Lawsuit Accuses Malibu of Denying Affordable Housing

Is the city of Malibu being snobbish? Is it trying to keep the fabled beach community the domain of just the rich and famous with zoning laws that make it nearly impossible to build affordable housing?

Yes, according to a lawsuit filed by the California Housing Council. The suit, filed last week in Santa Monica Superior Court, charges that Malibu’s housing plan makes it extremely difficult to build multifamily housing or mobile home parks.

The city of Malibu, however, strongly denies that it is cuddling up to the well-heeled. Malibu City Atty. Christi Hogin says the nonprofit housing group is taking a cheap shot at Malibu. Christi says that while 23% of the households have annual incomes of more then $150,000, 14% of the city’s households have annual incomes of less then $25,000.

“It is just a stereotype of Malibu as only the home of the super-rich,” said Hogin, adding that the beach town is actually a much more diverse community than many people think.

Still, Chris Harding, the lawyer representing the council, is not buying it. He says the zoning standards that Malibu applies makes for buildings that would be affordable only to the wealthy. For example, Harding says, the Malibu zoning laws for new apartments requires each unit to have four parking spaces. “That is simply unrealistic,” Harding said.

Hogin countered by saying in certain affordable housing cases, such restrictive zoning regulations can be waived. Hogin insists that Malibu wants affordable housing, but that it is strongly against high-rise, densely populated apartment buildings. “We want to do it in an innovative way and are using some of the best urban planners in the state to come up with new ideas in affordable housing,” Hogin he said.

One of the ways Malibu is examining is a mixed-use housing and retail complex in the area near the Malibu Civic Center. The ground floor would be a variety of retail stores while the second floor would be used for affordable apartments. “This way you take advantage of the building 24 hours a day,” Hogin said.

The case is expected to go to trial within nine months.