Limited time to comment on Agoura Village

There's still time for residents to submit their comments about the revised environmental impact report for the Agoura Village plan, a city official said.

Residents have until Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. to express their concerns about the proposed residential and commercial development, said Allison Cook, Agoura Hills senior planner. Cook said additional biological information has been added to the development's environmental report.

Agoura Village is being planned for a 135-acre site near Agoura and Kanan Roads.

A final report had been certified in 2006, but the City Council was forced to conduct further biological and environmental studies required by Los Angeles County Superior Court. The second round of public hearings is mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act.

Malibou Lakeside resident Mary Altmann sued the city in 2007 to halt the proposed development based on environmental, safety, and traffic concerns. While the outcome of the lawsuit didn't stop the development, the city had to document additional biological data and clarify project alternatives.

Cook said the new report includes only the changes required by the court. Residents wishing to submit comments on the Agoura Village plan must limit their written concerns to the revised portions of the document, and not discuss the merits or flaws of the project as a whole, she said.

Two sensitive species were discovered in the Agoura Village vicinity- the Southwestern pond turtle and the white tailed kite- Cook said. The animals are protected in the development area through previously approved mitigation measures, she said. A sensitive habitat with Valley Needlegrass was also uncovered in the area. The plant is protected through existing measures, she said.

As for the previously identified Lyon's Pentachaeta, which is an endangered plant, and the Dudleya, which is considered threatened, Cook said existing mitigation measures are sufficient to protect both species.

Evironmental watchdog group Save Open Space believes Agoura Village will trample the local ecology.

"The project site is a major gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area," said Mary Wiesbrock, the SOS leader.

The Cornell Corners area, Wiesbrock said, is "a favorite place for biologists to log rare and endangered species of plants and flowers. . . . To list only three endangered plant species to take into consideration in the final phases of (the report), rather than all rare and sensitive plants, seems to be a reckless way of dealing with the resources on the site.

"The city is not giving itself a way to protect these critical resources once the zoning is approved," Wiesbrock said.

The amended environmental document is available for review at Agoura Hills City Hall, the Agoura Hills Library and online at www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us. The city distributed the revised environmental document to 180 individuals or agencies. Copies of the report can also be purchased.

Once the public review period ends on Aug. 7, city staff will prepare responses to all comments and finalize the report. All comments received from May 8 through Aug. 7 will be addressed.

A joint City Council and planning commission meeting will be held in late summer to consider approval of the Agoura Village Specific Plan and certification of the latest environmental documents.