Public input taken on new Calabasas General Plan
City's character and environment are major concerns
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

According to the results of a General Plan workshop held last month at the Agoura/Calabasas Community Center, Calabasas residents appear to be mostly in agreement about what's best for the future of the city.

About 30 people took part in the planning session.

A draft of the updated General Plan was posted at the meeting, and participants were asked to offer their input.

The city is in the process of updating its more than 10-year-old General Plan, and community input is being sought.

Environmental responsibility is a key theme for 2030 General Plan draft, which places a high priority on environmental protection in the face of new development. The plan recognizes strong project design as a way to minimize the impact of a development on the environment.

Another theme being discussed is community character, which focuses on maintaining the city's scenic beauty, defining and preserving the character of established neighborhoods and encouraging those designs that provide local meeting places.

A third theme, quality of life, is one of the most important. Aside from maintaining a high level of citizen involvement and providing infrastructure that is responsive to the community's needs, participants agreed that recreation opportunities, a variety of housing types and preservation of cultural and historical design were highly important to the future of the city.

"We had some very engaged members of the public who offered good ideas, very meaningful feedback and various ideas and thoughts," said Tom Bartlett, city planner.

The discussion group also provided a chance for members of the public to submit written comments. Residents want to: encourage community interaction, create social gathering places, improve access to trails, address aging infrastructure and ensure technological development doesn't come at the expense of the environment.

A summary of the General Plan workshop can be found at www.cityofcalabasas.com.