Resident didn’t like Heschel’s ads

By Stephanie Bertholdo Acorn Staff Writer

The controversy between Old Agoura residents and Heschel West Day School over whether its elementary and middle school campus should be built on a 70-acre site east of Chesebro and Palo Comado Canyon roads, about one mile west of its current facility in Agoura Hills, surfaced again at last week’s Agoura Hills city council meeting.

The Jewish school is proposing to build a nine-building, 165,000 sq.-ft. campus in an area that’s currently zoned for about 14 homes.

When the $25 million project is completed, the school’s student population will grow from its current 150 students (attending kindergarten through fifth grade) to an enrollment of 750 students in kindergarten through ninth grade.

Resident Larry Brown addressed the Agoura Hills City Council last week, once again voicing his opposition to the project, this time targeting the school’s advertising. An advertisement in a recent edition of The Acorn said that the middle school will be opening in 2005. Brown took issue with the statement, explaining that Heschel officials were moving forward with their plans as if the decision had already been made to allow the campus to be built.

"The arrogance of this ad would seem to overlook that at the last meeting of the planning commission, Heschel proponents were admonished for not being prepared to even present a grading plan or footprint, and for wasting the time of both the commissioners and Old Agoura residents alike," Brown said. He asked council members to protect Old Agoura from the proposed relocation and expansion.

In the past, council members Denis Weber and Ed Corridori have backed Old Agoura residents in their opposition to the project.

About a year ago, Mike Kamino, director of planning and community development for Agoura Hills, sent a 22-page report to Daryl Koutnik of the Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning, outlining his concerns with the project. "The development of the Heschel West School project could result in substantial impacts on city streets, on the watershed above Old Agoura, and on the aesthetics, character and quality of life in the Old Agoura community of our city, located directly west of the project site," said Kamino’s report.

Gary Baker, another Old Agoura resident, said in a subsequent interview, the Heschel ad "made an impression that it’s a done deal—and it’s far from reality.

"We all believe that Heschel has a great idea for a school, but in an inappropriate place," Baker said.

Brown went beyond the Agoura Hills City Council with his recent complaints. He also contacted L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslav-sky’s office. In his letter to Yaroslavsky, Brown said, "I have attached a copy of the ad that Heschel has been running in our local paper and wonder if you don’t consider it an abuse of your friendship. They state that the school will open in 2005 and are taking students and I assume deposits now."

Brown’s letter to Yaroslavsky reiterated what he believed were negative tactics used by Heschel proponents in the past. "While I understand that public perception is important to you, I remind you that this is not a ‘Jewish issue’ but rather ‘Jews primarily from outside of Agoura’ vs. ‘the Jews (like me) who live here.’"

Rick Wentz, parent of a Heschel student and vice president of the school’s board of directors, denied that school officials ever made the development a "Jewish issue."

"These are going to be our neighbors. We’re not here to create a battle," Wentz said. Regarding the advertisement, Wentz said, "We’re going to open the middle school, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to open it on the new property."

Laura Shell, a deputy to Yaroslavsky, thanked Brown for bringing the ad to their attention. "We were quite surprised by it.  I’ve contacted Heschel’s representatives to discuss (the ad) with them and will ask them to either pull the ad or change the wording."

The site of the new school would be in unincorporated L.A. County. The fate of Heschel School will be decided by county officials, not the city of Agoura Hills.