Neighborhood compatibility question brings out a crowd

Many of those who attended a recent Agoura Hills planning commission meeting expressed dismay about a potential new law that would impact private property rights- the right to build or remodel homes any way an owner chooses.

Two ordinances with guidelines were drafted to explore "neighborhood compatibility" in Agoura Hills and Old Agoura. They are intended to help homeowners with design guidelines when they apply to the city for a permit to build a house or remodel an existing one.

Such guidelines would also help the planning commission judge a project's compatibility with a neighborhood.

"Mansionization" of the equestrian area of Old Agoura prompted the workshop, said Commissioner John O'Meara. Construction of new and extremely large homes or the expansion of existing houses so they appear too massive for a rural equestrian neighborhood is the definition of mansionization, according to the guideline.

Speaking for the horses

The guidelines were drafted to protect the semirural, equestrian lifestyle, O'Meara said. If the rules are adopted, new homeowners would be required to provide a horse-keeping area of a minimum of 1,500 square feet.

Project planner Joyce Parker said residents wouldn't be forced to build horse-keeping facilities but would have to identify an area to accommodate stalls or corrals for a future owner.

Former commissioner Phil Ramuno said that while he was not a horse owner, he believed it was important to maintain space for horses in Old Agoura. "Just leave space for future owners," he said.

Commissioner Cyrena Nouzille said the general trend toward bigger houses in Old Agoura sacrifices a sense of history in the area. "Horses are becoming a thing of the past."

Size matters in the guidelines. Four categories of home building would fall under review of the planning commission if a new code is passed. Plans for new single-family homes on vacant lots or new single-family homes that would replace existing houses would be reviewed by commissioners before being approved.

How high is too high?

Second-story additions would also require review. Such additions greater than 25 percent of the total square footage of an existing second level or greater than 75 percent of the existing first floor would also be scrutinized by the commission or the planning department.

Parker also said the height of homes would be reduced from 35 to 30 feet under the new guidelines, and homes would be set back 30 feet instead of 25. To maintain a rural ambience, concrete driveways would be limited.

Planners would prefer that homeowners use pavers, she said. "People can ask for a modification to this," Parker said. "It's so hard to write an ordinance that addresses every possible situation." Patios were used as an example of where concrete might be appropriate.

Style rules criticized

Fourteen Old Agoura residents spoke at the meeting, and most were opposed to any kind of building restrictions. Danielle Waters said nobody moves to Old Agoura to become a conformist.

Waters said she likes the different styles in the neighborhood, including Tudors, domes- even a castlelike abode that a resident built. "I like fanciful," she said.

Ron Waters said the only source of input for creating a new ordinance was from Old Agoura Homeowners Association members. "It was done without a democratic process," he said.

Another homeowner said she wouldn't be able to add a pool under the terms of the new ordinance.

Robyn Britton said concerns about mansionization are shared by cities nationwide, including Santa Monica and Glendale. She said that although she supports eclectically styled homes, some homes are not just big, but "enormous."

"Hundreds of HOAs are trying to do what we're doing," said Jess Thomas, president of the Old Agoura Homeowners Association.

Adrienne Jacob was against the idea of official style recommendations. "Living in Old Agoura, it's really none of our business," she said.

Another speaker said, "Any homeowner rights taken away create bad policy."

Robert Evren spoke in favor of creating guidelines. He asked if anybody believed a 6,900squarefoot home on an 8,000square-foot pad was appropriate. Another resident said he approved of guidelines but not a new law. "I like big homes, but if it doesn't fit the lot it doesn't look right," he said.

Ron Trancatty said the issue is not just about large homes but about "concrete and hardscape" becoming a thing of the past.

Commissioner Steve Rishoff said he was against any suggestion of a specific color palette. The guidelines include information on "earth tones." A neighbor, he said, grows awardwinning pumpkins on his property, an eclectic use that he supports.

Although Rishoff said he knows when a home is too big, he noted that a 34-foot-high home on one lot might not appear as large as the same house on a different lot. He said it's difficult to visualize how large a home will actually appear when looking at plans.

O'Meara said he expected people to say they were "sick and tired" of big houses. "It's been quite an eye-opener to me." He added that he'd prefer the formulation of guidelines over the passage of an ordinance.

Another workshop will be conducted before any decisions are made, O'Meara said.