Malibu : Delay of Hotel OK Sought

Malibu’s unofficial City Council will ask the California Coastal Commission to delay approval of a luxury hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean until after the community becomes a city.

By a unanimous vote, the council on Tuesday approved asking for the delay, saying the community should help to decide the future of the 300-room, $65-million hotel that the Adamson Cos. wants to build.

The state panel last month approved the final grading plans for the 27-acre hotel site near Pepperdine University.

The panel approved the hotel in principle five years ago, but stipulated that the hotel must be served by a sewer system before it is allowed to operate.

Concerned that Los Angeles County’s proposed sewer system for Malibu might not win the commission’s approval, Adamson wants permission to build its own waste treatment facility. The firm’s request was to have been heard by the panel next week but was delayed until at least January after the commission staff said it needed more information.