Hilton Headquarters Q&A: Councilman Kuperberg

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is planning to build its new headquarters in Agoura Hills on Agoura Road. Although no permits have been issued by the city, if all goes according to plan, the goal is to break ground on Phase I of the campus-style complex in February 2011, with an 18-month construction period.

We asked  Councilman Dan Kuperberg for his view on the project. The criminal defense attorney will mark 15 years on the council this November and has served three terms as mayor: 1998-1999, 2003-2004 and 2006-2007. 

AH Patch: Why has there been opposition in the past to development on Ladyface?

Dan Kuperberg: Most of us who live here like our open surroundings, care about the environment. It's beautiful, and one of the keys to us is this beautiful mountain. There's not really an organized opposition that I know of, but I'm comfortable always taking an extra look to make sure that if we're going to build something on this beautiful mountain, it should adhere to our standards, exceed our standards, be nestled in to the base of the mountain, be properly landscaped. We do have a Ladyface Mountain Specific Plan, [which includes] specifications for each parcel. It appears to me that the Hilton project is within rules already established. 

Patch: What other organizations have wanted to build on Ladyface during your tenure, and how have they been received?

Kuperberg: There's a project being built right now at the end of Reyes Adobe Road, the Mark Scheu project, built over my objection. Frankly, I was surprised that the public did not come out more in opposition to it. Some articles were written, but the public didn't really respond. Later people asked, 'Why did you let this happen?' And I said, 'Where were you then?' There is also one on Agoura east of Chesebro—a small development of nice homes.

Patch: Do you think Hilton being a nonprofit makes the project more appealing to the city of Agoura Hills?

Kuperberg: I think it's great that a terrific community-minded philanthropic organization wants to come to Agoura Hills, and hopefully they do encourage other like-minded citizens to do something similar. But it's not going to make a difference to me. I have to look at the project and what it will do to the environment. It's a land use issue. The fact that they're in their office raising money or making money for a profit, that shouldn't make a difference to me. But any business that comes in has a benefit to the community.

Patch: Taking the other side, if the Agoura Hills City Council was going to allow development at all, why not something like a hotel or a large retail operation, whose taxes would benefit the city?

Kuperberg: I'm trying to look at the long term. Is this a business I would want here for the next 20-25 years? Am I willing to change our standards just because it will bring us some money? We've established some pretty strong standards. If somebody says, 'We will give you X amount for a six-story building,' and we say, 'Sure,' and then the next person comes…  soon we're not Agoura Hills anymore. And we do need more money, but right now we're supplying all the services. If we had $10 million more, we could do more, but there's nothing that we have to do that we're not doing now. We're a pretty sharp organization who manages to provide what we need to provide. 

Patch: Do you think the existence of the Hilton Foundation's headquarters in Agoura Hills presents a net benefit to the local economy and city atmosphere?

Kuperberg: I think it will be terrific that Hilton's headquarters will be in Agoura Hills. Maybe they'll want to help us with some of our events and get involved locally. I hope that they would be thinking not just globally, but to help us locally. And it will encourage other quality business. When you drive around Agoura Hills, you see attractive businesses. You don't see junk on the sidewalk, signs over signs. I'm optimistic that it will be a positive addition to our community.

AH Patch wants to know your opinion about Hilton's anticipated headquarters. Sound off here or e-mail the editor at daniellej@patch.com.