Wetlands Studies Approved for Civic Center Land

Environmental studies that must be completed prior to any development at the city’s Civic Center will be underway within a few weeks, city planning officials said Tuesday.

The City Council has approved the hiring of a consultant who will identify which of the Civic Center’s 120 acres of vacant land are considered wetlands under state and federal law, said planning director Craig Ewing.

Terry Huffman of the Larkspur, Calif.-based Huffman and Associates will complete the wetlands study by mid-January, Ewing said.

In addition, consultants Environmental Sciences Associates have been hired to study other environmental conditions in the area, such as geological faults, presence of endangered species and the potential for liquefaction and flooding.

The city currently has two development proposals in hand from the Malibu Bay Co., primary landowner in the area. One proposal is for a commercial development, the other for a project combining residential and office uses, Ewing said.

City officials do not have immediate plans for additional civic buildings in the area, but are concentrating on identifying land to purchase for open space and recreational facilities, Ewing said.