First Malibu apartment project in 35 years proposed behind Cross Creek Play

The owners of three and a half acres of vacant land behind Cross Creek Ranch have applied to build 20 apartment units behind the new shopping mall. This would be the first multifamily construction constructed in Malibu in 35 years.

The property is currently zoned for yet another shopping center. Putting apartments there would require a zoning change and subdivision map.

But first, the city council has to decide whether to let the proposed apartment houses connect to the Civic Center sewer. The piece of land is part of the mandatory sewer district created 15 years ago, and the owner has asked the city if there is capacity at the Civic Center treatment plant for the 20 apartments plus one house it wants to build next door.

Right now, the plant is operating at about 47% of its maximum day design capacity. But that’s because much of the land in its service area is vacant. The city council is being asked to solicit requests from all landowners in the Phase 1 sewer area, and see if there is enough capacity in the plant for all of their development requests.

Complicating this is an order from the state Water Board for a Phase 2 at the sewer plant, with houses in the Malibu lagoon area being ordered to connect to the same treatment plant. That means the plant may have to be expanded.

The issue goes before the city council Monday night.