Triangle Ranch Purchase Delayed but "Not Dead" & City Buys Open Space Parcels on Knight Drive

At the request of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), the City of Agoura Hills removed discussion of the Triangle Ranch from its December 13th City Council agenda. The major real estate acquisition by the MRCA has been delayed because the State rejected the appraisal at the last minute. According to sources at the MRCA, the deal is "not dead, just delayed."

In spite of being removed from the agenda, a number of people from Agoura Hills and the Cornell neighborhood south of the city spoke before the city council urging the city to assist the MRCA with a grant to help purchase the property.

CORRECTION: In our last post on this issue, November 30, we provided a link to a map of Triangle Ranch that was incorrect. The link went to a map of a different parcel. Below is an accurate map of the Triangle Ranch properties that the MRCA hopes to acquire.

The MRCA is asking the city to help acquire the first "phase" of the property, approximately 60 acres, along the east side of Kanan Road at the entrance to the city.  Three subsequent acquisition phases would bring the total acreage to 320.6 acres of open space. After contributing to the first phase, however, the city will not have to put any more funding into the project.
Acquisition of the property will provide a broad habitat connection between the Liberty Canyon wildlife corridor and the Ladyface Mountain core habitat area that contains over 1,000 protected acres. Acquisition will protect a regionally significant viewshed along Kanan Road as one of the main gateways to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.  The purchase will also protect 2,300 feet of Medea Creek with a broad riparian corridor and adjacent oak woodlands.

This item will come back before the Agoura Hills City Council. Watch this blog for information.

City Buys Open Space Parcels on Knight Drive

While the Triangle Ranch Acquisition remains up in the air, the city has forged ahead to acquire approximately 6 acres located south of Renee Drive, on the north side of Knight Drive and west of Canyon Way. See the photo above.This is a hilly area currently zoned as open space. The city was able to buy part of the acreage for the amount of back taxes, $165,00, while securing the balance as a donation.  The council voted 4 to 0, with Councilmember Weber absent, to acquire the land. City staff indicated that the money needed for the acquisition will "come from the sale of another city asset (land) in which the city will receive an amount nearly equal to the purchase price."

Saving Triangle Ranch Will Benefit Agoura Hills

In 2002, Cal Trans rated the Kanan/101 interchange as providing "Level of Service F” – the lowest/worst.  Because the interchange was constrained by existing businesses, the best redesign could only reach "Level of Service C,"  at an estimated cost close to $32 million.  Even with the help of L.A. County, private funds, and the State, the City of Agoura Hills could not hope to pay for a bigger interchange - not then and not now.

In addition to existing traffic and projected normal growth inside Agoura Hills, the city feared additional traffic burdens from the planned Triangle Ranch development just beyond the city's southern border.  Homes south of the freeway depend on services (schools, shopping, medical care, roads, etc.) inside our city, but even if the area was annexed, residential tax revenue is insufficient to pay for the needed services. 

The City also designated itself as “Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains.”  Past City Councils felt strongly that the hills, canyons, and oak groves of the mountains must be preserved for future generations. The development of the original Agoura Village Plan, in part, reflected that vision. 

Our City has historically and proudly taken the lead in preserving large portions of the Santa Monica Mountains.  This includes Chesebro and Palo Comado Canyons, Ahmanson Ranch, Chesebro Meadow, the Abrams property with its wildlife corridor, and acres of scenic mountainside on the north face of Ladyface Mountain.  We were the first city to contribute toward the purchase of King Gillette Ranch, even though it was well outside our city limit.  There is now an opportunity to save Triangle Ranch as part of a coalition of park and public agencies. This property is on our southern border and is bounded on 3 sides by designated open space.

Does Agoura Hills have the money to contribute?   Yes. The City budget maintains a very healthy "General Fund Reserve,” which by policy should be not less than 40% of the annual Operating Budget.  This year, and next year, the Reserve is at 67%, with over $10.5 million dollars on hand.

There is ample reason for the city to step up once again and participate in its “Gateway” role:

1.  Eliminating car trips from the massive Triangle Ranch project should extend the useful life of the current 101 interchange.

2.  An investment of  $1.5-$2 million today is tiny when compared to another interchange do-over.

3. The acquisition of the property insures that Agoura Hills will have an urban growth boundary on its southern border instead of urban sprawl. 

