Nobody moved here to get close to Home Depot

We love Agoura’s rolling hills, open spaces and community feel and are so thankful for this great place to raise our kids. Neither we, nor anyone we know, moved to Agoura Hills for its proximity to big developments and are stunned at the city’s plans to build a Home Depot here.

Consider the following:

1. Home Depot’s own survey said their store will add 20,000 car trips per day over the Kanan freeway overpass (which is NOT going to be widened).

2. Home Depot will put many small businesses, which have served our community for decades, out of business forever. The loss of this revenue plus the costs for added infrastructure, support services and subsidies significantly offset the revenues from Home Depot.

3. Agoura already has 1.3 million square feet approved or under development for office, retail and institutional development. Home Depot is not the only potential revenue source.

4. There are already discussions for three or four additional "big boxes" to be developed near Kanan and the freeway. Is this what we really want?

5. What happens if Home Depot leaves Agoura Hills?

6. What happens if Home Depot decides to stay? Being the 800-pound gorilla gives them the power to demand services and concessions from our city which we may not want to give www.sprawl-busters.com shows how Home Depot has left communities because the community’s tax subsidies to Home Depot decreased.

7. Home Depot faces Agoura Road. Guess what faces the 101 Freeway? The back of Home Depot—and it’s ugly (see a photo of it at www.saveagoura.com/projectproposal.htm.).

8. Is it worth saving 10 minutes to Home Depot when your commute will be increased by 10 minutes every day just to get through the Kanan interchange?

Why not design a development that would: (1) enhance the beauty and feel of our community, (2) support our local businesses, (3) be something we could be proud of for many years to come, and (4) bring in additional revenue.

Local businesses and 500 individuals from our community have volunteered with Citizens for Responsible Growth to help stop the "big box" nonsense. Our city’s code already calls for a limit of 60,000 square feet for any development. However, the city council has the unrestrained right to grant exceptions. A petition is being circulated to remove from the city council, and give to the voters, the authority to approve developments in excess of 60,000 square feet

Please get involved, sign the petition.

We can keep urban sprawl away from our beautiful community.

Michael Gallop

Agoura Hills