Council goes mum over early debate on Home Depot
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

The Agoura Hills City Council turned down a proposal last week by City Councilman Dan Kuperberg that would begin public debate on the construction of "big box" retail stores in the city.

Kuperberg said discussions could lead to a referendum in November that would give the public a say about the new Home Depot store on Agoura Road.

Strong public reaction to the proposed 115,300 square-foot store demands immediate attention by the council, Kuperberg said.

"I think it’s something that this community deserves," he said.

But according to City Councilman Jeff Reinhardt, "It’s like having a trial before the trial."

A 255,300 square-foot shopping center, called Ladyface Village Center, would be built between Kanan Road and Litton Industries, just south of the freeway. The development’s controversial centerpiece is Home Depot. Selleck Development Group of Westlake Village recently submitted plans for the project, but formal hearings by the Agoura Hills Planning Commission are still months away.

Kuperberg said a measure on the November ballot might give the city and the developer an indication of public preferences: one large retailer, several smaller retailers or none at all.

Other councilmembers said they feel uncomfortable about airing matters publicly because the development is still under closed session review.

"We’ve been told by legal counsel we cannot take a public position on a project which hasn’t had its application process," Reinhardt said.

"No one should interpret my reluctance to second [Kuperberg’s] motion as a reluctance to discuss this topic," Reinhardt said. "My feeling is if and when … a complete project plan is developed, there will be more than adequate time for everybody to comment on everything, from the environmental impact report, which we not yet seen, to the architectural and so on and so forth."

Kuperberg said if the development were discussed by the city council and placed on the ballot, residents could vote for it or against it outright, or they could vote on an advisory measure that simply gauges public opinion for the benefit of the council and the developer.

"Maybe 90 percent of the people are against, maybe 90 percent are in favor, we don’t know," Kuperberg said.

City planners say the shopping center must still submit an environmental impact report, an oak tree permit and more details about on-site grading and drainage. Once the project satisfies certain conditions, open talks are allowed to begin.