Plan to Destroy 11 Homes Opposed

Two homeowner groups squared off at Tuesday’s meeting of Malibu’s City Council-elect over a county plan to destroy 11 homes and reroute Las Flores Creek in order to open Rambla Pacifico Road, closed by a landslide since 1984.

Describing the county’s plan as a “meat-cleaver approach,” Susan Shaw, president of the Las Flores Canyon Residents Assn., called instead for a solution that did not destroy the homes or the creek. Shaw contended that Rambla Pacifico homeowners supported the county plan, even though it would uproot at least 50 Las Flores residents.

Craig de Recat, speaking on behalf of the competing group, Re-Open Rambla, insisted that the plan originated with the county, not his organization, which represents 300 Rambla Pacifico homeowners.

“This plan is not a Re-Open Rambla solution. The county and its consultant came up with it. (We don’t) want a solution that injures our Las Flores neighbors, we just want to get the road opened.”

The Rambla Pacifico group is suing Los Angeles County in an effort to get the slide cleared. For seven years, Rambla Pacifico residents have had to make a detour of about two miles via Hume Road and Las Flores Canyon Road to reach Pacific Coast Highway. Police cars and firetrucks take the same route, which even a county report acknowledges is dangerous.

At the urging of both homeowners groups, the Malibu council agreed to intervene in the fight with the county.