Citizens deserve to be heard





The cities of Calabasas and Westlake Village, each facing a controversial development project in their community, are taking different paths with regards to consensus building.

Despite having an expert planning staff and a slew of experts at their disposal, the Calabasas City Council recently decided to put the Malibu Valley Inn and Spa proposal to a public vote this November. The Westlake Village council, on the other hand, opted not to involve citizens at the ballot box and will make a final decision about the proposed Lowe’s home improvement store without a public vote.

Credit goes to Calabasas for recognizing that despite all the environmental reports and all the expert opinions, it’s best to ask residents first how they feel about building the 342,000square-foot inn and spa. It is, after all, in the middle of the Santa Monica Mountains and many disruptions will occur. Ultimately the city council will decide, but the Nov. 8 advisory vote on the Brian Boudreau development will serve as an important test of public opinion and will give the council direction.

Westlake should follow the same path. As letter-writer Ron Klammert asks in this week’s Acorn letters to the editor, “Why not let the voters decide. . .?”

We agree.

The Calabasas vote on the inn and spa is non-binding, but still a valuable tool. Westlake Village should take a similar tack with regards to the controversial Lowe’s.

Westlake Councilmember Jim Bruno, who favored a Lowe’s referendum, said that because changes in the city’s general plan are at stake, the public deserves to be heard.

He’s right,

Although The Acorn is on record as supporting new business in the community—even a Lowe’s big box—what if the citizens are overwhelmingly opposed? If they speak, we should listen.

Three years ago, Agoura Hills put Home Depot to a vote and found out that despite the city’s desire for economic growth, most citizens opposed the big retail store.

You never know what will happen at the ballot box, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Wheels in motion for new interchange

Congratulations to our city council and its staff and thanks to Congressman Waxman for helping our community. Under the new transportation bill, Agoura Hills is slated to receive a $4 million federal appropriation for the Kanan interchange. This is great news for our city and the entire region.

For newcomers to the area, this has been an issue for the city of Agoura Hills for quite some time. Our city council never wavered from pursuing these funds, even when Washington politics kept stalling the legislation over the last several years. Our council has been under tremendous pressure and criticism for the Kanan interchange, but their persistency and hard work literally paid off.

With an election this November, everybody will try and take credit for this appropriation. Check out the facts. Our council and staff have been actively working with Congressman Waxman for over two-and-a-half years and they deserve the credit. Thanks for a job well done.

Now, let’s move forward together and address the other issues facing our city. Illece Buckley Weber Agoura Hills


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