City Council should approve Lowe’s in Westlake Village

The city council in Westlake Village should approve the Lowe’s home improvement store, not because it’s politically correct, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Opponents will continue to wage war because they’re NIMBYists (Not In My Back Yard). It’s also trendy these days to criticize big new construction projects.

Will the new store contribute to traffic problems? Of course it will, but the city and the developer can work together to mitigate the problems. Will it be an eyesore? No more than Costco.

Will it stimulate sales tax revenue for the already deeppocketed city of Westlake Village? Emphatically yes.

Westlake Village will be so positive in cash flow that it might want to lend money to cities that never learned a basic fact of life: what’s good for business is good for government. That’s a lesson that Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks have learned well.

Home improvement is a growing industry and the area is ripe for Lowe’s, despite complaints from the Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks Do It Centers that the big box store will hurt profitability. Of course it will. Business competition is tough everywhere.

Because of soaring home prices, people will be investing in their homes for several reasons: 1. The desire to make nice homes even nicer. 2. The improved marketability of eye-catching and well-appointed homes. 3. The availability of home improvement loans. 4. The need to repair and remodel older homes.

Residents who’ve made a wise investment in homeownership aren’t stupid—they want to protect and enhance their equity.

City councils have a responsibility to do what’s best for the people, not to run and hide from the inevitable critics. If turned down, Lowe’s will simply go somewhere else.

Proceeding with Lowe’s is the right thing to do.

It will be money in the bank for Westlake Village.