Whizin, home to Canyon Club, gets $26 million

Agoura Hills center is sold

Whizin, home to Canyon Club, gets $26 million

By Jim McLain, jmclain@VenturaCountyStar.comDecember 23, 2006

An Agoura Hills shopping center that is home to one of Southern California's best-known small concert venues has been purchased by a Calabasas developer and will be integrated into a plan to revitalize the city's downtown.
The Whizin Shopping Center, an 84,979-square-foot retail venue, was bought earlier this month by Tucker Investment Group for $26.2 million. CEO Bill Tucker said the center houses 25 to 30 businesses, including the Canyon Club, which regularly stages performances by popular bands and singers.

Tucker's firm bought the center at 28912 Roadside Drive adjacent to Highway 101 along with 2.73 undeveloped acres across the freeway on Canwood Street that has nearly 1,000 feet of freeway frontage. The seller was the Whizin Foundation, a support organization of the Jewish Community Foundation in Los Angeles. Among other entities, the group helps fund Los Angeles' University of Judaism. The deal closed Dec. 1.
Tucker said his group hopes to make the center a focal point of the city's revitalization project.
"We are right at the doorstep of where Agoura Hills has ... identified as what they want to create as their pedestrian-friendly downtown area," Tucker said. "We want to play into that and be a pedestrian-friendly center with an urban living room feel."
He said his group will hire architects soon and work with city officials to upgrade the center in a project that will entail elements of Agoura Hills' newly adopted Agoura Village Specific Plan Zone.
The Whizin Center is inside the zone, but the undeveloped land across the freeway is not. Tucker said it will take several months for his group to put together a proposal to take to the city. A city official said the zone includes strict requirements.
"It's pretty specific regarding allowable uses and types of amenities that would be required ? landscaping, hardscape improvements and architectural design to keep within the village theme," said Doug Hooper, Agoura Hills' assistant community development director. "It's a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly environment."
Tucker has experience working with high-end projects. He is former chairman and remains on the board of the Bayside District, which developed and manages Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade and owns several properties in Burbank Village, a recently completed project in downtown Burbank.
Tucker insisted, though, that the Agoura Hills project will not be patterned after those.
"It's a different animal," he said. "Every area is unique. What works in Santa Monica works in Santa Monica. What works in Burbank works in Burbank. ? This is an area that is unique to itself. It has to be treated with attention. We want to make sure it's done properly and fits -in with the community."
The Whizin Shopping Center was named for a restaurant that was its best-known tenant for decades. Several other restaurants have occupied that space. Wood Ranch is there now, though it is in a new building.
Tucker said his group wants to keep Wood Ranch, the Canyon Club and many other current tenants, but improvement plans are just getting started.
"We're just getting our arms around it," he said. "We think that it's a great center in a great location ? it should play an integral part of the whole downtown."
His firm has not begun to consider plans for the undeveloped land included in the sale. Tucker described that property as "the gravy in the transaction," but said their main interest is the Whizin Center.
Brokers Michael Ross and Fred Cordova of Colliers International Investment Group in Los Angeles represented the Whizin Foundation in the sale, while Tucker Investment Group was self-represented.

Agoura Hills general plan update underway

Agoura Hills general plan update underway
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Agoura Hills residents have been invited to help shape the future of their city by attending a joint meeting between the City Council and the planning commission.

According to Allison Cook, senior planner, the Dec. 13 meeting will give residents the opportunity to learn about how the city's general plan will be updated. The document is a framework for city development over the next decade.

Commercial, residential and industrial development is outlined in the general plan, as well as traffic patterns, natural resources, hiking trails, streets, sidewalks and other public works. Also addressed by the plan are issues pertaining to noise, public safety and the local economy.
The update is a three-phase process. The city already conducted several workshops and mailed a written survey to more than 23,000 Agoura Hills residents earlier this year to see how they feel about a variety of city issues.

Survey questions ranged from what people enjoy most about living in Agoura Hills to what they would like to see in the way of transportation, land development, community services and business opportunities. An independent firm analyzed the results and prepared a report, which will be shared at next Wednesday's meeting.

The second phase of the update will begin next year. City staff will prepare reports on traffic, conservation, parks, infrastructure, recreation, housing needs, population demographics, open space and community services. Included will be updated goals, policies, objectives and programs that should be a part of the general plan. The third phase will finalize land use documents and analyze potential environmental consequences pertaining to the California Environmental Quality Act.

