Much ado about Heschel





Back in the 1970s, before Agoura Hills even became a city, local officials fought long and hard to keep the pristine hills just east of Old Agoura free from development. Believe it or not there was a prison that was going to be built in the area, and later, plans for a large housing development known as Jordan Ranch. Time after time, Old Agoura residents proved adept at keeping the land safe from the developer’s hand.

Today, Heschel West wants to build a Jewish day school on the site, a 70-acre parcel that lies just north of the Chesebro Road exit off the 101 Freeway. The property is zoned for houses, but Heschel is seeking a permit from Los Angeles County to build a school. Again, the residents stand opposed.

Recent letters to the editor in The Acorn have expressed strong feelings both for and against the school. Last week, we started an online poll at www.theacorn.com asking the question, “Do you favor construction of Heschel School on the property adjacent to Old Agoura?” In just a few days, without publicizing the poll (and without “leaking it” to one side or the other, contrary to charges), we had an unprecedented 1,500 responses—766, or 51 percent in favor of the school and 737, or 49 percent against.

It is a fair, informal vote open to all people who have a genuine interest in the matter.

“I am dumbfounded by the thought of allowing such a development to take place,” says resident Gary Boyle.

“Can’t we have any rural areas in what used to be our calm, tranquil community?” asks Terri McCormick.

Others question why the Old Agoura residents support development in other parts of the city, but not when it’s right next to them.

And they say the addition of much-needed traffic controls at the confluence of Chesebro, Palo Comado and Canwood will help the existing congestion, not make it worse.

Heschel has spent more than five years trying to design a school with as little impact on the neighborhood as possible. They explored an alternative site at Liberty Canyon, but the area is a wildlife corridor. Would Old Agoura residents prefer the school go there? Heschel owns the property at Chesebro and that’s where they want to build.

In the final analysis, we support education in the community and hope that a compromise between the two sides can be struck. It’s not a prison, it’s not a shopping center, it’s a school.

Just saying “no” doesn’t work.



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