Opinions on development vary

Eighteen people spoke about the proposed Agoura Village Plan during public testimony at the May 24 Agoura Hills city council meeting. Most of the comments came from residents concerned about traffic, housing density and the safety of a proposed roundabout.

Dan Crisafulli, a local business owner, wondered how the city council could consider the Agoura Village concept when five years ago the voters defeated Home Depot. He pointed out that all told, the village project is about 10 times the Home Depot size.

Jim Altman told council members it was "tragic" that views of Ladyface Mountain would be blocked by condominiums.

Ken Handler doesn't want further Agoura Village planning until the Kanan/101 Interchange has been completed.

"Any previous traffic studies have no merit," Handler said.

Local resident Chet Yabitsu said that the project had engineering and design flaws. In addition to concerns about pedestrian safety in a roundabout, Yabitsu was irked that the traffic impacts would not be "mitigatable."

But according to former Agoura Hills Mayor Ed Corridori, "This is a planning document, not a project. . .It's a misconception that (Agoura Village) is a massive project."

As for the roundabout, Corridori said evidence has shown that roundabouts provide safety for pedestrians and cars.

Edmund Hennessy, owner of the Mann Theaters in Agoura Hills, said the traffic flow on Friday and Saturday nights on Agoura Road is "mayhem" and advocates the installation of parking meters.

Melanie Beck of the National Parks Service recommended that the Agoura Village environmental impact report not be certified. She said the "gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains" needs to be protected.

Developer Ted Moore owns a large piece of property on the southeast corner of Kanan and Agoura Roads. He said that during 21 years of developing property, he had never been through such a thorough vetting. Moore said he's comfortable with the plan and the proposed traffic circle.