The meeting is expected to draw many residents with con
cerns about the Agoura Village plan. City officials view the village south of the 101 Freeway as an eclectic future town center mixing retail and commercial businesses with housing units in a "pedestrian friendly" atmosphere. Opponents see the plan as a threat to the environment and a violation of the exisiting general plan.

Mary Altmann, a Malibou Lakeside resident who formed Citizens for Sensitive Development, a group opposing the development, has filed a citizen's lawsuit to stop or at least delay the development.
The general plan update meeting will be from 6 to 9 p.m. next Wednesday at city hall, 30001 Ladyface Court in Agoura Hills.

The City Council Needs You’re Help

The City Council Needs You’re Help


We need to once again, go out and Police the actions and intentions of the City Council.
They intend to change the general plan of this little town. What do the have in mind????
What changes to our lifestyle and our property values are they intending to change? Regardless of what we say?
If you look carefully, you will see that the council is changing the rural setting of the area to an urban city. Is that what you moved here for? Is that why we elected them to office? To change this place to be just like the place we left behind..

Rural
–adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the country, country life, or country people; rustic: rural tranquillity.

2.
living in the country: the rural population.

Urban
–adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or designating a city or town.

2.
living in a city.

If you want to keep Agoura a rural community, you need to come to this meeting and tell the five council members to stop! If you want to live in Agoura City with its 24 hour downtown and all of the other happenings of an Urban Agoura City, then stay home on December 15th and watch the values and the property values of Agoura slip away.

Agoura to host General Plan update meeting
A General Plan update community meeting will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Wed., Dec. 13 at the Agoura Hills City Council chambers in city hall, 30001 Ladyface Court.
At this joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission, the public can learn more about the General
Plan update process and share opinions about land use, circulation and other planning issues in the city.
For more information, call Allison Cook, senior planner, at (818) 597-7310, e-mail acook@ci.agoura-hills.ca.us or visit www.ci.agourahills.ca.us.

The Devil is in the details

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Address: Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301MLS #: 2056493Excellent Oportunity To Own A Proposed Mixed Use European Style Development. Cornerstone At Agoura Village In The Center Of The Approved Retail & Entertainment Zone In The Village Of Agoura Hills. 6.89 Acres Consists Of Retail 23,426 Sf, Office 18,509 Sf, Residential 42,300 Sf(41 Units)*Entitlement In Process*Plans,Studies & Info Avail. Listing Agent and Office: Renit Zoldan, Rodeo Realty.Agent/Broker Contact Information:Coldwell Banker Regional BrokerageSuzanne Grace & Associates805-341-46441620 Newbury Road, Suite 6, Newbury Park, CA 91320

The Numbers Dont Lie

Survey says
During the summer of 2005, the city of Agoura Hills conducted a survey of residents, and the results are very interesting.
The top values are quality of life, low crime rate and the quality of the schools, all by a very large margin. The least desirable aspects were the Kanan Road interchange, traffic congestion and too much development.
So why did the council vote 50 to approve Agoura Village, a mixed-use, high-density project that could lend itself to 1.5 million square feet or more development and generate over 17,500 vehicle trips a day, and allow 45-foot-high buildings in front of Ladyface Mountain?
Many concerned citizens addressed the council, yet members still voted in more traffic, more crime, more air pollution and overcrowded schools. Thank goodness Mary Altmann filed a lawsuit to stop this project.
The most important function of the city council is to regulate development. The current City Council has consistently proven they cannot be trusted to uphold the key values of our community.
At the next available chance, we should elect people who will.

Joe Dallacqua Malibou Lake

Agoura Village 'myth' debunked

Agoura Village 'myth' debunked
Last week's Acorn editorial infers the Agoura Village Specific Plan down-sizes development the city can approve on the affected acreage. This is contrary to the actual AVSP language.
The AVSP first allows commercial development roughly equal to that previously allowed -approximately 950,000 commercial square feet. It then allows bonus incentives to certain parcels, and allows the City Council to give discretionary increases to any parcel owner, with no squarefootage cap.
In addition to all commercial square footage, the AVSP then allows 293 new residential dwelling units-with no square-footage cap. An alternate plan allows for fewer dwellings, but adds a hotel. Neither the commercial nor residential square footages include anticipated garage structures.
The AVSP also allows buildings to exceed previous height limits, increasing overall size perceptions, making the project more urban, and affecting views of the southern foothills.
Using reasonable projections for residential units, the combined commercial and residential square footage "allowable" on the land could be 50 percent (or more) than what could have been constructed under prior regulation.
The city may be hard-pressed to legally deny any application on the basis of square footage or mass, so long as it complies with the AVSP's design parameters.
The Acorn is our community's source of local information and should present facts as contained in the AVSP. It should not simply parrot the mantra of proponents who paint a portrait of "less dense" development
A city survey of residents (results of which were recently released for public consumption) shows almost unanimous opposition to development of more residential units in Agoura Hills. This survey data was accumulated long before the AVSP was approved, but it was not discussed at AVSP public hearings.