4. But the best reason is that the city is the Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains. A hundred years from now, people will be grateful that we had the foresight and the courage to preserve this beautiful, pristine and irreplaceable mountain hillside for all future generations to enjoy.

The City of Agoura Hills needs to step up and be the Defender of the Mountains. 

On December 13, the City Council will discuss the request from the MRCA for funding to help buy the Triangle Ranch. You can be there and have your voice heard - 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 13, 2017. 

Letter Sent to Caltrans Re: Environmental Assessment for Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing

To: Ron Kosinski, Deputy District Director California Department of Transportation Division of Environmental Planning

Re: Liberty Canyon Crossing Project Mitigated Negative Declaration - Environmental Assessment Comments (SCH No. 2017091039)

Support for Alternative 2, Design Option 1

Dear Mr. Kosinski,

We are 8 former Mayors of the City of Agoura Hills. We have been aware for many years of the need for a wildlife crossing west of Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills and actively supported acquisition of large areas of permanent open space, managed by the National Park Service, State Parks the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC), and the Mountains Restoration and Conservation Authority (MRCA) on both sides of the 101 Freeway. We support the construction of a linkage bridge connecting the fragmented habitats north and south of the 101 Freeway. The SMMC began land acquisition and native vegetation restoration on both sides of Agoura Road approximately 15 years ago to facilitate wildlife movement in this area.

Expert wildlife biologists from the National Parks Service and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy thoroughly reviewed the alternatives for the crossing and also preferred Alternative 2, a crossing over the freeway and Agoura Road rather than a long, narrow tunnel that leaves wildlife to cross Agoura Road through traffic, or to use the existing underpass at Liberty Canyon Road with its commercial development and lighting. These alternatives were discussed and analyzed by multiple local, state and federal partners participating in the project, as well as by public testimony beginning with the hearing on the Scoping Plan in Jan 2016 and reinforced at the October 12th hearing.

We continue to be supportive of Alternative 2, a 200 foot long, 165 foot wide landscaped bridge over the 101 freeway and also over Agoura Road with the preferred Option 1. This option would be to construct a 48 foot wide bridge over Agoura Road, rather than the 54 foot wide and 18 foot high alternative. The steep topography from the freeway bridge to the protected open space south of Agoura Road requires the extension of the bridge to protect the wildlife and the motorists on Agoura Road. The reduced height to about 16 feet is consistent with freeway overpasses in our area and the 48 foot width of the Agoura Road bridge will reduce impacts to wildlife, as well as creeks and oaks along this narrow rural road. The City of Agoura Hills General Plan designates this section of Agoura Road as a rural road with two lanes for motorists, bicycle lanes, and no street lights. The 48 foot dimension is more than adequate to accommodate these features. The larger 54 foot dimension increases costs and environmental impacts with no justifiable gain.

Cal Trans has done an excellent job in providing public outreach on this project. There were well attended hearings in Jan of 2016 and October of 2017, press releases in all the local newspapers in the region, mailings to the public, and emails with access to the environmental assessment. Cal Trans along with partner organizations have encouraged the public to attend the hearings and send in written comments by October 26th. We look forward to the final adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental assessment prior to the end of this year.

Sincerely,
Former Agoura Hills Mayors:

Ed Corridori, Fran Pavley, Joan Yacovone, Darlene McBane,
Louise Rishoff, Jack Koenig, Jeff Reinhardt, Dan Kuperberg

If you agree, send your own comment to  Mr. Kosinski at:  liberty.canyon@dot.ca.gov

Caltrans to Hold Public Informational Meeting on Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing Project

Public Hearing Scheduled Oct. 12

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to hold a public informational meeting Oct. 12 and accept public comments on Caltrans’ proposal to build a wildlife crossing facility over U.S. Highway 101 (the Ventura Freeway) in the city of Agoura Hills.

The initial study and environmental assessment (IS/EA), which Caltrans issued in September, found that the project will provide a safe and sustainable wildlife passage across Highway 101 to help reduce wildlife mortality and enhance safety for motorists by reducing motorists’ sudden movements when avoiding animals crossing the freeway.

Caltrans intends to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration on the project, based on studies that show it will not significantly affect the quality of the environment provided that the project incorporates certain measures such as vegetation and replanting, water quality permits and post-construction monitoring.

