West Calabasas, seen but not heard

What happened to "government for the people, by the people" in Calabasas? It seems more and more that it is slipping away. Sure, this is a bit of hyperbole, but I think it illustrates a point.

The council's vote in favor of Standard Pacific's 86-unit condo development was essentially a slap in the face for the westside of Calabasas. Virtually every HOA on the westside of Calabasas united in their opposition to this development and let the council know their concerns.

No one believes that the property will remain undeveloped. We were looking for something that was more in sync with what the area would bear. We believe that the density of this project is too great for Las Virgenes Road. Just because something can be developed because of codes doesn't mean it should be developed to its maximum allowable capacity.

The council could have requested that Standard Pacific come back with a meaningful reduction in size and created a winwin result. The Calabasas City Council, as well as the rest of the city staff, is supposed to work for us. They are supposed to work toward the betterment of our community. The residents of Calabasas are their clients, not the developers. Only two council members, Mayor James Bozajian and Mayor Pro Tem Mary Sue Maurer, had the respect to listen to the community and courage to vote no.

Time and time again, the issue in Calabasas is development. When it comes time for reelection, I urge all voters to remember this and examine the candidates' actions and not just their words. Many talk a good game, but that's all it is. We need our city staff and council to represent the residents, not the developers. Frances Alet Calabasas