Howard Littman Agoura Hills

Stick to the plan

Stick to the plan, Agoura
The Agoura Village Specific Plan is about as "eclectic" as what was approved on the north side of the freeway-a mass of apartments and commercial development in spite of the Riverwalk project and/or recreational use that was possible there.
The plan currently challenged in court allows 60 percent building coverage with 45foottall buildings, not including parking structures. The General Plan for this same area allows for an average building coverage of 20 percent and a height limit of 35 feet.
"Citizens for Sensitive Development" are in favor of sensitive development to highlight and augment our beautiful surroundings. We don't want 45foothigh apartments on sensitive land, nor the 24hour nightlife that will attract crime, heavy traffic and all sorts of pollution where rare and endangered species live in the town we call home.
It is important you e-mail or call your City Council members, (818) 597-7300, and ask them to follow the current General Plan guidelines for Agoura Village, and ask them to keep the zoning and density the same in the updated General Plan. Mary Altmann Agoura

Residents clash with city over 'village'

Opponents are stepping up their fight against the Agoura Village Specific Plan, a long-range document that sets the stage for the development of an eclectic, mixeduse town center south of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills.
Opponents believe the plan violates the city's General Plan in several ways, posing safety, traffic and environmental problems.

A community meeting was held Oct. 26 at the Malibou Lake Country Club to rally support against the village plan.

Malibou Lakeside resident Mary Altmann formed a watchdog group called "Citizens for Sensitive Development" and has filed a lawsuit against the city of Agoura Hills in an attempt to slow the center's progress.

The suit challenges the city's certification of an Agoura Village "Program Environmental Impact Report," which opponents believe is inadequate, but city officials say is simply misunderstood. The report analyzes how the center will affect the environment.

Altmann was among about 35 residents, mostly from the Malibou Lake area, to attend the October meeting. "We're trying to fight city hall," said Joe D'allaqua, a longtime resident who believes the Agoura Village plan doesn't offer enough details and is worried that some established businesses would be forced to leave, a charge the city denies.

"If they choose to leave, or choose to redevelop, it's totally up to them to make that decision," said Mike Kamino, Agoura Hills' director of planning and community development.

D'allaqua also said the city has made "backdoor deals" with developers.
Kamino said three developers have been working with the city in an attempt to get the village underway. Each project, Kamino saidwould require separate environmental reviews, including California Environmental Quality Act documents. Each property owner must undergo hearings and obtain separate approval for their project"The Specific Plan is a tool," said Allison Cook, senior planner for Agoura Village. "It's up to each applicant to move forward or not."
The Agoura Village plan does not allow industrial uses. Existing storage businesses have been "grandfathered in," and will be allowed to operate in the area as long as their owners desire.

Steve Hess, a member of the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation who opposes Agoura Village, said the concept has changed considerably since it was first introduced by former Agoura Hills mayors Fran Pavley and Louise Rishoff and other city leaders.
"This is not what they had in mind," Hess said.

Rishoff worked on the Agoura Village Task Force in developing the current plan.
"I continue to support the original concept, but the devil is in the details," Rishoff said.
She said the development will unfold as each application comes before the city planning commission.
"The first (project) in will set the standard for everyone that follows," Rishoff said
.
Opponents are concerned about traffic and believe a proposed roundabout at Kanan Road will create more problems than it solves.

A traffic study predicts more than 17,000 additional car trips each day from the village, but the number is small in comparison to the existing traffic, Cook said.
Kamino said the level of traffic flow would be considered average under the Institute of Traffic Engineers' nationwide standard rating system.
One area, however, will fall below the "C" traffic level. Agoura Road between Kanan and Cornell roads will not be widened and traffic will be slower. Flow in that area is projected at level "D," officials said.
"We do not want cars whizzing by," Kamino said. The goal for the area is to make it "pedestrian friendly," he said.
Cook said the plan includes the worst case scenario and doesn't account for people walking in and out of the village area.
One person at the meeting suggested the proposed roundabout was a ruse to eventually install a sixlane intersection.
"...The intent of a roundabout is to facilitate the movement of traffic," Rishoff said.

