Seeds planted for a new local farmers market

The Agoura Hills City Council approved a zoning amendment March 25 to allow farmers markets in the commercially zoned areas north of the freeway.

The Planning Commission must also approve the permit change before any open air market can begin operations, said Mike Kamino, director of planning and community development in a report to the City Council.

Certified farmers markets are currently only permitted in the Agoura Village Specific Plan area near Kanan and Agoura Roads.

The markets were once a weekly event in the city. A Saturday farmers markets was held at the Whizin's Shopping Center parking lot, and later a Tuesday market was offered at Agoura High School. Both markets came and went.

A new farmers market may reopen at the Agoura Hills City Mall if it receives the green light from planning commissioners. Seasonal vegetable stands may also spring up in other areas of the city on specific days, but permits must be approved on a casebycase basis, Kamino said.

Council members expressed concerns about safety and parking if the first farmers market opens at the City Mall.

Councilmember John Edelston said Kanan Road is busy and the mall's limited parking and difficult entry and exit pose safety problems for residents. People looking for parking spaces could end up "encroaching" on the nearby Ralphs shopping center parking.

Kamino explained that the each request for a market would have to be approved through a conditional use permit. If the location didn't meet certain conditions, the request would be denied.

Councilmember Harry Schwarz wondered why the city would approve the zone change only to turn applicants away because they didn't meet the criteria set by the city.

Councilmember Bill Koehler said he was supportive of bringing farmers markets back to the city, but was bothered by the potential parking problems.

Agoura High School might be a better location, Schwarz said.

"I don't even know if (a farmers market) belongs on the other side of the freeway," he said.

Agoura Hills' resident Jennifer Lebowitz told council members that many people would walk or ride their bicycles to the farmers market. Although she believed the Agoura Hills City Mall would be an "excellent area" for the market, she said the Ralphs or Vons shopping centers would be better. A market at Agoura High School would be a "terrible" idea, she said.

Many of the council members suggested the farmers market should return to Whizin's.

Mayor Denis Weber also expressed concern about parking if the market were placed at one of the malls north of the freeway.

The Planning Commission will vote on the zoning amendment at an upcoming meeting.

To see all agendas, visit www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.