Calabasas Inn could be on the way out

The Calabasas City Council and Planning Commission last week discussed the razing and redevelopment of the Calabasas Inn.

The nearly 4 0 y e a ro l d banquet facility sits on a 5.43acre parcel of land at 23500 Park Sorrento Drive near Calabasas Lake. It has been used for weddings and other events, but in March, Calabasas-based D2 Development and Construction applied to the city for permission to demolish the structure and develop a mixeduse project with condominiums and businesses. Plans also include a community center.

"We feel this is one of the finest pieces of property in Southern California," said Larry Dinovitz of D2. "It needs to be handled very carefully."

More than half the project would be senior housing and affordable units, the developer said. About 30 percent of the space would be stores and businesses.

But the city council, planning commission and members of the public had questions and concerns regarding traffic impacts, connector trails, building aesthetics and how the project might affect nearby McCoy Creek.

The development is still in the plannings stages and public input is being sought, according to Scott Dinovitz, Larry's son and business partner.

"I think it's important that we design a project together," said Scott.

The project that the developer has outlined includes a 51-foot tall building containing 114 residential units, 18,000 square feet of retail space, a senior center and 510 parking spaces within a parking garage. The developer plans for more parking than the city code requires, which would provide much-needed overflow parking for surrounding businesses and for Old Town Calabasas visitors.

The developer has two project alternatives. The first includes a 35foot building containing 82 senior residential units, 15,000 square feet of retail space and 400 parking spaces within a parking garage.

The second plan includes a 35foot building with 18,000 square feet of retail space and 680 parking spaces in a parking garage.

"Alternatives B and C are demonstrations of what (the city's) current rules permit," said Calabasas City Attorney Michael Colantuono. The project that D2 wants to build would require a zone change due to its size and residential density.

Council members seemed to prefer the two alternative designs, which are smaller in scope and would not require zoning changes. The developer, however, favored the primary plan.

D2 plans to preserve the trees on the site.

"It was important to us to design a project that won't just be plopped in, but rather it's going to fit around the site," Scott Dinovitz said. "We think it's also important to preserve the McCoy Creek habitat. I think that it's important in designing this project that the project orient itself to McCoy Creek and also help preserve it."

Dinovitz said D2 wants to create a pedestrian friendly, mixeduse project with connections to The Commons, Old Town and the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Club. "And we want to maintain the city's ambience in designing visually appealing and architectural structures that reflect the beauty of Calabasas," he said.

Calabasas Mayor Pro Tem James Bozajian said, "Before (this project) comes back here (to the council/planning commission), I just hope that it goes through the kind of public hearings that would allow for significant public input, and I'd be interested in hearing that."

The project still must be reviewed by homeowners associations, other members of the public and the Calabasas Planning Commission.

City officials asked that comments or questions about the project be directed to the developer at (818) 222-2530.