Rebuilding Westlake North

Report outlines environmental impact due to business park redevelopment



 

The City of Westlake Village released a preliminary environmental report March 29 that examines the impact of a major redevelopment being considered for the city’s north side next to Thousand Oaks.

The report spelled out at the potential for environmental damage that could result from the rezoning of 200 acres of commercial real estate that lies north of 101 Freeway, west of Lindero Canyon Road and south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

The zoning change would bring a mix of homes and retail stores into an area known as North Business Park that is currently dominated by mostly business and industrial uses.

The business park plan opens the door for each owner in the area to redevelop their property under the new zoning guidelines.

Last week’s environmental report found that the construction could have significant, unavoidable impacts on air quality, produce an excessive amount of greenhouse gasses and potentially increase the city’s population beyond growth forecasts. Interested parties have until May 15 to review the environmental report, which can be found on the city’s website, and offer their comments.

PLANNING—Diagram shows where the homes and businesses will be allowed in Westlake North Business Park.

PLANNING—Diagram shows where the homes and businesses will be allowed in Westlake North Business Park.

More people, more homes

The North Business Park Specific Plan projects room for over 1,000 new apartments and condos, which more than satisfies the city’s housing requirement. Under state law the city only needs to add 97 new homes.

No developments are in the works, but under the zoning the door has been opened for new housing stock to be added.

The environmental study found that the new dwellings could add more than 2,200 residents to the city’s population of 8,000—and disrupt previous growth projections. In a previous study by the Southern California Association of Governments, a metropolitan planning organization, the Westlake Village population wasn’t expected to surpass 8,800 people for 20 more years.

The placement of new housing where current businesses exist could eliminate jobs, the report said. It predicts as many as 1,400 jobs would be lost.

The report found, however, that the rezoning would have minimal impacts on public services, geology, water quality and scenic views if appropriate mitigation steps are taken by the city.

Additional traffic could be brought under control, the report said.

Years in the making

The city has been developing the North Business Park plan for more than a decade.

Scott Wolfe, Westlake Village’s planning director, said the blueprint will be an incentive for property to owners to reinvest in their land.

After the construction of the Four Seasons Hotel, Dole Headquarters and other buildings in the area, the city felt a need to continue its economic growth Wolfe said.

Some developers showed interest in putting up highrises, but that avenue was thwarted by language in the plan.

Following the end of the public comment period, the city will address the feedback it has received along with other relevant issues and prepare a final environmental impact report.

If that document is approved, the plan will still have to be reviewed by several committees and go before the Westlake Village City Council for final adoption.

Wolfe said the goal of the rezoning is not an attempt to bring another shopping center to the area. All proposed land-use changes in the park will still be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, he said.

If developers choose to deliver on the homes, it would be the first housing construction in Westlake Village since Sycamore Canyon Estates was completed on the south side in 2004.

Follow Ian Bradley on Twitter @Ian_ reports.