Westlake moves forward on YMCA
By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

On Monday night, Westlake Village City Council instructed the staff to prepare a resolution certifying the final environmental impact report (EIR) for a local YMCA, taking the next step toward construction.

Triunfo YMCA has been working with the Westlake Canyon Oaks Homeowners’ Association (HOA) to swap land and build a new YMCA, but is tired of waiting for signatures.

Triunfo originally wanted to build a new 31,000 square-foot, two-story facility on a 7.3-acre site designated as Lot 80. That parcel belongs to the YMCA and it fronts the eastside of Lindero Canyon Road about 1,000 feet north of its intersection with Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

The facility would include a full-size indoor swimming pool, a smaller hydrotherapy/children’s pool, men and women’s locker rooms, administrative offices, a community room and a gymnasium. Also included would be two fitness rooms, which would be located on the second story.

A 152 parking-space lot would surround the complex and landscaping and circular driveways would encompass the lot. The landscaping around the building would blend into the surroundings of the area adjacent the complex and the architecture would include a sloped roof to match the houses nearby.

Members of the Westlake Canyon Oaks HOA didn’t want the facility on Lot 80. They said traffic would become unacceptable. Furthermore, their houses would sit between the YMCA and a golf course, making noise, traffic and flying golf balls a nuisance.

Westlake Village has been working with the HOA in terms of a land swap deal, whereas the YMCA wouldn’t build on Lot 80, but rather lot 77, a 55 acre parcel of land belonging to the HOA. The land is located on Thousand Oaks Blvd. at its intersection with La Baya Drive.

The YMCA wouldn’t utilize the entire Lot 77, Westlake Village City Councilman Chris Mann said, but would require more space than on Lot 80 due to the contour of the land. More grading would also have to take place. But the HOA is constantly postponing negotiations and has been for 12 months.

Monday night’s council meeting was attended by more than 50 public speakers who voiced their opinions. Many explained their love for the YMCA and the need for more activities for children and seniors in the area. Some spoke about the need for a land swap due to traffic that would result from construction on Lot 80.

Many residents of Westlake Village said they’ve been promised that a land swap deal would be made and they’re constantly delaying a final outcome. Others are tired of waiting. And so is Triunfo YMCA.

Many residents, YMCA staff and councilmembers said that if the YMCA were to make a move toward building on Lot 80, then maybe the HOA would move faster with negotiations.

"I see city staff and council doing everything it can to help," Mayor Mark Rutherford said. He said he’d love to see a YMCA in the area and is confident that city officials in Westlake Village will do what they can to make it happen.

Mann said he too would like to see a YMCA, but believes the land swap is a necessity. "We do have a responsibility to our residents in Canyon Oaks," Mann said.

"What’s the hold up?" asked Councilwoman Kris Carraway-Bowman. She wants to see the HOA sign the papers necessary for a land swap so that the YMCA can be built on Lot 77 and Lot 80 can be permanently designated as open space.

About 30 public speakers didn’t speak at the meeting on Monday due to a late-running meeting, but all were prepared to share their YMCA experiences and love for the organization with the council. As it was, the public forum for the topic went until almost 9 p.m. at a meeting that started at 6:30 p.m.

Ultimately, the Westlake Village City Council and Triunfo YMCA are moving forward with plans to build a new facility. The approach is for Lot 80 construction unless the HOA makes the land swap. The council will take action on the issue at its next meeting planned for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26.