Guest opinion

The Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation has a long history of service in the Las Virgenes area. Established in the early 1960s, the Federation is comprised of delegates from local homeowners associations and meets monthly.

It has been my privilege to serve as the federation’s president for over three years. The federation’s delegates include former mayors, city council members, planning/department commissioners, equine advocates, community leaders, and citizens from the Las Virgenes area.

The federation is a forum where local land use and other issues can be openly discussed and the organization’s delegates can vote to support or oppose various issues affecting the area.

Recently, the federation took up the issue of the Malibu Valley Inn and Convention Center. The delegates reviewed the available data on the project and voted several times to oppose it for several reasons. The federation also agreed to be a signatory on the Measure C ballot measure opposition statement prepared by Mary Hubbard of Calabasas, as this position was in keeping with our assessment of the project.

Hubbard’s opposition statement contained an assessment of the project which will appear on the November ballot for Calabasas voters. Brian Boudreau, the developer, chose to file a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Court stating that Hubbard’s statements in the opposition statement were untrue.

The Los Angeles County judge who heard the case found that all 11 points of opposition were, in fact, sustainable and would appear in the November ballot with very minor changes. For example, the word “will” was changed to “may” and words were added to clarify that Boudreau did not possess the coastal permits required to build all the 81 homes he is holding out as an alternative to the Malibu Valley Inn project.

Furthermore, the judge ruled that Hubbard’s statements that the application was “twice the size of the Commons” and that the local bridges and roads cannot handle the 3,000 daily car trips was sustainable. The remaining nine statements declaring other problems with the development plan were also ruled to be sustainable and will remain in the November ballot opposition statement.

The judge did rule that the federation’s signature line in the opposition statement must be removed since the vote was taken by e-mail.This single technicality gave the developer the “victory” which is being reported in The Acorn.

In closing, the federation has, and will always be, committed to the inclusion of any HOA which wishes to participate. Justification for membership has never been the timely receipt of the $50 membership fee to which some have referred. In fact, if that was the case, the single HOA member delegate which voted to oppose the Malibu Valley Inn and Convention Center would not have been allowed to vote, since that particular HOA has not paid the $50.

If anyone has any questions about the federation they are welcome to call me at my home, (818) 865-1748.