Lowe’s unveils plans for Westlake

Charles Rotkin The proposed Lowe’s development in Westlake Village may soon be a one-stop shop for hammers, nails and Lamborghinis.

Charles Rotkin, the project’s developer and president of Rotkin Real Estate Group, said a recent change in the development’s plans allow for a 20,000-square-foot, high-end car dealership on the property. The fully-enclosed dealership will include a sales floor and two subterranean service bays.

Owned by O’Gara Coach Company, the dealership will sell cars from high-end automobile makers Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and Lamborghini.

Along with several upscale restaurants and boutique shops, the dealership will be part of a $45-million project that includes a 168,000-square-foot Lowe’s home improvement store with an adjoining 31,000square-foot garden center.

In addition to the Lowe’s, Rotkin Real Estate Group plans to develop 62,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space. As it stands now, the 22 acres are zoned for 376,000 square feet of office space.

“What makes this development very special is the architecture, the landscaping and the hardscaping plans that went into designing the center,” Rotkin said.

Westlake Village officials say the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Lowe’s project could be out as early as Sept. 1. Once the report is released, residents are given 45 days to make public comment on the report’s findings. The EIR was originally scheduled for release in July.

The most recent delay was the result of a decision by the developers to reduce the overall size of the site by 10,000 square feet, according to Scott Wolfe, senior planner for the city of Westlake Village.

The reduction made it necessary for Willdan and Associates, the environmental consulting firm hired by the city to generate the report, to reassess traffic and air quality estimates, said city officials.

The proposed site for the development is a 22-acre lot located on Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village.

Rotkin said one of the reasons he downsized the retail space was to make room for additional restaurants in the development.

Benihana, El Torito Grill and the Elephant Bar are the three major restaurants that have signed letters of intent to build on the site, Rotkin said. A smaller pad of about 3,000 square feet will be the site of a fourth eatery. All restaurants will be required to have valet parking.

The remaining retail space will be allocated to about 6,000 square feet of boutique shops, officials said.

Rotkin said he has altered the general landscaping plan to include an 18,000-square-foot greenbelt.

The Lowe’s hardware store will remain its original size.

In June, the EIR was amended as a result of an Appeals Court ruling last year in Bakersfield that requires the reports to take into account the economic impact that big-box stores such as Lowe’s have on a ocal economy.

CB Richard Ellis was the consulting firm hired to write he fiscal impact report.

An EIR is commonly requested by city councils and planning commissions when hey’re considering whether or not to allow the construction of a major development. The report ypically looks at how the development affects noise levels, traffic flow, local wildlife and city resources, among other things.