The public hearing on the report is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at King Gillette Ranch Auditorium, 26800 Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. The public is invited to attend to learn more about the project, ask questions and provide comments as the project moves forward.

The Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing would be the first of its kind in California. Similar wildlife crossings have been built and used successfully in other states and countries.

Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills has been identified as the ideal spot for a vegetated crossing to provide safe passage for wildlife across U.S. Highway 101. No public funds will be diverted from the state highway construction budget to build the wildlife crossing. The Caltrans project is being drawn up in conjunction with fundraising efforts by the National Wildlife Federation and Santa Monica Mountains Fund.

Since 1996, the National Park Service has been studying carnivores in and around the Santa Monica Mountains to determine how they survive in an increasingly fragmented and urbanized environment. During the course of the study, biologists have studied more than 340 bobcats, 145 coyotes and 60 mountain lions.

A study co-authored last year with researchers at UCLA found that without increased connectivity, especially for animals moving in from the north, this would lead to the continued erosion of genetic diversity and increase the chances of extinction of the mountain range’s population of mountain lions and other wildlife.

The IS/EA is available for review online at the Caltrans project website at http://www.dot.ca.gov/d7/ projects/libertycanyon/.

It will also be available for review at the Agoura Hills Public Library (29901 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills, CA 91301) weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The public may submit comments in writing, no later than Oct. 26, to Ron Kosinski, Deputy Director, California Department of Transportation, Division of Environmental Planning, 100 S. Main Street, MS 16A, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

For additional information, the public may contact Ms. Susan Tse at (213) 897-1821 or via email at LibertyCanyon@dot.ca.gov.

Public Hearing Scheduled for Wildlife Overpass

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) yesterday announced that the public can review and comment on the Caltrans proposal to build a wildlife crossing facility over U.S. Highway 101 (the Ventura Freeway) in the city of Agoura Hills. 

The initial study and environmental assessment (IS/EA), which Caltrans issued this month, explains that the project will provide a safe and sustainable wildlife passage across Highway 101 to help reduce wildlife mortality and enhance safety for motorists by reducing motorists’ sudden movements when avoiding animals crossing the freeway. 

Caltrans intends to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration on the project, based on studies that show it will not significantly affect the quality of the environment provided that the project incorporates certain measures such as vegetation and replanting, water quality permits and post-construction monitoring.

A public hearing on the report is scheduled for October 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at King Gillette Ranch Auditorium, 26800 Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. The public is invited to attend to learn more about the project, ask questions and provide comments as the project moves forward.

The Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing would be the first of its kind in California. Similar wildlife crossings have been built and used successfully in other states and countries.

Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills has been identified as the ideal spot for a vegetated crossing to provide safe passage for wildlife across U.S. Highway 101. No public funds will be diverted from the state highway construction budget to build the wildlife crossing. The Caltrans project is being drawn up in conjunction with fundraising efforts by the National Wildlife Federation and Santa Monica Mountains Fund.

Since 1996, the National Park Service has been studying carnivores in and around the Santa Monica Mountains to determine how they survive in an increasingly fragmented and urbanized environment. During the course of the study, biologists have studied more than 340 bobcats, 145 coyotes and 60 mountain lions.

A study co-authored last year with researchers at UCLA found that without increased connectivity, especially for animals moving in from the north, this would lead to the continued erosion of genetic diversity and increase the chances of extinction of the mountain range’s population of mountain lions and other wildlife.

The IS/EA is available for review online at the Caltrans project website at http://www.dot.ca.gov/d7/projects/libertycanyon/.

The IS/EA is also available for review and reproduction at the Caltrans District 7, Division of Environmental Planning Office (100 S. Main Street, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90012) weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Additionally, it will be available for review at the Agoura Hills Public Library (29901 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills, CA 91301) weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The public may submit comments in writing, no later than Oct. 26, to Ron Kosinski, Deputy Director, California Department of Transportation, Division of Environmental Planning, 100 S. Main Street, MS 16A, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

For additional information, the public may contact Ms. Susan Tse at (213) 897-1821 or via email at LibertyCanyon@dot.ca.gov.

