Expand the open space frontier

A FINE VIEW—Approximately one out of every three acres in the Conejo and Las Virgenes valleys is designated open space. Calabasas says it wants to add more open space to its inventory of undeveloped land, one of the main goals of the city's newly approved General Plan.

The city currently has 3,500 acres zoned as open space, areas that are not permitted for commercial development.

"When you put that into perspective, what that means is you are at a great advantage for a number of different reasons, not only for the beauty of the city and the area but for your national parks and recreation standards," Community Development Director Maureen Tamuri told the Calabasas City Council at a recent meeting.

The new General Plan maps out a goal for environmental responsibility which places "the highest priority on protection and stewardship of designated open space and acquisition of additional land for designation as open space."

The plan identifies seven areas that could be purchased and kept free from development.

Sites include the land adjacent to Malibu Creek, the hillside acreage behind the Las Virgenes Water District, and the area nestled between the Highlands and Old Topanga.

Tamuri also shared information from an appraisal of open space within city boundaries. The appraisal identified 53 parcels totaling 1,200 acres valued at $45 million to $50 million.

"Obviously a year ago real estate pricing was different," Tamuri said. "But this gave us a starting point if we wanted to set a goal of purchasing up to 1,000 acres of land, the kinds of ranges of costs we'd potentially be looking at."

Funding options, including introducing a parcel tax assessment or a special tax to voters, were presented to the council. Applying for grants and using money from the general fund were also discussed.

"Depending on the sentiment of the community, we would work with (chief financial officer) Gary Lysik to identify what might be the best assembly of taxes," Tamuri said.

Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer said she would oppose a special tax.

"Frankly it seems almost preposterous to consider a tax at this point of any sort or in any community," Maurer said. "But I don't want the current economics to deter us (from) exploring all of those options. Looking at next steps . . . I'd like to know what kind of public support there is right now for us proceeding. It might not be a good time."

City Councilmember Dennis Washburn agreed.

"I would not want to see us moving into any taxation mode at this point," he said. "We all need a year or two to see where we are."

Washburn also discouraged Mello-Roos—special property taxes on real estate—because he said "people shudder" when the words are mentioned.

Interested parties in the Calabasas open space discussion include the National Park Service, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Los Angeles County, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and private landholders, including homeowners associations.

Planning Commissioner Dave Brown reminded the City Council that people have donated land in the past.

"Be creative, think outside the box," Brown said. "I think you could pick up a lot of open space without spending too much money. I think people would go for it, but maybe you're right to say right now isn't the best time."