Referendum battle begins to take shape

Acorn Staff Writer


Both sides involved in the Agoura Hills Home Depot dispute have stepped up their war of words in what’s become a full-blown public relations battle over big-box stores in the city.


Last week, the Agoura Hills City Council reluctantly agreed to place a citizens’ referendum on the March 5 ballot that seeks to limit large retail stores to no larger than 60,000 square feet.


Opposing groups said they will take immediate steps to sway voter opinion.


Home Depot wants to build a 140,000 square-foot store as part of a proposed new shopping center on Agoura Road west of Kanan Road, but more than 2,000 of the city’s registered voters signed a petition against big-box stores.


The petition led to the referendum.


"There’s a great deal of people out there who don’t want a big box," said City Councilman Dan Kuperberg. "My problem with the 60,000 [square feet] petition is that it stops all realistic economic development in the city."


City Councilwoman Louise Rishoff said if the referendum passes, "It hangs a big not welcome sign on the city."


While none of the councilmembers publicly support Home Depot, they’re afraid that turning the large retailer away—and others like it—will hurt the city’s ability to raise sales taxes, the main source of revenue for the city.


"We have to look at what’s best for the city in terms of meetings its financial obligations," said City Councilman Jeff Reinhardt, who proposed adding a separate measure on ballot asking for a residential and business utility tax in case big boxes are banned.


Reinhardt’s plan was defeated.


Councilmembers worried that any additional measures on the ballot would make the voters’ task more difficult.


Kuperberg proposed a measure raising the retail limitation from 60,000 feet to 110,000 feet, but that plan got nixed, too.


"We don’t want an initiative that says if it’s a couple of inches shy of a big box then it’s okay," said Agoura resident Rachel Morris. "We’re saying no huge buildings."


Morris joined several dozen residents who went door-to-door last summer and fall collecting signatures for the petition.


Consolidating the referendum on the county’s March primary ballot will cost Agoura Hills $20,000. If a special election were to be held, the cost would be $25,000, according to city officials.


Dan Selleck, developer of the 255,000 square-foot shopping center that would include the Home Depot, said he objects to the referendum, but that his plans to move forward on the project haven’t changed.


"It’s a bad law for the city," Selleck said. "I think it’s bad economics and it’s protectionism."


A trio of local hardware, lumber and home improvement businesses (that admittedly fear the Home Depot competition) funded the referendum.


Selleck said his shopping center’s environmental impact report should be completed next month. The project, which is called Ladyface Village Center, also includes shops and restaurants.


Opponents say they are in favor of the shopping center, but not Home Depot.


"We want to see smaller businesses in this city that don’t swallow up other businesses," said Dan Crisafulli, a referendum supporter.





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