Schmitz & Associates is a Malibu-founded land use consulting firm with nearly 30 years of experience guiding property owners, buyers, developers and project teams through zoning analysis, Coastal Development Permits, entitlements, environmental review, wildfire rebuilding and agency coordination in Malibu and throughout Southern and Central California. The firm was founded by Don Schmitz, II, AICP, a former Coastal Program Analyst for the California Coastal Commission, and is featured on the cover of Malibu Magazine’s Special Home Edition in “Building Through the Fire.”
News
Why California Permits Take So Long, and What You Can Do
Most permit delays do not come from a single obstacle. They build gradually through an incomplete submittal, a second round of comments, or an environmental issue that no one anticipated. Each interruption may seem manageable on its own, but together they can push a project schedule back by months or even a year. Amy Ablakat,… Read More
Newport Beach Coastal Housing Plan Approved by California Coastal Commission
Newport Beach’s coastal housing plan recently advanced after a unanimous California Coastal Commission approval of amendments to the City’s coastal zone Housing Opportunity Overlay. Schmitz & Associates supported the City through a high-stakes land use and entitlement process involving state housing requirements, Coastal Commission review, environmental protection, public access, development feasibility, and Builder’s Remedy risk…. Read More
Coastal Approval Secured for Balboa Library Replacement and Newport Beach Fire Station
When the City of Newport Beach needed to replace a fire station and library dating back to 1929, the project faced community opposition, environmental challenges, and a California Coastal Commission hearing. Schmitz and Associates guided the project through the Coastal approval process in under 18 months, helping maintain the entitlement path and keep the project… Read More
Coastal Development Permit Malibu | Hillside Project Approval
We are excited to announce another successful project approval! We received approval for a Coastal Development Permit for a single-family residential project in Malibu by the Los Angeles County Planning Commission. The project consists of an approximately 5,897-square-foot home on a constrained hillside development site in Malibu along Coral Canyon. Due to steep slopes, sensitive… Read More
Schmitz & Associates Promotes Two Principal Planners in California Land Use and Development
Schmitz & Associates, a California land us planning firm, has promoted Cindy Martin and Chris Deleau to Principal Planner, recognizing their decades of experience guiding complex land use, entitlement, and permitting approvals across California. Both bring a combination of planning expertise and legal training that supports clients navigating California’s regulatory and permitting landscape, from initial… Read More
Conditional Use Permit Approved for Exploratory Testing in Topanga Hillside Residential Project
Schmitz & Associates recently secured approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for exploratory testing and percolation testing associated with a proposed single-family residence in Topanga, located within the Los Angeles County Santa Monica Mountains North Area. The permit retroactively authorized limited exploratory work conducted onsite to support a future residential development. The work included… Read More
Executive Orders Shortening the Rebuild Process – Palisades and Eaton Fires
To our many neighbors and friends: The Schmitz and Associates team is here to assist any and all who have been impacted by this most recent and terrible round of disasters. For those who are interested in rebuilding or in helping others to rebuild, we are sharing the following, uplifting news: Under the recent emergency orders, significant… Read More
Newport Beach Speaking Event on Sea Level Rise
Come hear Don Schmitz of “Smart Coast California” explain how his organization is trying to implement a rational policy for protecting property from sea level rise. HOW WILL SEA LEVEL RISE AFFECT NEWPORT BEACH? SMART COAST CALIFORNIA IS AN ORGANIZATION TRYING TO BRING SOME COMMON SENSE INTO SEA LEVEL RISE PARTICULARLY WITH THE COASTAL COMMISSION…. Read More
Happy Holidays from the Schmitz Team
Taking a Night to Appreciate the Season The Schmitz and Associates team took some much needed time to enjoy all the seasonal festivities and galivanted about Gillette Ranch enjoying the holiday spirit. Wishing the same to you and yours! Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2023!
Planning Isn’t Procrastination – Malibu Times
Planning Isn’t Procrastination https://issuu.com/colonymagazine/docs/malibu_times_magazine_august_summer_2022/52 Check out the July edition of Malibu Magazine, link above. Don Schmitz and family are featured, along with a contemplative position piece by Mr. Schmitz himself, which addresses our current planning and processing environment in Malibu.
