Westlake Village

Lowe’s hangs in the balance

Stories by Daniel Wolowicz danielw@theacorn.com

Without question, Westlake Village residents witnessed a sizable uptick in construction throughout their city in 2005.

The project that created the biggest buzz was the proposed Lowe’s development on a 22-acre lot off Russell Ranch Road in Westlake Village.

Developers also submitted plans to develop 62,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space on the property, and a 20,000-square-foot high-end car dealership.

Major opposition came from the Renaissance Homeowners Association adjacent to Lowe’s.

The big-ticket item closest to completion is the Dole Wellness Center and Four Seasons Hotel at the corner of Via Colinas and Lindero Canyon.

In addition, the council is another step closer to bringing a 35,000-square-foot YMCA sports complex to Westlake Village with the finalization of a land trade agreement between the Westlake Canyon Oaks Homeowners’ Association and the Triunfo YMCA.

The council voted to approve the new YMCA in August. Inn & Spa goes down in defeat

In the fall, Calabasas voters said no to the proposed Malibu Valley Inn & Spa development on Mulholland Highway in the Santa Monica Mountains.

It was the most controversial development proposal in the city’s history.

The city council council had placed an advisory measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that gauged public opinion about the 342,000-squarefoot spa and equestrian resort. Twothirds objected to the project, fearing disruption to the rural lifestyle at the Mulholland Highway/Las Virgenes Road intersection.

Shortly after the election, developer Brian Boudreau seemed undecided about the inn and spa’s future, but said he still had the option of building up to 51 luxury homes on the 443-acre site, a project that Los Angeles County previously approved. Election held without candidates

Westlake Village welcomed longtime educator Susan McSweeney as the city’s new mayor. Councilmember Jim Bruno was named mayor pro tem.

McSweeney, outgoing Mayor Mark Rutherford and fellow Councilmember Robert Slavin were reappointed to their seats by a council vote in late August when no challengers ran against them in the city election. It was a first for the city.