Zev points finger at Coastal Commission

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Malibu:

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky blamed environmental restrictions for standing in the way of fire protection in the Malibu area.

‘The Coastal Commission believes that every piece of chaparral is an environmentally sensitive plant…You’ve got to be realistic. This is the real world,’ he said.

The Coastal Commission does not prohibit clearing of brush. In fact, under state law since 2005, Californians must clear brush within 100 feet of their homes and other structures -- 200 feet if they live in Los Angeles County’s high-risk areas, including Malibu.

Steve Hudson, the Coastal Commission’s regional supervisor of planning and regulation, said the commission allows vegetation clearance as long as it’s consistent with that law. New developments must have brush-clearance plans approved by the county fire department, he said.

In addition, new developments in the Santa Monica Mountains area that remove chaparral or coastal sage scrub must pay a mitigation fee. The money goes into a fund for preserving the habitats for rare native animals and plants.

-- Marla Cone