Longtime Calabasas resident earns top planning award
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

David Brown

When David Brown moved to Calabasas in 1966 the area was mostly undeveloped open space. After Calabasas incorporated in 1991, the longtime planning commissioner made sure the city kept in touch with its environmental roots.

Brown recently won the 2008 National Planning Award from the American Planning Association, an honor bestowed upon citizen planners, those without an academic background in the field.

"I first started taking an interest in planning for the area when it wasn't very wellplanned under the county," Brown said. "All the planning decisions were being made downtown by people who didn't know much about the area. They were heavily influenced by landowners, and it was very difficult for citizens of this community to have any say."

When the county began rethinking local planning in the early 1990s, a citizen's committee was appointed. Brown, who was named chair, helped in the formation of the North Area Plan, the development road map for the unincorporated areas of Calabasas, Agoura and Westlake Village.

"There was a certain amount of opposition from landowners at first, but not a great deal," Brown said. "And once it went into effect there was no serious opposition. That was one success that I had a small part in."

The National Planning Awards Program, sponsored by the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners, is considered the planning profession's highest honor. The awards program recognizes outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts and individuals.

"David Brown represents the best in citizenled planning advocacy," said Carol Rhea, 2008 National Planning Awards jury chair. "Through his constant presence in the planning arena, David has personally demonstrated what is necessary to every community- having an active and engaged citizenry who care enough about where they live and their community's future that they get involved in the planning process."

In addition to serving on the Calabasas planning commission since 1992, Brown is working to help write a new Calabasas General Plan. He's also worked for various park agencies and has served on the advisory committee for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for more than 22 years.

"Dave embodies the ideal of citizen involvement that has been critical to park development during the past 30 years," said Woody Smeck, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area superintendent. "As a citizen planner, Dave has selflessly helped mold the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area with his adept use of common sense and consensus."

Brown said a big reason why he took an interest in planning in the area is because he's lived here for so long.

"It takes a while to get the feel for this area," Brown said. "If you move out here from the (San Fernando) Valley, or another setting, you're used to having somebody in charge, someone doing the planning for you. Out here it really wasn't that way. It was wide open and sort of like the Wild West as far as planning was concerned."

Although honored to receive the award, Brown says others deserve credit, too.

"There have always been a few activists who led the pack and demanded good planning for this area, and eventually they prevail," Brown said. "We've actually made a difference. I think I've had something to do with that, but other people have made much bigger contributions, and I think they picked me to represent them.

"I'm sure a lot of other people deserve it. I see myself as symbolizing all the other people who have made major efforts over years to make this place a nice place to live," he said.

Brown grew up near Chicago. He moved to California more than 50 years ago after graduating from Cornell College in Ohio. He has a master's degree in history from UCLA.

Brown, who has two grown sons living outside the area, teaches history at Los Angeles Valley College in Van Nuys.