BMW dealer approved for basement addition

Staff Writer


BMW dealer approved

for basement addition

A major modification to the plan to build a new 100,000 square-foot Bob Smith BMW dealership in Calabasas was approved, 4-0, during a recent meeting of the Calabasas City Council.


Councilmembers, following Mayor Janice Lee’s abrupt resignation and departure, discussed the proposed changes.


Though the initial plan to build a 51,500 square-foot auto dealership was approved in December, builders concluded that the approved design didn’t meet "guideline projections for the life of the project."


To meet the future needs, the architect drafted plans for a 46,000 square-foot basement to store cars and parts, which would have little affect on the exterior appearance. It will be constructed adjacent an Acura dealer on the southside of the 101 Freeway.


During the meeting, City Councilman Dennis Washburn wanted to approve the modification on grounds that the dealership will serve the needs of Calabasas and bring additional tax revenue to city coffers. The planned basement, Washburn said, was equivalent to the proverb "Out of sight, out of mind."


Other issues came up, including traffic congestion that will be caused by removal of more than 2,200 truckloads of dirt just to excavate the basement.


When City Councilman Michael Harrison suggested that the dealership’s parking lot be screened from view entirely by trees and shrubs, Tim Smith of Bob Smith BMW said wryly, "We do want people to know it’s a dealership."


The real hurdle came when Mayor Pro Tem Lesley Devine brought up mitigation in allowing the additional subterranean space.


Several options were suggested until City Manager Donald Duckworth gave an alternative solution.


At Duckworth’s suggestion, Smith tendered an offer to the city to pay $30,000 of the projected $40,000 cost of removing a Southern California Edison power transformer from the corner of Calabasas and Mureau roads, once the city obtained the balance. The structure has been a thorn in the city’s side, presenting an obstacle to a plan to improve traffic flow across the Mureau Road bridge over the 101 Freeway.


Smith agreed to Duckworth’s proposal and the council immediately moved and seconded a motion to approve the modifications to the dealership.


Work on the dealership is expected to begin in about six months.





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