BMW dealer wants to relocate to Calabasas

Acorn Staff Writer


The Calabasas Planning Commission discussed a proposal to build a BMW dealership at 24486 Calabasas Road at its last meeting, but didn’t reach a decision and continued the discussion to Thurs., Sept. 28.


The proposal, submitted by Tim Smith of Bob Smith BMW (currently located in Canoga Park) seeks the construction of a 51,469 square-foot BMW dealership and the removal of two oak trees on the land. It also requests a change in the current zoning and General Plan land use designation from Commercial Limited to Commercial Retail.


City staff reports provided at the meeting seemed to favor the dealer’s proposal.


Associate planner Suzanne Meyer said that, compared to placing an office building on the 11-acre parcel, "The best type of use for the property would be the auto dealership."


She backed her statement with parking and usage projections.


She also noted projected tax revenue for the city, which would be significantly higher from a car dealership vs. an office building. The BMW dealership is expected to generate around $500,000 annually.


The BMW dealership would encompass the lower five acres of the property, leaving the remaining six acres as open space, she added.


City arborist Kay Greeley said that a larger heritage oak tree should be removed before any development occurs on the property because the heavy branches are "hazardous" and the tree has decayed. Smith said she’ll transplant the smaller tree within the property, which has more than 50 oak trees.


Robert Yalda, director of transportation and intergovernmental relations, said that a car dealership would attract more weekend traffic which he considered less troublesome than the hypothetical office building, which would create more traffic during weekdays.


In the audience were several representatives of the BMW project and few citizen speakers. Although some people had concerns, there were no protests.


Smith told the commission that





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