Altmann said the 45-foot-high, three-story buildings allowed by the plan-which are a violation of the city's 35-foot height limit-would be made possible if developers provide a "bonus" to the city such as public art, creek restoration, horse trails or other projects.

The design elements required under the Specific Plan will force developers to include balconies and elements that present a more varied look than a master-planned mall.

And while opponents worried about density problems, officials say the Agoura Village "floor area ratio" (the size of a building compared to its lot) is about one-third less intense than what is allowed under the city's current General Plan.

"It won't be a massive, monumental look," Cook said.
The city's goal is to allow the project to develop "organically," and to avoid a "cookiecutter" design, Cook said.

By Stephanie Bertholdo

Residents clash with city over 'village'

Residents clash with city over 'village' By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com
Opponents are stepping up their fight against the Agoura Village Specific Plan, a long-range document that sets the stage for the development of an eclectic, mixeduse town center south of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills.
Opponents believe the plan violates the city's General Plan in several ways, posing safety, traffic and environmental problems.
A community meeting was held Oct. 26 at the Malibou Lake Country Club to rally support against the village plan.
Malibou Lakeside resident Mary Altmann formed a watchdog group called "Citizens for Sensitive Development" and has filed a lawsuit against the city of Agoura Hills in an attempt to slow the center's progress.
The suit challenges the city's certification of an Agoura Village "Program Environmental Impact Report," which opponents believe is inadequate, but city officials say is simply misunderstood. The report analyzes how the center will affect the environment.
Altmann was among about 35 residents, mostly from the Malibou Lake area, to attend the October meeting. "We're trying to fight city hall," said Joe D'allaqua, a longtime resident who believes the Agoura Village plan doesn't offer enough details and is worried that some established businesses would be forced to leave, a charge the city denies.
"If they choose to leave, or choose to redevelop, it's totally up to them to make that decision," said Mike Kamino, Agoura Hills' director of planning and community development.
D'allaqua also said the city has made "backdoor deals" with developers.
Kamino said three developers have been working with the city in an attempt to get the village underway. Each project, Kamino saidwould require separate environmental reviews, including California Environmental Quality Act documents. Each property owner must undergo hearings and obtain separate approval for their project"The Specific Plan is a tool," said Allison Cook, senior planner for Agoura Village. "It's up to each applicant to move forward or not."
The Agoura Village plan does not allow industrial uses. Existing storage businesses have been "grandfathered in," and will be allowed to operate in the area as long as their owners desire.
Steve Hess, a member of the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation who opposes Agoura Village, said the concept has changed considerably since it was first introduced by former Agoura Hills mayors Fran Pavley and Louise Rishoff and other city leaders.
"This is not what they had in mind," Hess said.
Rishoff worked on the Agoura Village Task Force in developing the current plan.
"I continue to support the original concept, but the devil is in the details," Rishoff said.
She said the development will unfold as each application comes before the city planning commission.
"The first (project) in will set the standard for everyone that follows," Rishoff said.
Opponents are concerned about traffic and believe a proposed roundabout at Kanan Road will create more problems than it solves.
A traffic study predicts more than 17,000 additional car trips each day from the village, but the number is small in comparison to the existing traffic, Cook said.
Kamino said the level of traffic flow would be considered average under the Institute of Traffic Engineers' nationwide standard rating system.
One area, however, will fall below the "C" traffic level. Agoura Road between Kanan and Cornell roads will not be widened and traffic will be slower. Flow in that area is projected at level "D," officials said.
"We do not want cars whizzing by," Kamino said. The goal for the area is to make it "pedestrian friendly," he said.
Cook said the plan includes the worst case scenario and doesn't account for people walking in and out of the village area.
One person at the meeting suggested the proposed roundabout was a ruse to eventually install a sixlane intersection.
"...The intent of a roundabout is to facilitate the movement of traffic," Rishoff said.
Altmann said the 45-foot-high, three-story buildings allowed by the plan-which are a violation of the city's 35-foot height limit-would be made possible if developers provide a "bonus" to the city such as public art, creek restoration, horse trails or other projects.
The design elements required under the Specific Plan will force developers to include balconies and elements that present a more varied look than a master-planned mall.
And while opponents worried about density problems, officials say the Agoura Village "floor area ratio" (the size of a building compared to its lot) is about one-third less intense than what is allowed under the city's current General Plan.
"It won't be a massive, monumental look," Cook said.
The city's goal is to allow the project to develop "organically," and to avoid a "cookiecutter" design, Cook said.

