Calabasas: no on developmen

Inn and spa resort is defeated



Calabasas voters decided against annexation of the controversial Malibu Valley Inn and Spa, a proposed 342,000-square-foot resort development that would be built on unincorporated Los Angeles County land at the northwest corner of Mulholland Highway and Stokes Canyon Road.

Measure C, a nonbinding advisory measure, was denied 3,311 votes, or 59.59 percent, to 2,245 votes, or 40.41 percent. Voters approved Measure Dhowever, which is an open space ordinance that requires two-thirds voter approval before any land designated as open space could be assigned to other uses. Measure D was approved 4,485 votes, or 83.85 percent, to 864 votes, or 16.15 percent.

Turnout for the election was 47 percent. The city has 12,557 registered voters.

Calabasas developer Brian Boudreau said prior to the election that he’d abandon the inn and spa project if voters disapproved, and build what could be some 51 luxury homes on the 443-acre site. Opponents to Measure C said the homes will bring far less traffic than the resort.

Wednesday, Boudreau seemed undecided about the project’s future. “I think I need some time to evaluate the whole outcome of the measure because there was so much misinformation and fabrication . . . that it makes it hard for me to determine exactly what the community really wants,” Boudreau said.

James Bozajian, Calabasas City Council member, said the city isn’t bound by the voters’ decision on Measure C.

“I think the individual council members will definitely take it into heavy consideration,” said Bozajian, adding that he’s not certain how he’ll vote on the project until he hears more comments from the public at future hearings.

“The public’s opposition is very important and the question is whether the proponents of the project will go forward in light of the vote,” said Calabasas Mayor Barry Groveman.

Boudreau said earlier he’s spent over $1.5 million on plans for the inn and spa and he must spend even more to finish an environmental impact report so that it can go back to the city council for review.

The open space proposition goes into affect immediately. Under previous law, a simple majority of the city council could rezone open space and permit urban development. Now rezoing requires a two-thirds vote by residents.

“The people really do place a high priority in maintaining open space in Calabasas,” said Bozajian, who wrote the open space measure.

Voters in every precinct overwhelmingly passed the open space advisory measure. They might have voted against annexation of the inn and spa as a means to preserve open space, Boudreau said.


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