PANO AI in Rancho Palos Verdes
More Success for the PANO AI Team https://www.dailybreeze.com/2022/07/27/rancho-palos-verdes-takes-a-step-toward-installing-wildfire-cameras/ We are excited to share that Rancho Palos Verdes recently took a step forward in becoming the first city on the LA Peninsula to install wildfire cameras. This technology utilizes cameras that can detect smoke that could portend a potentially devastating fire. The City Council last week… Read More
Forty Under 40 – Ben Suber
Schmitz and Associates Proud to See GIS Manager Recognized https://www.conejochamber.org/40-under-forty Our very own Benjamin Suber was recognized at the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Forty Under 40 event. We are incredibly proud of Ben. An honor he has earned twice fold and one that reminds us of how lucky we are to have talented… Read More
Smart Coast California Policy Summit “One California, One Coast”
Smart Coast California Policy Summit “One California, One Coast” https://www.planning.org/events/eventsingle/9246474/ 1. Be designed to meet a specific planning-related training objective. The educational purpose or objective must be clearly identified. Coastal Planning is a rapidly evolving segment of professional planning. The educational purpose of this single live event is to provide planners and other interested parties… Read More
Feed Body & Soul
Feed Body & Soul restaurant is located at 1239 Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. It is a lifestyle restaurant located on world-famous Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA. The space, formally occupied by a bookstore and a deli was successfully converted into a full-service restaurant, with Schmitz & Associates securing entitlements in record time. In addition… Read More
La Paz Ranch, Malibu CA
The La Paz Ranch Project is one of the largest and most ambitious commercial projects to be proposed and approved in the City of Malibu. In a jurisdiction with one of the most restrictive Floor Area Ratio (FAR) allowances, and in a community with numerous vocal and active environmental and conservation groups, this project’s approval… Read More
ROSENTHAL WINE ESTATE, MALIBU CA
his $59.5 million wine estate and 12,000 square foot single family residence is one of the most distinctive properties in the City of Malibu and in the Santa Monica Mountains. This 235 acre property also has two guesthouses, an office, a wine-tasting room, two pools, horse stables and a banquet room. Schmitz & Associates has… Read More
OCEAN HILLS HOUSE
Location. The Ocean Hills Houses is located at 18805, 18807 & 18809 Pacific Coast Hwy in the City of Malibu. Notable Characteristics. Ocean Hills consists of three lots totaling 49 acres. The primary lot will consist of a 9,559 sq ft home with a 900 sq ft guest house. On the second lot a 9,141… Read More
MARINA PARK, NEWPORT BEACH CA
Marina Park is located along the North side of the Balboa Peninsula on Balboa Boulevard between 15th and 18th Streets in the City of Newport Beach. The features of this proposed $21 million, 9 acre park includes a new 23 slip visitor-vessel-serving marina with a 200 foot side tie area complete with Dinghy and small… Read More
LAFETRA HOUSE
Location. The LaFetra House is located at 6525 Point Lechuza Drive in the City of Malibu. Notable Characteristics. The LaFetra House is 2,608 square feet and has four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, radiant heating, and solar power. The house was the final building designed by the famed architect Pierre Koenig, who is best… Read More
ANACAPA VIEW DRIVE, MALIBU CA
Schmitz & Associates successfully represented the applicants and secured two Coastal Development Permits for an 11,165 sq. ft. single-family residence and water tank/access road from the City of Malibu in 2011. This development also provides improvements to the surrounding area as a dedicated trail easement, improved fire department access to Anacapa View Drive and a… Read More
MALIBU VALLEY FARMS, CALABASAS HIGHLANDS
The Malibu Valley Farms is an equestrian facility located near King Gillette Ranch Park in unincorporated Los Angeles County that was rebuilt after a wildfire destroyed a part of the property in 1996. This equestrian facility consists of a 45,000 square foot arena, a 25,200 square foot riding arena, a back mare motel, a 1,440… Read More
SUNSET RIDGE PARK, NEWPORT BEACH CA
Sunset Ridge Park is located at the Northwest corner of Superior Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway in the City of Newport Beach. Acquired from Caltrans in 2006, the property was purchased by the City for the purpose of providing a public active park (youth soccer fields, youth baseball field, playground, public viewing areas and pedestrian… Read More
BORNA, MALIBU CA
Schmitz & Associates successfully acquired a Coastal Development Permit for ELN, LLC through a unanimous approval from the California Coastal Commission in October 2012. The permit was for a proposed 7,913 square foot single-family residence which will be located north of the Malibu city boundary along Borna Road near Latigo Canyon Road and Solstice Canyon…. Read More
RANCHO FRANCISCO, MALIBU CA
Schmitz & Associates successfully acquired a Coastal Development Permit for ELN, LLC through a unanimous approval from the California Coastal Commission in October 2012. The permit was for a proposed 7,913 square foot single-family residence which will be located north of the Malibu city boundary along Borna Road near Latigo Canyon Road and Solstice Canyon…. Read More