Agoura Village plan draws mixed reviews

Opposition to Agoura Village, a proposed 135acre mixed use development near Kanan, Agoura and Cornell roads, is gathering momentum. But final plans are far from complete as the city's new town center continues to move ahead.

Agoura Hills officials hope the area will become a pedestrianfriendly shopping and

enterainment area combining retail stores, commercial businesses, restaurants and housing.

Some residents who spoke at a recent public hearing about the development say they want the plan to include more environmental protection and fewer residential units. Others are concerned about a proposed traffic roundabout at Kanan Road, citing traffic and safety issues.

Mary Altmann, a Malibou Lake resident, has formed a group called Citizens For Sensitive Development to stop the city from adopting the Agoura Village Specific Plan. She's obtained about 260 signatures on a petition that asks the city to reconsider the entire project based on letters from several agencies that were sent during the public comment period, from Nov. 3, 2005 through Jan. 3, 2006.

According to Allison Cook, the city's senior planner, many of the issues in the letters from agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Game, Caltrans and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area have already been addressed.

Woody Smeck, superintendent for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, had asked that the city incorporate a recreational trail from Agoura Village to the greater mountain trail network and Cook said that suggestion was included in the final environmental impact report.

Other requests for changes could not be accommodated since much of the land in the project area is privately owned, Cook said. Altmann and Agoura Hills resident Steve Hess say the site picked for residential development on the northwest corner of Agoura and Kanan roads, for example, lies within the protected Ladyface Mountain zone and the city does have the ability to reject the proposed housing development.

Altmann said the Agoura Village report grants too much flexibility to developers. Altmann, and many others who spoke at the meeting said the housing element of the plan is too dense for the area.

Hess called the environmental report "lightweight."

"I request that Agoura Hills justify the decision to approve approximately 300 residential units based on the state's requirements," Hess said.

According to Erik Justesen of RRM Design Group, the 293 units will help support the retail businesses and provide a "true downtown environment" that offers a "24-hour life."

At the May 24 hearing, there was confusion over the the individual reports that will be required when developers bring their plans before the city's planning commission and the broader "program report" brought forth by the city.

Cook said the program report outlines the city's vision for the area and is meant to be used as a guide for developers. Builders must still have their projects approved through regular channels. A program report is allowed under the California Environmental Quality Act, Cook said.

Altmann said the city is "skirting rules" with its proposal to rezone the area. She added that the public has had very little time to react to the project.

But some officials believe that after nine years in the planning, several stakeholders' meetings and public workshops, and a 45day comment period that was ex

tended by 24 days when some agencies requested more time, enough is enough.

"It can't go on forever, there has to be an end to this," said Denis Weber, Agoura Hills mayor.

The city council expects to vote on the Agoura Village plan during a continued public hearing on Wed., June 14. For further information, call the city of Agoura Hills at (818) 597-7300.