applicant instead should add a one-level parking structure below the existing surface parking. While he said that solution would add about $3 million to the cost of the project, it will also help to avoid potential legal costs against the center and the city.

Representatives for the project said traffic and other issues have been vetted by professionals and the city for more than six years, and that the shuttle system actually reduces the number of entrances and exits into the property, and discourages parking on the highway.

Project architect David Gray said building a larger underground parking lot would be difficult because of the septic and storm water mitigation systems on the site, and also because of restrictions to build in environmentally-sensitive areas.

Planning Commissioner Jeff Jennings said he has concerns even if another parking lot is built, because the current parking situation there is unsafe. He said a solution could be insisting those attending events arrive by shuttle.

Planning Chair John Mazza said the city’s staff report miscounts the number of parking spaces needed for certain events, and that the city previously approved substandard parking spaces at the site that are not legal.

“The plan when you develop is to have people park on site. When you have a plan for people to park on the highway on both sides and use a crosswalk … that’s not exactly parking on site,” Mazza added.

He said the city’s code also only allows offsite parking within 300 feet, but right now it’s miles away, so a traffic study is needed in that regard.

Planning commissioners agreed that center officials need better plans to handle some of the larger events that they’re proposing on the site, and that input is needed from the Public Safety Commission regarding highway safety.

“This is clearly an issue of public safety. It just doesn’t make any sense not to let the (commission) weigh in,” Jennings said.

“Obviously everybody wants an improved Jewish synagogue. So, come back when you feel the answers are enough to provide us a reason to approve this,” Mazza said.