Planning commission says no to another Old Agoura ‘mansion’
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

It’s back to the drawing board for an Old Agoura resident whose plan to build his dream mansion was recently suspended by the Agoura Hills planning commission.

Terry Gray submitted plans to build a 5,764-square-foot, single story residence on an acre in Old Agoura, on the northeast side of Fairview Place near the Colodny Drive intersection.

At stake is the issue of “mansionization” of an equestrian area that many residents—and city officials—want to keep semirural.

Mansionization is construction of new, larger homes or expansion of existing houses making them appear too massive for the neighborhood. The city’s General Plan, zoning regulations and design guidelines address the uniqueness of Old Agoura, but critics say the rules may not go far enough to protect the semirural, equestrian lifestyle.

“I’ve been working on this plan for quite some time,” Gray said. “I think it fits perfect.” He said he believes the size of his proposed home is appropriate in relation to the lot.

Gray’s design called for a 1,008squarefoot attached threecar garage and a 464-square-foot detached two-car garage, plus 955 square feet for covered patios. In all, the structures would cover 7,727 square feet.

A looming effect

The Old Agoura Homeowners Association had recommended a reduction in Gray’s design plan. He complied, reducing the size by 565 square feet. According to Gray, 14 homes in Old Agoura are equal in size or larger than his proposed house. He said he needs a more spacious home to accommodate his furniture and provide extra storage space.

Gray’s neighbor, Jane Swenson, lives adjacent to his acre lot. She said the number of very small houses built in the 1940s skews the overall average size of homes in the entire area.

“Terry’s home is a very lovely thing for the neighborhood,” Swenson said.

Robert Evren, a member of the Old Agoura HOA, said the home would have a disproportionate impact on the neighborhood because of the awkward shape of the lot, which slopes upward by 12 feet. No home in the area would be “quite as wide,” he said.

The home’s location above street level and its size would create a looming effect, Evren said.

“Some of the plans we’re seeing lately erode something we hold precious,” said Cyrena Nouzille, also a member of the Old Agoura HOA. The horsekeeping lifestyle is being “swallowed up,” she said.

Nouzille said she didn’t believe the 12-by-12-foot box stall included in Gray’s plans was sufficient for the area. “If it’s not built right now for horses, it won’t happen,” Nouzille said. She said Old Agoura was about lots’ “negative space” and that large homes chip away at the rural ambience.

Fairview resident Jerry Olmscheid said the width and height of the home would create an “alley effect.”

Longtime board member Mark Dixon told commissioners that he’d like to see a change in ordinances to ensure horse facilities were located on new properties. “There’s no review by the city when they are taken out,” Dixon said. He called Gray’s proposed home “castle-like” and “urban.”

“I don’t want to upset my neighbors,” Gray said, but he asserted that there are many other larger homes on smaller lots in the area. As for horse keeping, Gray said he is only legally bound to allot an area for future equestrian needs.

Beautiful but incompatible

Commissioner Curtis Zacuto said his “gut feeling” was the home was too large. He said mansionization—especially in Old Agoura—will be discussed at an upcoming General Plan meeting.

“We finally hit the wall with this one,” Commissioner Steve Rishoff said. He said the proposed horsekeeping area was not sufficient.

Commissioner Illece Buckley Weber said the home was beautifully designed but looked as if it belonged in Lake Sherwood. “It’s not going to be Old Agoura anymore,” she said.

Commissioner John O’Meara said it was a “close call” for him. “It’s not my place to consider if (residents) are uninformed,” he said in regard to signing a petition. Nevertheless, O’Meara said he didn’t think the home was compatible with others in the area. Chairman Phil Ramuno congratu

lated Gray on saving 19 oak trees but agreed with his colleagues that the home would be too large and looming.

“This lot can’t take this kind of massing,” Ramuno said.

Rather than deny the application outright, commissioners voted to continue the hearing. Gray said he will submit another plan to the commission at a future date.