City of Agoura Hills at crossroads with multiple projects pending

In 10 years the heart of the city will be Agoura Village, but how the buildings will position remains unclear




NEW CITY CENTER?—The 18.5-acre Ave mixed-use housing and retail development sits at the southeast corner of Kanan and Agoura at the foot of Ladyface Mountain. Rendering courtesy of CCI Inc.

NEW CITY CENTER?—The 18.5-acre Ave mixed-use housing and retail development sits at the southeast corner of Kanan and Agoura at the foot of Ladyface Mountain. Rendering courtesy of CCI Inc.

Commercial real estate construction goes in spurts, and when the economy improves the floodgates often open.

In Agoura Hills, almost half-a-dozen new retail and residential building projects are in various stages of planning.

Cornerstone, The Ave, West Village, AN Investments and Utopia Hills are the first constituents poised to give life to Agoura Village, a 98-acre stretch of prime real estate along Agoura Road south of the freeway between Kanan and Cornell roads.

The Agoura Village Plan was conceived by the City of Agoura Hills in 1998 as a pedestrian-friendly town hub that would combine residential, commercial, dining and entertainment venues.

Twenty years later, plans are finally coming to light, but some residents and officials want the momentum slowed—and projects scaled down—due to concerns about increased traffic in the already congested region, and trepidation over safety and environmental issues.

So far only one development has been approved by the Agoura Hills City Council—Cornerstone, a 116,000-square-foot mixed-use development at the southeast corner of Cornell and Agoura roads.

IN LITIGATION—Cornerstone is an 8-acre mixed-use project at Cornell Road, running along the right, and Agoura Road, on the left. Courtesy of Cory Anttila

IN LITIGATION—Cornerstone is an 8-acre mixed-use project at Cornell Road, running along the right, and Agoura Road, on the left. Courtesy of Cory Anttila

As the first major development in the Agoura Village zone, the Cornerstone project came under immediate fire and was halted in May 2018 when Save the Agoura Cornell Knoll (STACK) and the California Native Plant Society sued the developer and the city over violations of the California Environmental Quality Act, the city’s oak tree ordinance, and the alleged harm the project would cause to the archaeologically-rich building site.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mary Strobel sided with the plaintiffs, but the developer, Doron Gelfand, filed an appeal.

“There is absolutely nothing ‘village-y’ about a hotel, three stories of concrete buildings, apartments, parking structures and completely blocking the view of the mountains,” Steve Hess, Cornell resident and STACK president, said.

If last year’s ruling stands, Gelfand might be required to scale back the removal of 29 oak trees and possibly submit a redesign of the project.

But if Gelfand wins his appeal, the 8-acre development will be on track to place seven buildings— shops, restaurants, homes and offices—on top of the Agoura knoll.

Doug Hooper, Agoura Hills planning director, said Cornerstone could voluntarily amend its plan, but so far hasn’t done so. No building permits have been issued, Hooper said.

The Ave

The Ave, a mixed-use development by Gary Collett and Lou Mellman of the California Commercial Investment Group of Westlake Village, will span 18.5 acres in the Agoura Village zone and feature 119,000 square feet of commercial space and 118 residential rental units.

A three-story, 120-room hotel is also planned as part of the project. Developer Dan Selleck already has a Marriott Hotel under construction farther north on Agoura Road next to the new L.A. Fitness gym.

Like Cornerstone, The Ave is facing opposition over how its oak trees will be handled. Seventeen of the 21 oak trees on The Ave site must be uprooted and relocated to accommodate the project, said Brad Rosenheim, a spokesperson for both Cornerstone and The Ave. Rosenheim said 67 new oak trees will be planted. The builders will also add 10 new oak trees along Agoura Road.

For now, The Ave remains in limbo.

“No public hearing has been held for The Ave project, thus it is not entitled,” Hooper said.

The Ave is planned for the southeast corner of Kanan and Agoura roads.

The potential loss of oak trees appears to be a sore spot for many residents.

Last month, several anonymous residents placed yellow ribbons around three of the trees on Kanan and Agoura roads to protest their removal.

“To me, the ribbons around those oaks at Kanan and Agoura show that people are fed up with the city literally paving over Agoura Hills,” Hess said.

“I have every reason to believe that the new City Council understands the power of the voters in the city and will make the right decision to preserve those trees.”

Council members have denied the oak trees are going to be removed. Relocated, maybe, but not removed.

“There are no immediate plans to relocate or remove oak trees,” Agoura Hills Mayor Linda Northrup said.

Other projects

The city’s planning department is reviewing three additional development applications in the Agoura Village Specific Plan area.

West Village, a mixed-use project planned for the southwest corner of Agoura and Kanan roads, proposes 64 multifamily residential units and about 38,500 square feet of retail, office and restaurant space.

Utopia Hills calls for 11 multifamily residential units on the south side of Agoura Road, east of Cornell Road. Retail and restaurant space will span approximately 5,400 square feet.

AN Investments is proposed for the south side of Agoura Road, also east of Cornell Road. This mixed-use project includes 17 proposed multifamily residential units and about 9,800 square feet of retail/restaurant space.

No public forums have been scheduled this year for any of the proposed Agoura Village developments.