Calabasas annexation proceeds





Despite resistance from city leaders and residents in Agoura Hills, officials in Calabasas are moving ahead with a plan to bring 43 acres of unincorporated territory that lies between the two cities into their jurisdiction.

At a meeting last week, the Calabasas City Council approved a zoning plan for the proposed annexation along Agoura Road. The L.A. County property just south of the 101 Freeway between Agoura Hills and Calabasas includes two commercial buildings and two undeveloped parcels.

The city’s move to annex the land was prompted by news that high-tech company Spirent planned to move its operations from Calabasas to one of the commercial buildings in the unincorporated area.

Spirent generates up to $600,000 in tax revenue for Calabasas, and the city wants to keep that revenue intact.

The owners of the two commercial properties in the annexation zone say they approve being in Calabasas.

In March, the city filed an application with the Local Agency Formation Commission of Los Angeles County to start the annexation proceedings. LAFCO is the county agency that OKs changes in municipal boundaries.

According to a report, the proposed zoning will maintain low-intensity restrictions for the developed properties and strengthen open space protection for the undeveloped areas, which make up about 70 percent of the territory slated for annexation.

In April, after learning of the proposed annexation, a group of Agoura Hills community leaders, homeowners and former mayors asked their city council to fight the Calabasas attempt to annex the land, much of which lies adjacent to a residential area of Agoura Hills.

In a letter to LAFCO, Agoura Hills Mayor William Koehler said many residents of Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills oppose the annexation because they feel Calabasas will allow more development than is currently allowed.

A building owned by Cypress Land Company at the northeast corner of Liberty Canyon and Agoura roads comprises 75 percent of the area that can be developed. Calabasas officials said that if they are able to annex the property, they will continue to work with the City of Agoura Hills leaders and the building tenants to ensure that all present and future commercial operations don’t interfere with residents or wildlife.

Koehler said that while they opposed the annexation, Agoura Hills officials hope to work with the City of Calabasas to reach a mutual agreement.

To allay fears about future development, Calabasas officials offered to buy the undeveloped portion along Agoura Road and transfer it to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Restoration Trust.

The undeveloped parcels are in tax default.

When annexed, the undeveloped land will be rezoned as opened space, Calabasas officials said. That designation can’t be changed without a two-thirds vote from the city’s residents.

Officials approved the prezoning plan without discussion.

After the vote, Councilmember James Bozajian said he would like to meet with Agoura Hills officials one more time in an attempt to work out their differences.

Councilmember Fred Gaines supported the idea.

“I think we should always be open to those discussions,” he said.

The City of Calabasas and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors still need to agree on several issues before LAFCO can consider the annexation and vote on it. The wishes of the property owners—in this case the owners of the buildings in the area—are generally the deciding factor when cities argue over annexation.

If all goes as planned, the annexation could take effect early next year, City Manager Tony Coroalles said.

Calabasas annexed the Mont Calabasas residential community in 2011. The city also is working to annex Craftsman’s Corner, a 146-acre swath of homes and businesses just north of the 101 Freeway in east Calabasas.



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