Council candidate says vision has been lost

Calabasas is a community of neighborhoods, each with its own special character. Malibu Canyon is not Mulwood, Calabasas Park is not the Calabasas Highlands, yet it is the shared open spaces, the feeling of living in the country, that makes us different from the rest of the Valley. I fear we are in danger of losing the historical vision that created our city in 1991.

Contrary to the goals of the Gateway Master Plan adopted in 1998, we find dense new urban development along Las Virgenes Road. We see hillside mansionization on the Mulholland Highway Scenic Corridor, and brightly lit ridgeline development that can be seen at night for many miles in darkened mountain communities.

The General Plan is the constitution of our city. It states that, "preservation of remaining open space lands along with the protection of significant environmental features [are] the highest priorities."

If the policies and goals of the General Plan had been more strictly followed, none of this development would have been allowed to happen the way it did.

Most of the buildable land in Calabasas has already been developed. What remains is either too steep, environmentally sensitive or geologically flawed to easily develop. Most of this land is along Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes Road, both touted as "The Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area."

Despite this worthy claim, more residential and commercial development is on the way for the eastern slope of Las Virgenes Road, resulting in more traffic, more overcrowding of schools, a diminished quality of life and ultimately lower property values for us all.

Are we in danger of losing the vision that gave birth to Calabasas? Voters deserve a choice on March 6. Visit keelerforcalabasas.com to learn more.
Toby Keeler, City Council candidate