Friday morning, The city of Malibu cannot sue state about bringing an overnight camping sites to the area until the California Coastal Commission has voted on the issue. California Coastal Commission, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

Last July 2008, The city had filed a suit. Decision of Judge James C. Chalfant’s invalidates the suit. Christi Hogin, City Attorney claiming victory because of a technicality included in Chalfant’s ruling.

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy submitted an application to the Coastal Commission for overnight camping sites in earlier this year and other enhancements at conservancy parkland’s in Malibu. The conservancy method is used to apply for its project required the OK from Coastal Commission Executive Director Peter Douglas before it go the Commission voting body. The city sued that Claiming Douglas should not have supported the application because it did not quality for the conservancy method used.

* The conservancy issued press release celebrating its victory in Friday afternoon.

Laurie Collins, chief counsel for the conservancy, said in the press release “As a regulatory body, the city of Malibu should have known that its case was not ripe”.

But Attorney Hogin, Malibu City Attorney was not shedding any tears on that day. She said that Chalfant’s ruling made it clear to prove Douglas’ approval of the conservancy’s application was legitimate both at the Coastal Commission meeting after hearing and at a possible court hearing if the city sues following commission’s vote.

Hogin said it can saves the city money because it will no longer have to go to court prior to the Coastal Commission hearing. He also said It’s good for the budget and good for the process.

Early next year, The Coastal Commission voting body is expected to consider the conservancy’s application. Then, possibly at the same meeting, the commission will vote to ban overnight camping on public land within the city limits in a rival proposal from Malibu.

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