Agoura Hills takes steps
to protect wildlife corridor
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

SAFE CROSSING--The 101 Freeway at Liberty Canyon is a wildlife corridor that enables animals to trek from the Simi Hills to the Santa Monica Mountains. A developer wants to build an office building nearby and the Agoura Hills Planning Commission is demanding an environmental impact report.

Powerful public agencies have spent many years and millions of dollars trying to ensure the Liberty Canyon wildlife corridor remains a safe haven for fauna trying to cross the 101 Freeway. But the final defender of this narrow stretch of land, currently a target for development, could be the city of Agoura Hills.

Santa Monica businessman Joe Crail wants to build two 19,800 square-foot office buildings on a four-acre city parcel at the northwest corner of Agoura and Liberty Canyon roads. But that construction would reduce the paths of animal crossings at the development site to a narrow width of just 25 feet.

Deer, coyotes, raccoons, bobcats and other animals rely on the overpass crossing––the only one of its kind for 55 miles––as their only means to migrate between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills.

The Agoura Hills Planning Commission took steps last week to ensure the corridor’s safety by ordering an EIR (environmental impact report) on the Crail development proposal. Crail had hoped to gain quick construction approval by way of a less intensive document known as the mitigated negative declaration, which the city had previously approved.

Upon the recommendation of both the national and state park services, the planning commission voted 5-0 last week to dismiss the mitigated negative declaration and ordered the environmental study instead.

"The critical path is what is proposed to be a parking lot … We have no alternative," said William Koehler, the planning commission chairman.

The study will look at the noise, lighting, traffic, water runoff and other effects of the development.

Neal Scribner, Crail’s architect, said the offices would agree to turn off all interior and exterior lights between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. when most of the larger animals migrate. Regardless, opponents say the corridor already is choked to near extinction and that the project shouldn’t be allowed at all.

Robert Hitner is a Liberty Canyon resident who frequently volunteers his time to pick up trash along the freeway on-and-off ramps.

"I see the animal prints when I’m walking along. I know the animals use the corridor," Hitner said.

Liberty Canyon resident Steve Fox joined Hitner and 14 other residents who spoke out against the proposed project during last week’s planning commission hearing.

"I have a 6-year-old son and we go out to look at the wildlife every week. I’d like to be able to do that with my grandchildren," Fox said. "I think it’s necessary to make sure this project meets not only the needs of the community, but the wildlife."

Last February, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy completed a patchwork assembly of open space parcels that will allow animals to roam free on both sides of the freeway.

The conservancy spent $3.2 million to buy 107 acres of open space on the south side of the freeway, known as the Abrams property. On the other side of the freeway are the former Carpeteria property and Palo Comado Canyon, parcels already acquired.

Some $18 million has been spent to preserve the Liberty Canyon open space. Crail has some of the last privately owned land adjacent the overpass and wants a city zoning change so he can build offices for his insurance business.

"I’m trying to do a nice, low-intensity project that will really enhance this corner," Crail said. "We’re doing everything we can to make it work."

The development would cause the removal of 17 oak trees, but Scribner said that up to 68 new oaks would be planted in their place.

He said Crail promised to be a "good neighbor" to Liberty Canyon residents.

"It’s not necessary to have an EIR to do this," Scribner said. "We should be able to work with the conservancy without the [Agoura Hills] staff getting in the middle of this."

The city, however, will meet with the conservancy, the National Park Service and Cal Trans in the coming weeks to discuss environmental standards that the proposed development should meet. Included in the talks will be the possible removal of a Cal Trans fence that deer must jump over to complete their freeway crossing.

Once the EIR is complete, the city’s planning commission will begin hearings on construction.

The Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, which includes the Liberty Canyon wildlife corridor, is habitat for more than 450 animal specials, including 25 rare or endangered plants and animals. Scientists say that with a bigger wildlife habitat, animals can prevent inbreeding and have a better opportunity to forage for food and water.