Workshop Scheduled for Kanan/Agoura Road Intersection Improvement Project

An "Informational Workshop" for the Kanan/Agoura Road Ultimate Intersection Improvement Project is scheduled for September 28, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at the Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center.

The city's Director of Public Works, Ramiro Adeva explained the purpose of the workshop. "The Council directed staff to hold an informative workshop for any interested members of the public to attend, including businesses and developers as well, in order to discuss/explain the details of the project. We most definitely will allow questions to be asked, and will consider any points brought up at the meeting. We look forward to educating the public on the technical rationale used in designing the ultimate intersection."

It’s obvious that traffic is increasing at the Kanan/Agoura Road intersection every year, including from the mountain and beach communities to our south, and from our north. As Agoura Village is built out, that traffic impact will also need to be accommodated. We strongly encourage you to take this unique opportunity to look at the city’s plans, including for additional traffic lanes, road widening and removal of oak trees. Get your questions answered. Share your thoughts and suggestions with the staff and City Council. We hope that the final design will also reflect its location as gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. 

Additional information will be available on the city's web site and at City Hall.

Agoura Hills Tomorrow Sent the Following Letter to Our City Council on August 4, 2017

Dear Mayor Weber, Mayor pro Tem Koehler, Councilmember Buckley-Weber, Councilmember Northrup and Councilmember Schwarz:

AgouraHillsTomorrow is a group of eight former mayors of Agoura Hills dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the unique quality of life in Agoura Hills – Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains. As new development is proposed in our city, we take the opportunity from time to time to share our thoughts on consistency with our vision of a small town, still semi-rural and family friendly, but open to new development that respects these values.

The first step for new development is a stop before the city’s Architectural Review Board (“ARB”). As presently constituted the ARB consists of the Director of Planning, the project case planner, and at least one architect and one landscape architect. The landscape architect has just moved out of the city and the architect lives in Encino. We believe that this is an appropriate time to revisit its makeup.

Virtually all of the remaining commercial development will be built along Agoura Road and within the Agoura Village Specific Plan. It will be set against the backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area that we believe helps define the character of our city. We see a unique opportunity over the next number of years to make Agoura Village an award-winning model of urban planning in a semi-rural setting, but only if careful attention is paid at the earliest point in the development process—the ARB.

Our city’s architectural review guidelines already state as goals “to promote higher design quality, and for each project to be in harmony with its natural and manmade setting. Alteration of natural landforms and plant communities should be minimized; preservation of oak trees is given high priority.” This includes “designs which take advantage of, rather than altering, natural landforms…. A human scale of design…. Designs that reinforce the city’s semi-rural residential, low profile character and earth-toned, subdued colors.”

AgouraHillsTomorrow opposed recent approval of Cornerstone, the first project to be submitted within Agoura Village, sited high on a prominent oak-studded knoll at the intersection of Cornell and Agoura Road, because it failed all of these threshold tests. We support the citizen lawsuit challenging its extreme density and massive grading, and which demands a formal Environmental Impact Report.

We believe that a strong ARB is critical to the process and to avoid another Cornerstone. We also believe that the public members must be Agoura Hills residents. The future of our city belongs in the hands of the individuals and families who have chosen Agoura Hills as the place to call home and who cherish the natural beauty that we enjoy from virtually every corner of our city.

Qualifying backgrounds to serve as ARB members should be expanded. They should still include architecture and landscape design, but also expertise in such areas as environmental planning, sustainability, energy efficiency and similar that will help Agoura Village projects qualify for the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) certification.

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building project types, from new construction to interior fit-outs and operation and maintenance, LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.

Agoura Hills already has a few LEED-certified buildings in the city. LEED certification should be one of the proud hallmarks of all incoming projects within the Agoura Village Specific Plan area, guided by a new forward-looking Architectural Review Board.

ARB meetings should also be formalized and noticed so that there is an opportunity for the public to attend and provide critical early input.

We respectfully request that this issue be agendized for discussion and action by the full City Council.

