Old Agoura not happy about city’s decision




The Old Agoura Homeowners Association board of directors is extremely exasperated at the outcome of our quest to preserve the Chesebro Meadow as an open space buffer to an existing wildlife corridor and planned wildlife-only tunnel under the freeway.

Thirty years ago, one of our members chained himself to an ancient oak tree while developer Jerry Oren’s crew cut down the remainder of the forest just days before the L.A. County Oak tree ordinance went into effect.

A dozen years ago, we joined with the environmental heroes at Save Open Space to file suit against the county for illegally approving the Heschel School.

For months, we have been searching for funding sources to buy the land for a public agency to own and manage.

Sen. Fran Pavley petitioned for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to apply for state funds specifically designated for mountain lion habitat.

But all sources we identified required a willing seller of a clear title. That’s why we were so strongly pressing the city to carry through with its lawsuit.

At a meeting with city officials on June 24, we expressed the need for more time to seek funding as no trial date had been announced by the court system. Nothing was said about the urgency of a settlement.

At the City Council meeting on June 26, the city attorney reported that a closed session on the lawsuit had been held that day, but no “reportable action” had resulted.

We were in shocked disbelief to receive a phone call from a reporter at The Acorn on the morning of July 1, asking about our reaction to the city having settled the lawsuit and effectively selling the land.

From the beginning of talks about development proposals we were assured that any deal would require that Old Agoura be “made whole” as to the attorney fees we paid out over the years.

Later on, we were assured that any settlement deal would require a public vote, by the entire council, at a noticed public hearing. Neither has happened, and no council member has contacted us with an explanation.

We are left to wonder when or if all the City Council members voted on the settlement, and if so, whether it was legal to do so in private.

We are also left to wonder why we were treated in such a disrespectful, shabby and hamfisted manner.

Jess Thomas

Agoura Hills

Thomas is president of the Old Agoura Homeowners Association.



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