Big homes spell big problems





In the Dec. 28 Acorn I was quoted as saying that teardowns were a growing epidemic in Old Agoura. I was actually quoting the National Trust when I said that teardowns were a growing epidemic nationwide. As the city of Agoura Hills reaches build-out, the teardown and mansionization phenomenon will become an important challenge in all our city’s neighborhoods, and my point was that the city is in a unique position to deal with these issues before they snowball.

Old Agoura has already seen teardowns as well as applications to the city for residential properties in excess of 10,000 square feet. One of the stated goals of the city has always been to retain the equestrian and rural character of Old Agoura, and mansionization will completely change that, especially along streets like Driver Avenue.

If homes are to be in scale with others nearby, and those older homes are under 2,000 square feet, then how big is too big? Twice? Three times? Four times as large? These are the questions that need to be addressed in the city’s upcoming mansionization study.

I would also note that tract developments are not
immune. Most of the 1,000 homes in Morrison are one-story, but under current
code, they could potentially be two-story. Neighborhood livability is diminished
when trees are removed, backyards are eliminated, and sunlight and views are
blocked by new homes or massive renovations.
Robyn Britton Agoura Hills




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