Heschel School finally OK'd

Despite fierce opposition from homeowners associations, environmental groups and the city of Agoura Hills, construction of the $18-million Heschel West Day School is finally moving forward.

The private Jewish school, which was approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in November 2007, will sit on a 73acre site in unincorporated L.A. County north of the 101 Freeway and east of Chesebro Road. It will accommodate up to 750 students in kindergarten through eighth-grade. It currently has about 210 students at a leased location on Canwood Street.

The Agoura Hills City Council voted 41 in favor of a contract that stipulates Heschel must meet 80 conditions of approval, including payment of up to $3.5 million for the widening of Chesebro bridge and other infrastructure improvements.

If Heschel accepts the conditions, the city must waive its right to all further legal challenges against the school.

Opponents waged a 10-year battle against the development.

Councilmember Denis Weber voted against the contract. He said the amount of money the school is required to pay for mitigation isn't enough and "flies in the face of fairness."

But supporters of the school say the deal will make the city's burden on infrastructure more affordable and make the project more compatible with Old Agoura's equestrian neighborhood. When push comes to shove

More than 100 Agoura Hills residents attended a Nov. 12 council meeting to protest the school. They've been afraid of its proximity to the horse community and the traffic, noise and environmental problems it might bring.

But despite the city's reticence about the school, pragmatism won out in the end.

A lawsuit against the county "would not likely be productive at this time," City Attorney Craig Steele said.

The conditions of approval include limitations on the number of after-school and weekend events that can be conducted at the site. The school can hold up to 24 extracurricular events per year, but with limitations on attendance. (Sporting events are exempted.) Any commercial event not directly related to the school is prohibited.

Four major annual events, including graduation ceremonies and religious holiday gatherings, will be allowed on the property, but attendance cannot exceed 1,500 people.

Provisions for emergency access and evacuation by the fire department were included in the agreement. The plan must be signed by the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station, as well as Los Angeles County, Steele said.

Angry residents

At the City Council meeting, many of the people who spoke against the school live in Old Agoura. But other residents protested as well.

Mary Wiesbrock, the chair of Save Open Space, called for toxicology studies of the school site, which is near the Calabasas landfill. She said 300,000 tons of hazardous waste has already leached into the land, posing a health hazard to children. She urged the council to eliminate language in the contract that waives the city's right to sue the school.

Cyrena Nouzille, an Agoura Hills Planning Commissioner, said the noise from the construction vehicles on Chesebro Road will spook horses and risk injury to riders.

Former Mayor Ed Corridori defended the city in response to the criticism.

"I don't think there's a lack of courage to vote in favor of (the contract). It's the opposite."

"I share your agony," said Councilmember Bill Koehler said.

Defending the decision

"If we don't approve (the conditions), (Supervisor) Zev (Yaroslavsky) will approve whatever he wants," such as allowing more students and having no evacuation plan, Councilmember Dan Kuperberg said.

Councilmember Harry Schwarz said at least the contract will allow the city to recoup part of the cost of the Chesebro interchange improvement.

Mayor John Edelston said the council had to take a practical stance on the decision.

Yaroslavsky said later in an interview that in his more than 30 years of public service he had never experienced negotiations "(descending) into the gutter like this one." He said schools such as Heschel are allowed under the North Area Plan, which limits development in the Santa Monica Mountains.

"I think we've done a good job," Yaroslavsky said. " After the school is up and running, I hope (Old Agoura residents) will say they didn't need to be so concerned."

Tami Weiser, head of Heschel West Day School, said she understood the passion of the residents.

"We're moving forward because we know we are going to be good neighbors," Weiser said.

The school continues to raise funds for the construction, which is expected to start in January 2010, Weiser said. Regarding the 80 conditions that Heschel must meet, "We feel we can live with them," Weiser said.