More of this to come

Apparently, the Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel wants to staff its driveways with Valet Girls, which according to their all-Flash website, is:

Our Valet parking team is comprised of stunning women that are models, singers, actors & dancers. We don't just park cars, we provide entertainment. All the beautiful ladies are professionally trained in providing the highest level of guest service and safety. Clients may request from a variety of uniforms such as: Chic & Elegant (all black attire), Tank tops, Capri pants, camisoles, mini skirts, bikinis and lingerie. Clients may customize a uniform for their event. No men. No red vests... just a team of gracious, sexy and skilled women.

If this is going on basically right next door to City Hall, what do you think the 24 hour area of Agoura Village is going to bring to our quiet bedroom community?

Stand with us and stop the Agoura Hills City council’s plans to line their pockets and the pockets of the developers as the strip this community of all that is good.

78 Votes was the difference

LVMWD - Board OF Directors DIV 3
Candidate

LEE RENGER 1591 Votes %51.26

MARY ALTMANN 1,513 Votes %48.74

Registration 7,836
Precincts Reporting 11
Total Precincts 11
% Precincts Reporting 100


Congratulations Mr. Renger

One of Us, Supports One of Us.

Copy from The Acorn November 2, 2006

Vote for Altmann

In a political climate where there is not always a good choice of candidates for elected office, I am pleased to support Mary Altmann for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District Board of Directors.

Mary has the intelligence, communication skills and strong commitment to our community and environmental values essential to the role of an effective director. She will be an excellent advocate for and representative of the people of our district.

Please join me in voting Mary Altmann on the board of the LVMWD.

Steve Hess Agoura

Cydney Cornell's thoughts



What are the stores proposed?
Cold Stone Creamery?
Victoria's Secret?
What do we need that we don't have in Agoura?
A WholeFoods Market, a Teen Center or Bowling Alley? Maybe.
There are unfilled parking lots at the Topanga Mall and the Oaks Mall.
Have any of you ever been outside of the USA? This building mania is not necessary.
Just because we have the open space doesn't mean we have to fill it up with junk like our backyards or garages.
If Agoura needs the revenue to stay in business, I vote for paying higher taxes, not putting up more junk stores to get revenue from the ignorant. I would rather not buy cheesy foreign made clothes that fallapart after a couple of washings.
I would rather not take my family to a resturant that doesn't care about nutrition or flavor.
It is a great responsibility to have undeveloped landand we must intelligently approach that responsibility with the future of our children's welfare in mind.
Once our land is covered with cement we have destroyed it forever. I don't believe a traffic circle could be gracefully managed by the honking morons whom I encounter everyday at that busy corner of Agoura Road and Kanan Road.
I do not want to drive through a shopping mall to take my child to and from school each day.
This plan is not respectful, beautiful or responsible.
I want to see an accurate rendition of what is intended to be built.I want to know that the city of Agoura doesn't have a hidden agenda or self serving advocates of the project.
I want to know that bids have been submitted competitively for "potential construction".:
I want to know that this is really what the citizens of Agoura and Agoura Hills need and want.
Why don't we modernize the existing malls on Kanan surrounding Thousand Oaks Boulevard?
What is to become of those shops if we build new ones on theother side of the freeway? Derelict?
I want to know that all those impacted have had fairwarning.

Cydney Cornell
Proud 7 1/2 year resident of Malibou Lake MountainClub

On Thursday October 27th we hosted a fact finding meeting at the Malibou Lake Mountain Club facility at 29033 Lake Vista Dr.

The turn out was approximately 40 or so. The most refreshing part was the caliber of the attendees; all of the turn out was more than just aware of the Agoura Hills City Councils plans for the Agoura Village project and the council’s desire for the project regardless of any individuals or agencies disapproval.

The hour and a half long meeting was focused on the update to the pending lawsuit and the organization of a committee to concentrate on managing the resources found at the meeting. Also we have the email server running and we are beta testing the web site along with verifying the content with the attorneys. As soon as it is ready and we receive the green light from legal we will notify all of you the launch date of StopAgouraVillage.com

Please feel free to contact us at Action@StopAgouraVillage.com with any ideas, suggestions, questions or input you have

Thank you all for taking the time to help us stop this monster from becoming a reality in our small slice of paradise called Agoura.


The next scheduled meeting is again at the Malibou Lake Club house Thursday November 16th at 7:30 pm