Politics & Government
Let's Get It Straight - Agoura Village
For years, rumors have made their way around the city about the development. Here's the real story.
We've all heard the rumors about the property located at the corner of Agoura and Kanan roads. Buzz about an In-N-Out Burger, new movie theater, a housing development and a lawsuit have swirled around for years. And Agoura Hills Patch is finally going to get it straight.
The Land
The contentious area set for the Agoura Village development stretches beyond the intersection of Kanan and Agoura roads to two blocks east of Cornell Road. Roadside Drive and the 101 freeway border much of the area to the north and open space borders the south. Whizin's Shopping Center, USA Gasoline and Conejo Valley U-Store-It currently occupy a portion of the property, which has been divided into several parcels of land allotted to 30 owners.
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The Agoura Village
After winning a lawsuit filed by Malibou Lakeside resident Mary Altmann in 2007, the city of Agoura Hills invested in extensive environmental testing, research and planning, ultimately approving the Agoura Village Specific Plan on Oct. 22, 2008. Designed as a "pedestrian-oriented center," inspired by "the natural setting offered by the surrounding...views of Ladyface Mountain," the development was meant to have a "uniquely Agoura sense of place."
Find out what's happening in Agoura Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Specific Plan
The 2008 plan is extensive and includes even the smallest details, down to the types of approved signage, lighting and trash cans. Parkland, open space, and hiking and equestrian trails are considered essential and mandatory. Single-family dwellings are not permitted, with residential units limited to multifamily developments such as apartments, town homes and lofts. Roundabouts, diagonal street parking and narrow travel lanes--deemed "traffic calming elements"--are called for in the plan.
What's Really Happening?
To date, there is a commercial request for a shopping center, along with three mixed-use applications for retail, offices, town homes and lofts. However, all are on hold because of Agoura Hills' current economic climate, said Allison Cook, principal planner for the city's Planning and Community Development Department. As for myths, there has never been an application for an In-N-Out or a movie theater.