Annexation in Calabasas meets with resistance

‘Keep the city’s hands out of our neighborhood’


A proposal to extend Calabasas city boundaries southward has triggered concerns from a group of Los Angeles County residents who say the annexation would threaten the rural character of their community.

About a dozen Stokes Canyon and Monte Nido property owners attended a City Council meeting Aug. 11 to contest the annexation.

“Calabasas is quit urban and we don’t think it’s compatible with our lifestyles,” said Lee Renger, who has lived in Stokes Canyon for more than 40 years.

Many who came to City Hall were unsure about how far the annexation would extend. City Manager Tony Coroalles reassured the Monte Nido residents that their neighborhood was not part of the proposed acquistion. The city is only considering parcels north of Mulholland Highway, Coroalles said.

Some Stokes Canyon Road landowners support the annexation, including Eric Dickerson, former NFLrunning back, and Bret Saberhagen, former Major League Baseball pitcher and Calabasas High School coach.

“It would be nice to have an opportunity to participate in city affairs and feel locally represented. I would also like to ensure that my property taxes stay local,” Saberhagen said in a letter to the city.

Keith Blinkinsoph, president of Gate Committee for Country Ridge Estates Homeowner Association, said the proximity of city services would be desirable.

“Between the lower fees and local offices, we believe this annexation is beneficial for our homeowners as well as our sense of community,” Blinkinsoph said.

Robert Levin, who owns over 300 acres of land just south of the city, also expressed interest in the annexation as long as the switch didn’t involve a property tax increase.

But compared to the pending annexations for Mont Calabasas and Mountain View Estates, which involve fully developed subdivisions and permanent open space borders on the northwest side of town, the southern territory acquisition would be more complex because many of its properties are undeveloped.

The city also had concerns about its affordable housing and zoning responsibilities if it were to annex the land.

Some Monte Nido and Stokes Canyon residents who have septic tanks feared the city might want to install sewer lines and promote development in the annexed areas.

“We would appreciate it if you keep the city hands out of our neighborhood,” resident Yehuda Netanel told the City Council.

County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky called the annexation request “a real estate play.”

In 2005, landowner Brian Boudreau wanted the city to annex 152 of his acres near Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes Road and build a 203- room resort. Calabasas voters defeated the Malibu Valley Inn proposal at the ballot.

The property still has entitlements from the county to build 81 homes.

“Why they (Calabasas officials) want to annex the property unless they want to see it developed to generate revenue for the city would be a total puzzle for anybody,” Yaroslavsky said.

The supervisor said zoning regulations in the unincorporated Santa Monica Mountain Recreation Area are strict because the county wants to protect sensitive habitat and open spaces. King Gillette Ranch, the future headquarters for the regional park system, lies next to the proposed Boudreau annexation zone.

Calabasas Mayor Barry Groveman said several residents who bought Boudreau homes have indicated they want to be part of the city.

“We take direction from the people who elect us and we fight hard to protect the city’s interest,” Groveman said.

Others want the annexation because they feel Calabasas offers better public safety, fire protection, traffic management and road maintenance services than the county does, he said.

The City Council agreed to poll residents near Stokes Canyon and Mulholland Highway to determine who is interested in annexing and what the new boundaries would look like.

“We took no legal abiding action,” Bozajian said.

“It makes sense to do if it’s a big parcel. But the annexation also has to be connected to the city boundaries. We can’t just attach little circles of land that are unconnected,” Bozajian said.

Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer said she would not support an annexation involving large proposed developments.


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