Battle over Home Depot gets uglier

Acorn Staff Writer


ALMOST THERE?––Norm Markiewicz of Agoura Hills signs the petition calling for a vote on Home Depot for Agoura Hills in front of the Do-It Center. The issue would be decided in a special election.

ALMOST THERE?––Norm Markiewicz of Agoura Hills signs the petition calling for a vote on Home Depot for Agoura Hills in front of the Do-It Center. The issue would be decided in a special election.

Agoura Hills City Councilman Jeff Reinhardt said a recent e-mail accusing the council of acting "in concert" with the proposed Home Depot development is a "fabrication" of the truth and constitutes a possible violation with the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).


Al Abrams, the director of a citizens group that opposes the 140,000 square-foot retailer, issued an e-mail to his followers last week that said: "Please be aware that a concerted PR effort is now being orchestrated by Dan Selleck, the Home Depot developer, in concert with various members of the city council in Agoura Hills, to have local newspapers bombarded by letter writers who are suddenly espousing the Home Depot line in the letters to the editor columns."


Abrams encouraged his followers to begin their own letter-writing campaign in opposition to the project.


Reinhardt said the city council isn’t promoting the Selleck project and that Abrams should issue a retraction.


"We’re not here to promote Dan Selleck or make him rich," Reinhardt said. "That’s not our job. If Selleck’s project has merit, we’ll look at the merits. If it doesn’t have merit, it won’t pass. But I’m not in any way a promoter of his project and for somebody to suggest even one person on the council is, without naming a name or a source, I think that’s irresponsible."


Reinhardt said, "An accusation of collusion can be a very serious matter. I am considering placing this matter before the FPPC."


Citizens for Responsible Growth, the group behind the e-mail, filed papers recently to become a registered political action committee. As a PAC, the group becomes subject to the rules of fair campaigning as outlined by the FPPC.


According to filing documents, the group’s financial backers are three hardware retailers in the city and potential Home Depot rivals, including the Do-It Center.


Reinhardt is running for reelection to the city council Nov. 6. Two of the challengers in the eight-man race are members of the citizens’ group, Dan Crisafulli and Mel H. Adams.


Abrams said he wrote the e-mail because in recent newspaper articles, councilmembers appear to be "speaking on behalf of the project" with Selleck.


"There’s absolutely no connection between what I’m doing and any member of the city council," Selleck said. "It’s a fabrication and another misstatement by the citizens’ group."


Councilmembers have said that it’s inappropriate for them to discuss Home Depot until the project comes up for official review. Developers have submitted only preliminary plans so far.


But Abrams said it’s the role of the city council to engage the community in discussion.


"There is no formal application made on this project yet," Abrams said. "They are allowed to speak and talk about it and give an opinion on it. They can say if it’s good or bad for the city. They are totally free to talk about it but they don’t do that because I believe they’re afraid to ruin [Selleck’s] chances of getting this thing going."


The citizen’s group is gathering signatures to force a referendum on whether the city should allow "big box" retail stores in the city of 60,000 square feet or larger.


Abrams said the group has half of the necessary 1,878 signatures for the special election.




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