Planning Commission rejects ADU next to Pepperdine gate Play

Plans for a small house right next to Pepperdine University's gate on John Tyler Drive were shot down by the Malibu Planning Commission last night.

By a 3 to 2 vote, the commission rejected a plan to wedge in an Auxiliary Dwelling Unit, an ADU, at the bottom of the hill west of the university's tennis courts.

Commissioners John Mazza and Elizabeth Riddick fought. Riddick argued that adding ADUs is important to meet the community's housing needs.

“You really have to look at the project that is before you and you have to try and apply the LCP to protect Malibu as a city and residents that live in it,” Riddick said.

Mazza interrupted, off mic: “Are you asking a question?”

Riddick: “I'm not asking you a question. This is why… I'm not done. I'll take my time. I'll take my time and I'll sit here and talk about it so that people really understand.”

She argued that the planning commission should grant a variance to allow this particular ADU to be placed right next to John Tyler Drive, away from the main house.

John Mazza wasn't having any of that.

“What you just heard was a bunch of BS,” he said. “I'm not a subtle person.”

Well, no one has ever accused Mazza of that.

John Mazza and Marni Kamins, the traditional no-build commissioners, voted no. Drew Leonard and Elizabeth Riddick, the traditionally more permissive commissioners, voted yes. The swing vote this time was Skylar Peak, who voted no.

No ADU next to Pepperdine.