Malibu Municipal Code § 1.1 Introduction

The Land Use Element has the broadest scope of any of the mandated General Plan elements. Government Code, Section 65302(a), indicates that this element must designate the distribution, location, and extent of the various land uses considered in the General Plan:

According to the State code, the location of a particular land use may be expressed in general terms on a map. However, a property owner must be able to identify the General Plan designation for his or her parcel from the land use map or diagram contained in the Land Use Element. The zoning ordinance and zoning map must be consistent with the General Plan. The Land Use Element must also contain standards for population density and building intensity for those areas governed by the General Plan. These standards must be provided for all land use categories indicated on the map.

Through text, tables, neighborhood descriptions, and maps, the City of Malibu Land Use Element establishes a pattern of land use and clearly identifies the standards described above. The Land Use Element and neighborhood descriptions, along with the zoning code and map, serve as a guide for future development.

The Land Use Policy Map for the City of Malibu, which is included in this element, is a diagram which indicates the distribution of land use designations geographically throughout the City. The Land Use Policy Map is a diagram which illustrates the location and extent of these designations. To a large extent, the Map reflects the existing character of development in Malibu. Where property is already subdivided into legal lots, actual densities may be higher than indicated on the Land Use Policy Map. As a result, the overall distribution of land uses in the City will not change significantly. Residential development will remain the dominant land use in Malibu aside from the expansive areas of open space located primarily in the northern part of the City. Background descriptions of residential neighborhoods in Malibu are included as an appendix to this element.

The Malibu Land Use Element is designed to provide maximum social, economic and environmental benefits for City residents through planned distribution, location and intensity of land use. The element promotes a balanced and functional mix of land uses, guide public and private investment, reflect land use opportunities and constraints identified in other General Plan elements, and reduce hazards. The Land Use Element presents a background of land use data necessary to understand the current land use needs; with other elements, identify issues and constraints confronting future development; establish goals, objectives and policies; and identify implementation programs to guide the long term physical growth of the community.

The Land Use Element is considered the key element of any general plan because of its broad scope. This element plays a central role in synthesizing all General Plan issues, constraints and opportunities. It was prepared to ensure consistency with the information, policies, and programs contained in the Circulation, Housing, Open Space, Conservation, Safety, and Noise elements of the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan.

The California Coastal Act requires each community within the coastal zone to prepare a Local Coastal Program (LCP) including a coastal Land Use Plan to protect, maintain, and, where feasible, enhance and restore the overall quality of the coastal zone environment and its natural resources. An LCP consists of land use plans, zoning ordinances and zoning district maps. LCPs must contain a specific public access component to assure maximum public access to the coast and that public recreation areas are provided.

The entire City of Malibu is located within the Coastal Zone as defined by the Coastal Act. The Coastal Zone boundaries extend several miles north of the City limits. Portions of this area represent land which Malibu may seek to annex as its Sphere of Influence in the future. In addition to the coastal and marine resources, there are significant natural terrestrial resources both within the City boundaries and the Coastal Zone. Some of the habitat areas within the Coastal Zone adjoin the City and its jurisdiction by the City boundaries. The City, therefore, has a significant interest in protecting and preserving these resources.

Prior to the City of Malibu's incorporation, a draft Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan (LUP) was prepared by the County of Los Angeles in 1982; this LUP was not accepted by the California Coastal Commission. A revised draft LUP was then prepared by the County and approved by the Coastal Commission in 1986. After approval, Los Angeles County did not implement the LCP by completing ordinances such as zoning ordinance revisions or zoning maps. As a rule, the issues addressed in a City's LUP are addressed in its general plan. However, the LUP places more emphasis on certain issue areas. As Malibu completes its General Plan, the Malibu LUP will be prepared. The new Malibu LUP will reflect the goals and preferences of the City as set forth in its General Plan. In addition, many of the issues addressed in the General Plan will also be addressed in the Malibu LUP. The LCP will be completed in conjunction with the City's zoning ordinance.