Ballot measure will give voters say on open space

By Michael Picarellapic@theacorn.com

On Nov. 8, Calabasas voters will be asked just how much they value the city’s open space.

Last week, the Calabasas City Council approved placing a measure on the November ballot that asks city residents whether or not a change in open space designation should require two-thirds voter approval.

“(The city council) considers open space so important an issue that they wish to bind themselves and future councils from being able to change open space designations in the city to other uses such as residential or commercial,” said Tony CoroallesCalabasas city manager. “If this measure passes, only the votersthrough a two-thirds majoritywill be able to (change the designation). Currently, a majority vote of council can do so.

“Some may think that it’s very good to lock up these lands,” Coroalles said. “Others may think that as time, needs and conditions change, the council should have the flexibility to change designations.”

Calabasas City Councilmember James Bozajian brought the item to the council.

“I brought the proposal before the city council as part of my ongoing work on open space issues,” Bozajian said. “I previously worked on inventorying the city’s land holdings and streamlining the manner in which we acquire various properties for future preservation. I carefully designed Calabasas’ Open Space Initiative to mirror a similar measure that was approved by Agoura Hills’ voters in 1999 by a margin of 85.7 percent to 14.3 percent.

“This measure would, in fact, become a municipal ordinance that restricts the city council’s ability to redesignate open space for other, development-oriented uses,” Bozajian said.

He hopes the trend of open space preservation in the city will continue.

“It’s my hope that by having the jurisdictions in the Conejo Valley consider and adopt similar open space measures, we can work together to preserve a broad spectrum of land in the region for future generations,” Bozajian said.