Thank you,
AgouraHillsTomorrow
Former mayors Ed Corridori, Jack Koenig, Dan Kuperberg, Darlene McBane, Fran Pavley, Jeff Reinhardt, Louise Rishoff, Joan Yacovone

Water District Targets Property for Pure Water Project

The Las Virgenes - Triunfo Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a partnership between the two local water districts, is seeking to acquire 7.1 acres on the south side of Agoura Road at the western end of the city for the Pure Water Project (PWP). The current owner of the property had sought to build over 100,000 square feet of three story senior apartments on the site. (See "Poles Tell 'Story' on Agoura Road," 8/23/16 on this blog.) The use for the PWP is expected to be more attractive with fewer environmental impacts. The LVMWD has a history of blending its projects into the surroundings and providing public access to hiking trails where possible. The Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club expressed support calling the project a "visionary proposal."  

The Pure Water Project will take surplus recycled water from the Tapia Water Reclamation Facility and further treat it to better than drinking water standards. After treatment, the water would then be stored at Las Virgenes Reservoir until needed, and before distribution, it would again be filtered and treated for use in the drinking water system.

Community Support

After nearly two years of study and community stakeholder workshops, the Las Virgenes - Triunfo Joint Powers Authority (JPA) agreed the Pure Water Project was the answer to several challenges:

· The service area is entirely reliant upon imported water. Another source is needed.
· Wastewater treatment standards have become increasingly stringent and costly.
· There are environmental concerns about discharging surplus water to Malibu Creek.
· The new Tapia operating permit requires a reduction in creek discharges and higher water quality.

Since setting the course to build a PWP, the Water District has conducted over 20 community awareness briefings to receptive audiences. If you would like a free presentation about the PWP for your HOA, service club or fraternal group, you can contact the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District to arrange a date.

Schedule

Some of the needed infrastructure is already in place but new elements would include building an Advanced Water Treatment facility, a brine disposal pipeline and a new supply line to Las Virgenes Reservoir. It will take time to do the preparation work that includes design and engineering, environmental studies, and determining the best options for funding the project. Because of these factors, an operational facility is years away but some of these processes are already in motion.

Financing
Final costs are not yet known but the JPA is actively seeking federal and state assistance in the form of grants and low-cost loans. To date, $450,000 has been awarded by the federal Bureau of Reclamation offset some of the cost for constructing a demonstration facility. The facility will provide an opportunity for the public to see the technology behind the project before it is built full-scale.

To learn more about the Pure Water Project, go to http://www.lvmwd.com/about-us/joint-powers-authority/pure-water-project-las-virgenes-triunfo

Wildlife Crossings In the News

Today's Wall Street Journal features an article on wildlife crossings in the USA. They report that data from cameras on crossings in Montana show almost 23,000 animals used the crossings in 2015 and animals, including deer and bear, appear to be teaching their young to use the safe passage over the highway.

Vehicle animal collisions have been significantly reduced according to the article. "A November 2016 Western Transportation Institute report based on five years of animal-vehicle collision data showed that roadkill numbers for large wild mammals fell 80% along sections of the highway served by three of the more prominent crossings, while such deaths increased along sections with no structures." The proposed Liberty Canyon crossing is  cited in the article along with P22, our world famous, local mountain lion. Click HERE for the online WSJ article.

In related news, the MRCA closed escrow on, June 15, on 5 acres in Liberty Canyon (APN 2052-013-040). that serve to protect the wildlife corridor from development that might discourage animal migration. See our May 25 article, "Conservancy Acquires Key Parcel." The acquisition of this property was made possible through funding from Prop 1 and Prop A.

Conservancy Acquires Key Parcel

At the March meeting of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the board voted to acquire a 5 acre parcel on the east side of the wildlife corridor just north of the freeway and along the east side of the dirt road that extends from Liberty Canyon Rd.

At a subsequent meeting, in May, they voted to allow an "Investment Appraisal" to be used to acquire the property. Apparently it is the only west side access to a much larger parcel and the county is requiring the larger parcel to have a second access point before it can be developed. 

The Conservancy's acquisition puts a cork in the bottle and stymies a potentially very large development that would access the freeway from the Liberty Canyon interchange. The "Investment Appraisal" means the Conservancy is willing to pay somewhat more for the parcel because of its unique position relative to the wildlife corridor.  The subject property is on the high ground to the right in the above photo. Any development on this parcel would be highly visible throughout the main body of the corridor potentially discouraging animal migration.

This action by the Conservancy serves to protect the already substantial public investment in the wildlife corridor. It may also insure that Liberty Canyon residents will be spared additional traffic impacts from development outside our city.

