Project proposal’s opponents aren’t distorting the facts





Upon first reading the letter captioned "Project proposal is being distorted" in the Oct. 5 issue of The Acorn, I mistakenly assumed that Mr. Stewart was accusing us of distortion until I realized that the caption was written by the newspaper and not Mr. Stewart.


Nonetheless, I feel compelled to point out a few facts in response.


First, the vacation of Driver Avenue was never undertaken in an effort to thwart development.


Long before the vacation process was started, both Calabasas and Agoura Hills had determined that Driver Avenue no longer served any viable purpose.


In addition, the process of petitioning for vacation was started long before Warner Financial’s proposed development was ever known. To imply that certain members of our community are biased against development strictly to obtain property is completely wrong.


What we are biased against is development for profit at our expense.


Second, if the densities applicable to the parcels when purchased were used as the standard for development, no dispute would exist.


But the developers have continuously lobbied for density increases and the current landowners are using lawsuits to intimidate us. Ironically, the developers don’t even own the land yet!


For them to ever claim that our community’s wish to hold them to existing densities somehow violates their rights would be absolutely absurd. They still have the choice not to purchase the property.


Thirdly, any development for personal enrichment at the expense of an entire community is neither responsible nor beneficial.


Mr. Stewart, perhaps you would be so kind as to contact our community association for our views just as you did with the developers.


You could also tour our area and view the unsafe conditions and understand the negative consequence of allowing Driver Avenue to be paved.


If you believe that the massive grading required for the proposed development is not a threat to the environment, you are entitled to your opinion.


But please take the time to make your inquiry into the matter more than a mile wide and an inch deep. Maybe you don’t have to live with the direct consequences — but we do!


Todd Bublitz


Calabasas



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