Coastal Commission staff back PCH traffic circles, reject appeal Play

The controversial PCH traffic circles in western Malibu, proposed by the city and the state transportation department, do not violate California coastal law.

That's the finding from Coastal Commission staff. They recommend that a western Malibu resident does not have any reason to win an appeal to the Coastal Commission against the traffic circles.

Dr. Thomas G. Diamantidis appealed the Malibu city council approval of the traffic circles to the Coastal Commission. He argued they would obstruct coastal access and therefore violate the state Coastal Act.

Commission staff poo-pooed that argument. The staff says that the project will actually enhance beachgoer safety and access.

The Coastal Commission will vote on the staff recommendation in two weeks.

The staff report compliments the city of Malibu for having evaluated multiple safety approaches, including speed reductions, better enforcement, and alternative roadway configurations. The city concluded that a four-lane roundabout was infeasible due to right-of-way constraints.

The staff report says Malibu considered emergency needs and concluded that the roundabouts can be modified or removed during emergencies to evacuate the area.

The city's findings that the project will not significantly divert traffic onto residential streets, impair coastal access, or create unsafe bicycle conditions are supported by evidence and therefore do not violate the LCP or the Coastal Act, the staff says.

The coastal staff says the project proposes important safety improvements that will enhance public access for all users, including those not in automobiles, consistent with the Coastal Act's protections on access.

The appellant, Diamantidis, asserts that the project violates Malibu's LCP and the California Coastal Act because it was approved without sufficient evidence, especially regarding safety, hazards, and public access impacts. The staff report soundly rejects all of those contentions.

The staff recommends that the Coastal Commission reject the appeal because the roundabouts make important and needed safety improvements.

The Coastal Commission will decide on the roundabouts on June 11 at its meeting in San Diego.