Planning Commissioners Association honors Calabasas resident for open-space advocacy

Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commissioner (RPC) Hal Helsley, longtime Calabasas resident and open-space advocate, was recently honored by a statewide organization of planning commissioners for his work in helping to preserve the Santa Monica Mountains. Helsley has been named "Commissioner of the Year" for the Southern District by the California County Planning Commissioners Association (CCPCA) at the group’s recent convention in Pleasanton.

The CCPCA is a nonprofit organization promoting cooperation among county planning commissioners and their respective agencies.

Helsley was first appointed to the RPC in 2000 by L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who said, "I want to congratulate Hal on this well-earned honor. He’s been a true friend of the environment and a dedicated steward of the land, and I’m just delighted that his peers have recognized his accomplishments with this award."

As both a chairperson and member of the commission, Helsley has successfully championed the Santa Monica Mountain’s land-use plan, winning support from other local jurisdictions and substantially reducing development in California’s most significant area of remaining open space.

Helsley, an LAUSD teacher, is the co-founder and past president of a homeowners association for which he fought urbanization of rural areas in the Santa Monica Mountains. He’s also served on the Los Angeles County Mulholland Scenic Corridor Citizens Advisory Committee, the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District Board of Directors and a variety of other agencies, including the Calabasas Cityhood Committee.

For further information, please call Yaroslavsky’s office at (213) 974-3333.