Yes on Measure Z

Right now, everywhere I turn I see office buildings and industrial developments. Enough.

The Town Center at Westlake Village is the right choice for this city. My husband built the first wall in Westlake Village, and I've turned shovels to help developments rise from the earth here.

I understand everyone's concerns because Westlake Village is a special, amazing place. Measure Z and the Town Center are in line with what we want to preserve and now is our chance to fight for our beautiful city.

Vote on Nov. 7 and be sure you understand what you're voting for. Yes on Z is a vote yes for restaurants, shops and a Lowe's. No on Z is a vote for another office complex that would be 40 percent bigger than the Town Center.

Save Westlake Village? You bet I will. I will vote yes on Z. Carol Puleo Westlake Village

I support Measure Z and the Town Center because it will bring Lowe's and so much more to our city. I look forward to enjoying a variety of shops and restaurants.

We simply don't need or want another huge office complex.

The Town Center would mean visitors spread throughout the day (not rush hour traffic), more than $750,000 in annual tax revenue vs. just $100,000 with an office complex, and preserved oak trees and greenspace. A four-store office complex offers none of that beautification.

I trust the Westlake Village City Council, the Acorn and the Ventura County Star, and I urge Westlake Village residents to vote yes on Measure Z on Election Day. Gloria Caplan Westlake Village

Another office building will not benefit our city or our neighbors.

Those neighbors in Agoura Hills that are adjacent to the back of the Lowe's property would not be served with a fourstory building looming over their homes.

There were concerns regarding the proximity to the park on Russell Ranch Road.

If you haven't visited the site, please do. Its impact on the park will be far more minimal than those commercial properties already in existence.

I urge you to ask questions and hope that your conclusion will lead you to vote "yes" on Measure Z. Jeanne Harrison Westlake Village

I'd like to urge all Westlake Village voters who remain unsure about Measure Z and the Town Center to visit the project site on Russell Ranch Road.

Visitors and deliveries will be directed immediately to the Town Center without going near, around or past any residences.

Our children will never play anywhere near the Town Center site, which is tucked at the curve of the road and surrounded by existing office buildings, not residences.

There's no question that another office complex would congest our intersection beyond repair. The individuals who said no to Costco and others shop there with pleasure.

Mark Nov. 7 on your calendar now. Westlake Village cannot afford to miss this opportunity. John Khaki Westlake Village

I'm particularly excited about the variety of wonderful restaurants the Town Center would provide. If you've done your homework, you recognize the ridiculous claims being made by the opposition.

Every restaurant that becomes a tenant of the Town Center must offer valet parking. "Would you like valet parking with your fries?" just doesn't have the same ring. But the bottom line is that fast food restaurants are not even an option because Measure Z prohibits them. That means they are forbidden, not allowed, excluded by the language of the initiative.

If you have questions, you can call councilmembers Mark Rutherford, Bob Slavin or Philippa Klessig because they understand that this project is good for our city. They, along with a majority of former mayors and city leaders, plan to vote yes on Measure Z on Nov. 7.

Please join us. Say yes to more revenue and more options. Vote yes on Z. David Goldberg Westlake Village

As a proponent of Measure Z, I feel a strong obligation to speak up when I feel someone is misleading voters. Councilman Jim Bruno is misleading voters.

Bruno tells us if we vote no on Measure Z "we will see other options." First of all, there is no "we" in this equation. The land on Russell Ranch Road is privately owned. The Nov. 7 vote is before voters because it's up to us, the voters, whether zoning can be changed to include commercial development. If we don't approve the Town Center, the private landowner will immediately sell this expensive piece of land.

Who can easily snatch up this piece of land? Who will immediately purchase and develop this piece of land? An office developer. What will be built on this piece of land if the Town Center and Measure Z is not approved? The four-story variety, another office complex.

For more information, call the majority of the City Council who support this project, i.e., Councilwoman Klessig, Councilman Rutherford and Councilman Slavin. The project previously deadlocked because one council member recused himself from the vote. On Nov. 7, rest assured a majority of our council will be voting yes on Measure Z. Kris Carraway-Bowman Westlake Village

Voting yes on Measure Z on Election Day will bring us one step closer to having all the benefits of a Lowe's home improvement store within convenient reach. I've been tremendously impressed with Lowe's products and services, and I look forward to having those benefits nearby instead the inconvenience of trekking to Home Depot.

For people who complain that Lowe's is a big box, I urge you to take a look at the renderings that show what our Lowe's would look like. The attention to detail includes making sure the materials used blend with our community. I think the store will look beautiful.

Opponents who are against a big box will certainly want to vote yes on Z because otherwise we'll see a four-store office complex go up on that site, sandwiched between all the other office complexes that are already there, causing rush hour traffic. If a four-store office complex isn't a big box, then what is?

The opposition as you know is being funded by the Do-it Center. Please don't let one business intent on thwarting competition dictate your choices. Look at the facts and decide for yourself. I choose Lowe's and the Town Center, and I am voting yes on Measure Z. Janis CasperWestlake Village

I'm sure that in the last weeks before election, we will be receiving more mail and newspaper articles about Lowe's and how bad it will be to have such a store. By now most of us are aware who is behind these scare tactics and how bad it will be for our city of Westlake Village. This is being generated by a Thousand Oaks store owner. Why are we listening to this garbage? The same type of trash was generated when Costco was going to be built. I often see those same people who were against Costco filling their basket up to the brim. I don't hear much hue and cry about Home Depot going into the old Kmart store.

Many of our neighbors are remodeling their homes. Just think how convenient to be able to purchase all our needs in our own backyard. It will also generate jobs for our children and families who need to work, and this will keep them close to home.

When are the voters in Westlake Village going to stop supporting a Thousand Oaks retailer and keep the money in our own coffers? With the new Lowe's project and amenities we will be on the right track. Remember, office complexes bring only traffic and no money for our city.

Please vote yes for Z. This will certainly keep Westlake Village solvent for now and the future. Crosby and Barbara Fentress Westlake Village