Lawsuit Filed Over Cornerstone

A group calling itself "Save the Agoura Cornell Knoll" has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court over the approval of the Cornerstone project. The lawsuit seeks to set aside the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and the project entitlements until a full blown Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is prepared and circulated. Although the City is the named defendant in the lawsuit, the legal costs are borne by the developer of the Cornerstone Project. No work may commence on the project until the outcome of the lawsuit is determined.

The suit alleges that the city has failed to provide a legally adequate environmental document under CEQA, The California Environmental Quality Act.  It also alleges that the city "failed to disclose, analyze and mitigate the Project's significant aesthetic, cultural, biological, land use, recreational and water quality impacts, as well as the cumulative impacts caused by allowing exceptions and increases in density beyond the limits of the Agoura Village Specific Plan." It also says that "where mitigation measures are included, they are vague, deferred, or inadequate to truly mitigate the Project's impacts."

As former Mayors of Agoura Hills, we are saddened to see legal action taking place over the development of Agoura Village. But our sympathies are squarely with the Plaintiffs. As we indicated in our previous posts  (January 13, February 26, and March 29), we do not feel that the Cornerstone Project is consistent with the letter or the spirit of the Agoura Village Plan (AVP). It strays so far from what was presented to our residents before the AVP was adopted, that many of them, who still support the plan, attended the hearing on Cornerstone to oppose the project.

In 1997, because of  important archaeological and biological resources on the site, the City's environmental consultant, Envicom, felt that the knoll was appropriate for a single building, a restaurant or bed and breakfast type of inn.

It did not have to come to this. City staff and decision makers could have worked with the developer to plan a project that would be consistent with the AVP, minimize grading, preserve most of the oak trees and scrub oak habitat, preserve the significant Chumash cultural resources, preserve biological resources like rare plant species found on the site, avoid grading and trucking 92,500 cubic yards of dirt off site, meet current water runoff quality standards for the Malibu Creek watershed, and allow for the National Park Service's planned trails from the 2008 Regional Trails Plan.

It is still not too late for the litigants in this lawsuit to get together and devise a plan that will meet the objectives of the AVP, the litigants and the community. We urge both sides to take advantage of the mandatory settlement conference likely to be ordered by the court, to agree on a scaled back development. That can put the AVP back on track to providing what our residents have been looking forward to since the Plan's adoption in 2008.

For more information about the lawsuit, go to Advocates for the Environment at: http://aenv.org/cornerstone/, or email to: SaveTheAgouraKnoll@gmail.com

City Council Approves Cornerstone

On March 8, the Agoura Hills City Council heard an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of the Cornerstone project. (See our previous article of February 26.) Nearly 50 people came and testified against the project. They asked the Council to slow the process and do a more thorough review of all the environmental impacts on this magnificent gateway site vs. simply declaring them mitigated. The Council denied the appeal on a 3 to 2 vote, giving Cornerstone the go ahead. Weber, Schwarz, and Koehler gave a green light to the project, while Northrup and Buckley-Weber said no.

We think Linda Northrup and Illece Buckley-Weber got it right. In our February post we gave some of our reasons for denying the project. First, the project was increased in size in 2014 by 38% over its original submission in 2007. This means that none of the many public meetings held to introduce the Agoura Village Plan (AVP) and to take public input included a project of this size. The people who approved the AVP did not see this version of Cornerstone. Many of them, who still support the AVP, were at the March 8 meeting to oppose the Cornerstone project. It was not what they were promised.

Not only was the Cornerstone project vastly changed in scope from its 2007 version, but the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), also approved in 2007, did not anticipate the impacts of a project this size. The EIR is 10 years old. Should the Agoura Village be increased by 38% based on 10 year old information? We think not. Knowledgeable testimony at the March 8 hearing brought out major discrepancies in the EIR. The Native Plant Society did a survey of the site that found rare and endangered native plants not listed in the EIR. Rincon, the city’s own environmental consultants, recommended that the knoll on the site be avoided because of significant archeological evidence. Sam Unger, the Executive Director of the Regional Water Quality Control Board and a certified engineer, testified that the plan did not meet current storm water runoff quality standards. Biologists Paul Edelman and Dan Cooper expressed concern about insufficient mitigation for removal of 29 oak trees and scrub oak habitat. Residents of the Cornell area questioned how traffic studies did not take summer beach traffic into consideration.

