Misunderstandings on both sides cloud the facts about Oak Creek

By Stephanie Bertholdo Acorn Staff Writer

The $80 million Oak Creek project on Canwood Street in Agoura Hills continues to spark debate between Agoura Hills residents, city council candidates and Las Virgenes Unified School District officials.

Among the controversial issues that continue to plague the project is the projected number of students who’ll enroll in the already crowded school district.

Detractors of the development have stated that up to 550 new students will be generated from the development. Some city officials claim only 172 students will be added to local schools.

According to Donald Zimring, deputy superintendent of the school district, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Zimring explained in a Sept. 29 letter to The Acorn (printed in today’s edition) that the Oak Creek project is expected to generate a total of 225 students in grades K-12. He added that the formula used by the district to derive this number breaks down the projection even further with estimates of 148 elementary students, 23 middle school students and 50 hi1gh school students.

Much of the confusion revolves around a former letter from Zimring, dated November 2001. Zimring was previously critical of the project, which at the time was called "Riverwalk." The former environmental impact report didn’t take into consideration the district’s inability to serve the projected number of students the development would generate. At the time, it was estimated at 554 new students.

Nearly two years later, Zimring explained that his former letter was "predicated on a different type of project in terms of number and type of dwelling units."

Zimring’s most recent communication shows support for the project. He said that the project in its current state doesn’t have the same impacts as the one initially proposed.

"Additionally, the contractor has complied with all state laws relative to school impacts. . . . To date, the contractor has paid $762,285 in developer fees for the residential component of the project," he said.

Some of the money provided by J.H. Snyder Company of Los Angeles, Zimring said, has been used to help fund recent expansion at Sumac Elementary School.

"The contractor has gone above and beyond the minimum requirement and provided an additional $50,000 for the creation of a new computer lab at Sumac Elementary School in recognition of the potential impact the project will have at this grade level," he said.

The Oak Creek project is scheduled for completion of its first phase by November. The 336 residential units and a clubhouse will be available to lease at this time. Occupancy is expected to be available by January.

The mixed-use project is located on a 40-acre parcel, the former site of Denny’s restaurant. The 24 14-unit apartment buildings will reflect a craftsman-style architecture featuring wood trellises and balconies. The development will eventually include a nine-acre commercial site with a 124-unit hotel, upscale restaurants and a small retail center with a coffee shop and other casual dining enterprises.

The apartment complexes are in the back of the property by Medea Creek and feature 144 one-bedroom units, with the remaining 192 units to include two bedrooms. Each unit will have a private outdoor entrance and share underground parking. Rents will range from $1,500 to $2,400 per month.

Confusion over the project has continued because of changes that have occurred since development of the property was first proposed. A 35,000 square-foot office complex was previously considered, but gave way to the present project because a glut of office space remained unleased.

Changes may still be in Oak Creek’s future. Thus far, the Snyder Company has only received approval for the apartments. The retail component of the project hasn’t officially been determined; all design plans and specific uses must be reviewed and approved by the city.

Some elements have been approved. Eleven acres of open space will surround the Oak Creek project with 2.6 acres donated to the city for the reconfigured Kanan/101 Freeway interchange. That improvement project will begin in 2004 and take a year to complete. Canwood Street will be reconfig-ured as well.

According to Agoura Hills Mayor Pro Tem Dan Kuperberg, other development proposals for the site included a Wal-Mart, a factory outlet and a "neon mall" with movie theaters. The previously conceived Riverwalk, now defunct, would have flattened two rolling hills.

Kuperberg said that the Oak Creek development was the best project that had come along in more than 10 years. He added that the project was the best in terms of traffic and "the most environmentally sensitive."