Open space zoning is disputed

As I understand the posted agenda, at its next meeting the Calabasas Planning Commission is scheduled to consider a General Plan amendment that would rezone exiting open space/hillside mountainous property in the Mulholland scenic corridor.

The subject property is exempt from the new ordinance requiring a two-thirds vote of the people for any open space rezoning in the city of Calabasas because, as I understand it, the ordinance does not cover any applications deemed complete by June 20, 2005.

Nevertheless, the planning commission could vote the zone change down because no General Plan amendment is an entitlement. Now that I have been removed from the planning commission (in my belief and opinion because I consistently tried to uphold the General Plan as a document that protected scenic values), I see no reason to believe that the city council’s new handpicked planning commission will even consider the possibility that the people of Calabasas do not want any more open space rezoning into residential property, given the fact that I was usually on the losing end of many 4-1 votes during my 20 months on the commission.

I want to remind the citizens of Calabasas who care about the environment that I am no longer on the commission and can no longer be their voice. Other caring citizens will have to speak up. Jack Solomon Calabasas