But perhaps the most disappointing part of the Cornerstone project is its failure to comply with the stated objectives and goals of the AVP itself. Here are some examples with quotations taken directly from the Plan contrasted with the Cornerstone project:

“Development in Agoura Village will be designed
to respect and fit into the natural surroundings
by protecting view corridors, retaining oak trees,
preserving rock outcroppings, restoring creek and
riparian habitat, and planting native landscaping.” Chapter 1, page 9

Cornerstone plans to remove 29 oak trees and 21,271 sq. ft. of scrub oak habitat.

“Strongly encourage two-story development
and massing along Agoura Road and within
the Village to bring a comfortable scale to the
street and to reduce the impact of the large
street right-of-way.” 1-11

“Reduce building heights and terrace buildings
located along the hillsides to complement the
natural terrain.” 1-11

Cornerstone has three 3 story buildings, 45 feet in height, on Agoura and Cornell Roads.

“Preservation and restoration of natural resources
such as creeks, native vegetation, trees, and unique
topographical features is an important component
of the Village vision. Natural resources should be
integrated into the planning considerations for
proposed developments in an effort to reduce the
potential impacts on these resources.” 1-13

Minimize grading and protect the natural
Surroundings” 1-13

“Properties in Zones A South, B, E, and F shall
minimize grading on existing slopes and knolls
to the greatest extent possible.” 4-46

Cornerstone, which is in Zone E, will grade 75%, 6.8 acres, of its 8.2 acre site, exporting  92,500 cubic yards of dirt. That’s over 6,000 truck loads, taking 6 months to haul the dirt away. That doesn't sound like "minimize grading" to us.

As we said in our previous post, “We recognize that development will inevitably impact the natural environment and we still agree with the original vision of the Agoura Village Plan.” The point is not to stop development, but design it in a way that minimizes conflicts with natural and historic resources, and enhances, rather than threatens, the livability of our community. That is what the Agoura Village Plan was always about and that is why it drew the overwhelming support of the community.

Lets be clear, we were not asking the Council to deny the project, but to require a new focus EIR, an alternative site plan, or additional review to address the new and significant adverse impacts that were not addressed in the proposed Cornerstone development.

We are concerned that this project will now be cited as precedent by the developers of Agoura Village projects to follow. We will be watching carefully as to the faithfulness of these projects to the vision of Agoura Village as pedestrian oriented -- a gathering place for the community, with low impact development, restaurants, shops, down-lit lighting to preserve views of the ridgelines and dark skies. A place fitting to its location as Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains from which we take our mission statement.

To leave a comment or read the comments, click on the title of this article and scroll to the bottom.

Cornerstone Appeal Goes to City Council

On Wednesday night, March 8, the Agoura Hills City Council will hear an appeal of the Cornerstone project, a mixed use development on the the knoll at the South East corner of Cornell and Agoura Roads. Cornerstone is within Zone E of the Agoura Village Plan (AVP) and, as the first project in the AVP, will set a precedent for all projects that follow.

We have several concerns about whether the project is actually consistent with the AVP.

When Cornerstone was first introduced to the city, in 2007 it consisted of 84,457 sq. ft. of mixed used development. The Agoura Village Plan was adopted by the city in October of 2008 after considerable input from residents. But Cornerstone was changed and resubmitted to the city in 2014, this time at 116,776 sq. ft. or 38% larger. None of the charrettes, the meetings that took input from the public before adopting the AVP, ever showed a project of this size in this location. To state that this was the intention of the plan all along is just plain wrong.

Chapter 4, page 46 of the AVP requires that "grading shall be minimized by following the natural contours," and further, "minimize grading on existing slopes and knolls to the greatest extent possible." It also says "Prominent and distinctive natural features of the area shall be preserved and integrated as open space," and development is to be "clustered on less environmentally sensitive areas of the site to maximize open space and resource protection." How important is this particular site? A photograph of the knoll appears in the plan, 4-47, as an example of the unique character of Agoura Hills that is intended to be preserved. In antithesis to this requirement, Cornerstone proposes to grade 75% of the site, removing 92,500 cubic yards of dirt, or 5700 truck loads. In addition, it will remove 29 oak trees and remove 21,271 sq. ft. of scrub oak habitat and endangered plants.


