Malibu : Division of Canyon Limited
The California Coastal Commission has rejected a developer’s bid to divide 12 acres in Malibu’s Escondido Canyon into four lots, allowing him two lots instead.
The property’s owner, Dr. Donald Morton, a surgeon and UCLA professor, said he will seek to have the commission reconsider the matter.
Morton said he bought the property two years ago with plans to build four homes there and was assessed more than $200,000 by the county for improvements based on the property’s potential to accommodate four lots.
However, the commission last week agreed with its staff, which said that allowing more than two houses would impair the view from a popular trail that passes below the property.
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