MALIBU—An agreement has been reached between the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and the Malibu Community Alliance (MCA). The agreement settles MCA’s appeal of the Malibu High School Campus Measure BB project to the California Coastal Commission.
Measure BB is a project that will provide the campus with a facelift and utilize all entities with positive optimization. It will provide new classrooms, administration and library facilities, as well as state-of-the-art outdoor lighting for a new 150-space parking lot and lighting for the existing parking area.
Cami Winikoff of MCA released a statement, “We want to thank the California Coastal Commission, the International Dark Sky Association and lighting expert Jim Benya whose guidance enabled us to develop a plan that is protective of the night skies. With everyone working together we were able to achieve an agreement that is a win for the School District, a win for the Malibu community and a win for the California coast and we could not be happier.”
The new state-of-the-art lighting technology involves LED fixtures that will reduce light output by more than 65 percent. Surrounding neighborhoods will also benefit, as the new 150-space lot will be equipped with 54-watt and less LED fixtures with full cut-off capability that prevents spill light and glare. LED lights use 3000k temperature bulbs that provide a less intense lighting environment. These lighting fixtures will also be used in the lower campus parking lot and parking lot A, located west of the Boys & Girls Club.
The management plan will better control the hours of usage of the new 150-space lot. The plan calls for different allotted times for lighting optimization, and it will be divided into three sectors. Area One, will be used every day and lighting will be on until 10 p.m. as controlled by motion sensor switches. This section is the lowest section of the lot and the least visible to the nearby residents.
Area Two, will also be controlled by motion sensor switches, but the time allotted will go until 8 p.m. Electronically locking gates will close off this section after 8 p.m. prohibiting any access to vehicles. Area Three, will only be lit up during 16 nights of evening sporting events and an additional 15 nights for special events. On these nights, lighting and access will be granted until 10:30 p.m.
Jan Maez, Associate Superintendent, Business and Fiscal services for the SMMUSD stated: “This agreement allows us to provide safe and adequate parking in support of our school activities and at the same time protects nighttime views of the Malibu community. We are pleased that this agreement will allow us to begin construction on the MHS campus improvements. Our students and the community deserve the campus modernization.”
