YMCA vote expected soon

Westlake Village homeowners will decide this month whether a proposed land swap with the Triunfo YMCA is a golden deal or a lead balloon.

A year ago, the Westlake Village City Council approved construction of a two-story, 31,000 square-foot facility on nine acres of land on Lindero Canyon Road to replace Triunfo YMCA’s current storefront office in Agoura Hills.

However, the Westlake Canyon Oaks Homeowners’ Association (HOA) wasn’t happy with the facility’s proposed location, north of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, citing traffic concerns.

The result of nearly two years of negotiations is a possible land swap of the YMCA’s nine acres for 31 acres owned by the HOA near the more secluded La Baya Drive. The increased acreage was demanded by YMCA officials to offset the increased costs and difficulties of grading the hillside of the La Baya site.

The YMCA plans on using some of the extra land to build a sports field with lights for night games or sell the land to the city for the same purpose. This, too, could be a sticking point for some homeowners.

Should the HOA vote down the negotiated trade, YMCA officials have said they will proceed with the facility at the site originally planned.

––Gregory Koteles