We recognize that development will inevitably impact the natural environment and we still agree with the original vision of the Agoura Village Plan. Perhaps some tweaks need to be made in details of the plan, such as the ratio of housing to commercial development. But the original concept of a pedestrian oriented village that preserves the views and unique natural character of Agoura Hills should remain the objective. The Cornerstone project has many good features and could be a good start to the Village, but only if it respects the intent of the AVP and the natural features of the city and site it wants to occupy.

We suggest that the council not approve the project yet, but instead require a focused Environmental Impact Report to more fully address the adverse impacts and come up with a plan that is consistent with the vision and guidelines of the AVP.

Interim Wildlife Crossing Measures Installed at Liberty Canyon

Cal Trans has begun the project to improve the existing Liberty Canyon underpass for wildlife movement. The project was funded two years ago with a $645,000 Wildlife Conservation Board grant. The new fencing being installed now by Caltrans was part of a significant match provided by the partners for that first grant, including donations by LA County supervisor district 3, MRCA and others.

Cal Trans is removing existing fencing and relocating new, higher fencing to guide animals to use the existing underpass at Liberty Canyon. After some of the existing fencing is removed, a wider path under the 101 and between the off-ramps and the office buildings will be completed and native vegetation restored. Caltrans is being very flexible in the field in making sure the fences start and stop in locations that maximize passage sight lines and area, while keeping them off the freeway.

Caltrans is also working internally to finalize the encroachment permits so that habitat restoration can be done within their right of ways in order to re-connect the north riparian area to the south, passing between the existing off-ramp and office complex.

This project was always considered an important interim step to protect wildlife until completion of fundraising and construction of the more ideal overpass over the 101 and Agoura Road.

First Agoura Village Project Goes to Planning Commission

On Thursday, January 5, the City Planning Commission will hear a request to approve an Agoura Village Development Permit and a Tentative Parcel Map to construct a mixed-use commercial and multi-family residential project at the corner of Cornell and Agoura Roads within “Zone E” of the Village Plan. The project consists of 35 residential apartment units comprising 47,858 square feet, and retail, restaurant and office space comprising 68,918 square feet. The project requires an Oak Tree Permit to remove 29 oak trees and 21,271 square feet of scrub oak habitat.

This is the first major project to be considered for the Agoura Village Plan Area It will likely set the tone for several future projects within the Plan area and it raises some concerns. A major concern is its hope to consume all 35 of the housing units allotted for Village Zone E, leaving none for other lots within that Zone.

This sets a bad precedent and the wrong message to future developers in the Village - that our city wants more urbanization of this unique area.  To the contrary, long ago we set the vision for Agoura Hills as gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains, letting the land dictate the intensity and use.

Amending the Plan because one developer wants the whole apple in the first bite is inconsistent with the spirit and community input that developed the Plan in the first place. The original zoning, before the AV Plan was done, did not allow any housing. The two southern most, and highest, buildings could be eliminated entirely. There are 12 residential units in those buildings, which should be reserved for the other lots in Zone E. This would still allow 23 residential units and maintain the appropriate density envisioned for the Village.  It would also preserve more of the view of the mountains and natural features.

In terms of its design, the roof-lines of these two highest residential buildings present long, horizontal, unbroken lines from the freeway view. Eliminating those buildings would preserve the “village” appearance of clustered structures.

The colors also seem inappropriate - white trim, cream colored stucco - and some colonial style brick are inconsistent with the Santa Monica Mountains. As the first project to be built within the Agoura Village plan, this development will set a precedent that will surely be cited by developers who follow. It, therefore, requires very careful scrutiny. A design style that evokes the nearby iconic mountain places like Peter Strauss Ranch, Paramount Ranch, or our own city hall and event center would be more fitting.

The presence of the mountains, restored Medea Creek, and our gateway identity all provide an ideal opportunity to make Agoura Village a unique place that will be attractive to future and existing homeowners and businesses.  It deserves very thoughtful consideration as an amazing opportunity to use the Creek and mountains as a resource and a draw.  The site is too prominent and beautiful to just be graded into more multi-family housing, inconsistent with the Agoura Village theme.  It is the wrong precedent to set as we begin to develop this unique area of our city.