Malibu Towing Situation Critical – Local Firm Kicked Off Lot
Written by 991KBU on July 25, 2018
There was a crash yesterday … on Pacific Coast Highway at Trancas Canyon Road.
One injury … a driver whose car flipped over.
P C H was blocked for 95 minutes … traffic diverted down Broad Beach Road … a huge traffic jam.
But this story isn’t about the crash.
it’s about the delay … and the imminent prospect that delays liek that are gloign to get more commonplace … and worse.
That’s because Malibu is about to lose its only tow yard … a victim of increased development.
Malibu Tow has been kicked off it leased lot … behind the abandoned sheriff’s station at th CIvic Center.
Santa Monica College is going to build a branch campus there … starting next month.
Malibu Tow has nowhere to go.
Owner Dale Gehardt told the city council Monday night … Malibu is about to lose its only local tow trucks.
NEWSCART 77605 GEHARDT TOWING QQQ PARK OR NEWBERRY PARK.
“Zoning restrictions and affordable property are causing substantial delays.
“And at present, without government assistance or zone modification, we are faced to entertain the idea moving Malibu Towing to our facility in Oxnard.
“There is also no zoning closer in Agoura or Calabasas.
“The closest is in Canoga Park or Newberry Park.”
Local businesswoman Sherman Baylin told the city council Monday that Maoibu Towing is an essential emergency service … that need to be located ocally.
NEWSCART 77604 BAYLIN TOWING QQQ TO HELP US OUT
“Malibu Towing has been here since 1942.
“They have not just served us, they have become part of our community.
“Every fire, flood, rockslide, crash, and yes Ia mtalking aniout humans at this point, they have been here to help us out.”
A decade ago … Malibu Towing lost its lease for its tow lot … in a canyon next to the Ralphs Supermarket … to make way for a luxury home subdivision.
It moved to the old sheriff’s lot … but several years ago the Malibu City Council agreed with the Santa Monica College district that a Malibu college branch was a better use of the land than a tow truck lot.
But no plans were made for relocating the essential service to be provided here.
Which brings us back to the crash yesterday on P C H at Trancas.
Motorists waited in line … the road was closed for 95 minutes …
But they were lucky .. they could squeeze by on Broad Beach Road after waiting a long time.
With no trucks stationed in Malibu on a permanent basis … those types of delays will be more often … and longer.
