Dueling pix give mixed impression

Opponents show Ladyface obscured by new development



TWO- FACED— Above, a developer’s rendering shows the 18.5-acre Ave mixed-use housing and retail project situated nicely on the southeast corner of Kanan and Agoura roads in Agoura Hills, one of several projects planned for Agoura Village. But opponents say The Ave’s up to 45-foot-high buildings will obscure Ladyface Mountain when the landmark peak is viewed from the street, as seen in their pic at left. Both sides are trying to sway the public.

TWO- FACED— Above, a developer’s rendering shows the 18.5-acre Ave mixed-use housing and retail project situated nicely on the southeast corner of Kanan and Agoura roads in Agoura Hills, one of several projects planned for Agoura Village. But opponents say The Ave’s up to 45-foot-high buildings will obscure Ladyface Mountain when the landmark peak is viewed from the street, as seen in their interpretative pic below. Both sides are trying to sway the public.

While the prospect of several new residential, commercial and retail developments between and Kanan and Cornell roads has frightened some, the builders of the projects remain convinced that the new part of town, known as Agoura Village, will eventually come to life.

The community groups STACK (Save the Agoura/Cornell Knoll), PRISMM (Protectors and Residents in the Santa Monica Mountains) and SOS (Save Open Space) hosted a community meeting on May 13 in Old Agoura to express their view that the Agoura Village master plan should be scaled down.

Although one project, Cornerstone at the intersection of Agoura and Cornell roads, was given the green light by the City of Agoura Hills, construction was delayed after STACK won a lawsuit against the developer and the city over the need for an updated environmental impact report. The verdict is being appealed.

It’s believed that the combined Agoura Village developments will add 20,000 cars on Kanan and Agoura roads per day, and that a separate project know as Agoura Village East, or The Ave—and its stores, apartments and 120-bed hotel—will block the view of Ladyface Mountain. Of the 30 oak trees on The Ave parcel at the southeast corner of Kanan and Agoura roads, 21 will be removed or relocated to make room for construction, planners say.

The AVE (Agoura Village East)

The AVE (Agoura Village East)

Over 40,000 square feet of retail space with restaurants, 118 residential units and a community building are part of The Ave plan. An approximately 9,000-square-foot office building has also been proposed.

STACK wants the residential units reduced to 75 and hopes that developers Garry Collett and Lou Mellman of the California Commercial Investment Group of Westlake Village will eliminate the hotel and any third-story element of the project to maintain all building heights at a 35-foot maximum rather than the proposed 45 feet.

“Our goal is to right-size Agoura Village so it’s in line with the current planning needs of today,” said Steve Hess, head of STACK.

When viewed in the context of the Woolsey fire, the new development “is totally unacceptable,” Hess said.

CHOKE POINT?—Star shows The Ave’s location in Agoura Hills. Courtesy of The Ave

CHOKE POINT?—Star shows The Ave’s location in Agoura Hills. Courtesy of The Ave

“This is not about no development because Agoura Village is coming,” said Rae Greulich, PRISMM president. “It’s about development that’s in keeping with the original vision of the Agoura Village Specific Plan that maintains Agoura Hills’ uniqueness.

“Over and over we heard people say that they do not want Agoura Hills to look like or feel like Ventura Boulevard or Woodland Hills or the San Fernando Valley. People were drawn to Agoura Hills because it was different than those places,” Greulich said.

While many people at the May meeting voiced concerns about maintaining the mountain views and rural feel of the community, it was a concern for traffic and safety that took center stage. Some speakers recalled how they became stuck on Kanan Road while evacuating from last year’s fire.

Collett told The Acorn he understands the community’s concern about safety.

“In fact, our development team members are all local residents who experienced the fire firsthand. This very important consideration will be analyzed as part of the environmental review for the project,” the developer said.

A graphic circulated by STACK and PRISMM makes it appear The Ave will block the view of Ladyface Mountain, but proponents of the development feel the rendering is deceptive.

Collett said that, rather than one long building, there are two mixed-use buildings that include first floors of retail shops with a second and third story for residential units. The plan, he said, calls for varying heights.

“The two buildings on the corner of Agoura Road, as you’re heading east on Agoura Road, are both single-story buildings with an average roof height of 26 feet,” Collett said. “There is also a clock tower that extends up to 35 feet. The first and second mixed-use buildings average 39 feet in height; however, there are parapets that extend up to the 45 feet.

He acknowledged that depending on one’s direction of travel, “Ladyface Mountain may be obstructed for a very brief time.”

“The Ave will become the gathering place for Agoura Hills, a place to call its own, a place with public green spaces, walking trails, retail, restaurants and more. We are trying to bring the community’s vision for a downtown to life. The Ave project will also benefit the city with added revenue of $1 million to $1.2 million (per year). This revenue could allow the city to provide more public services to the community as a whole,” Collett said.