Liberty Canyon office development finally okayed
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

The Agoura Hills City Council approved a commercial development on Liberty Canyon Road after several public hearings and an appeal resulted in the saving of an ancient oak tree that was slated to be removed.

In May, the City Council appealed the planning commission's approval of the office development at Liberty Canyon and Agoura roads. Rather than deny the project, the council kept the public hearing open until Aug. 13 to allow Behr Browers Architects of Woodland Hills to change its design and save the tree. Eleven smaller trees will be removed from the site.

The property is owned by Mark Leonard of Calabasas.

A proposed one-story office building will still have 9,660 square feet of floor space, but the architects shifted the building to protect the large oak tree.

The project also calls for a 20,000-square-foot two-story medical building and the remodeling of an existing, 24,500square-foot building on the site.

A wildlife corridor at Liberty Canyon, a cornerstone of the plan, will remain intact and allow animals to roam from National Park Service territory at the northeast corner of Agoura Hills to the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy territory south of the city.

Other changes to the project include moving the driveway to the north off of Liberty Canyon Road. The left-hand turn into the project has been eliminated to discourage drivers from making Uturns on Liberty Canyon. The new proposal restricts access in and out of the complex to right-hand turns only. A new driveway connects the smaller building on the upper portion of the property to the lower pad to allow a better flow for pedestrians and cars. A new handicap walkway and ramp connects one of the buildings with the sidewalk on Liberty Canyon, Brower said.

The new design encroaches on parking. Originally, the plan called for 215 parking spaces, but the building shift dropped the count to 198 spaces.

"The minimal loss of parking was well worth it," Brower said about saving the landmark oak tree.

Several residents came to the meeting to voice their concerns. Robin Morselli wondered how drivers will react with the elimination of the U-turn.

"If there is no U-turn, where will they turn around?" Morselli asked. She said if there is no ability to turn left into the complex on Liberty Canyon, a turn from Agoura Road might be better.

Rudy C'Dealva, president of the Liberty Canyon Homeowners Association, said the design changes were a "big step in the right direction."

Rich Lawson, another member of the local HOA, said he was speaking on behalf of the "blue line stream." The asphalt planned for the development would promote more runoff and pollution in local streams. He suggested making the parking area "green" with paver stones that allow drainage into the ground.

City Engineer Ramiro Adeva, however, explained that storm drains, catch basins and other measures have been implemented to curtail urban runoff.

Brower addressed the notion of "green" designs.

"The reality is we work really hard to build and include all elements for green designs," Brower said. He added that the buildings will be "environmentally friendly," and the water flow to the creek has not changed.

He said they included much more landscaping than required by the city, which will help retain water.

Councilmember Dan Kuper-berg wanted transmission lines placed underground but said Southern California Edison will not share the extra cost with the city. Kuperberg said without the power company's cooperation, the cost would be "impossible" and cost the city "millions."

Many people wanted the sidewalk eliminated, including Councilmember Harry Schwarz. Architect Michael Brower was willing to remove the sidewalks around the buildings, but Adeva said they were necessary for safety reasons.

Adeva explained that the city looks at the need for a sidewalk from a liability standpoint.

"We have to provide a safe means for walkers," Adeva said. If one person gets killed because he or she was forced to walk in the street, the city would be liable, he said.

Mayor John Edelston said when he passes the intersection of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Corsa Avenue and sees the small memorial for a woman who was hit and killed by a car, he understands the importance of a sidewalk. "It has value," he said.

"We heard that (residents) didn't want to lose the oak tree," said Councilmember Bill Koehler. "That has been accomplished, ladies and gentlemen."

Schwarz said it wasn't only the Liberty Canyon residents that loved the tree. "I love that tree," he said. "It's a natural monument."

"This truly is a wildlife corridor," Koehler said. "No doubt about it, this is a differently designed building."

Councilmember Denis Weber praised the property owners and developers for having patience with the city and taking suggestions to heart.