Calabasas
to consider
plan for 40 new homes
By Michael Picarella
pic@theacorn.com

The Calabasas Planning Commission will discuss at its meeting next Thursday night a request to construct 40 clustered, market rate, single-family homes at 4240 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. The applicant wants to subdivide a 21-acre parcel, with one section for new homes and the other to be dedicated as open space.

According to Calabasas Planner Dustin Woomer, plans call for the removal of one oak tree and encroachment upon another tree at the site.

"It’s a partial hillside lot and (the applicant) is proposing to dedicate (the hillside portion as open space)," Woomer said. The applicant is going to develop the area closest to the street and 11 of the 21 acres will be donated, he said.

The site is directly adjacent to some Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy land. A development proposal for a similar parcel might receive criticism from environmentalists, but so far, it’s received none, according to Woomer.

"I know that the applicant has gone to at least five or six of the (homeowners’ associations) in the area," Woomer said. "They haven’t come to the city with any concerns."

Plans for the project call for Las Virgenes Road improvements.

"Right now, Las Virgenes (at this site) is one lane in each direction," Woomer said. "This applicant will be constructing two lanes in each direction, with median improvements and bike lanes."

Woomer expects one or two more public hearings on the proposal at the planning commission before it goes before the council, which, he said, could be six months from now. If the council immediately approves the project, construction could begin a year later, Woomer said.

"It’s really hard to determine the public review process and how long that’s going to take," Woomer said.

The first public hearing on this matter will be at 7 p.m. next Thurs., March 11 at Calabasas City Hall, 26135 Mureau Road.

For more information, call city hall at (818) 878-4225.