November 26, 2019

The Agoura Village Plan

For those new to Agoura Hills, you may have heard discussions about proposals for the vacant properties in and around the intersection of Agoura Road and Kanan.

Reaching back nearly 25 years, previous city councils saw the importance of that crossroads as an opportunity to create a focal point for Agoura Hills, reflecting both its quality of life and its position as the Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains.

To emphasize the significance of that area, the city council created the Agoura Village overlay and integrated it into the city's General Plan.

In doing so, the city devoted staff and financial resources to explore the best concepts for the overlay in the form of the Agoura Village Plan.

Several studies, a design charrette and public workshops were held to gather community input from many different perspectives. Those efforts were summarized in the document below, which was published in the late 1990s after reviews by the Planning Commission and the City Council at public meetings.

Now, some 20+ years later, might be a good time for residents to revisit those efforts and use them as a basis to evaluate the new proposals being discussed for the Agoura Village area.

Of course all design concepts and plans are subject to review, revision and updating, as many things change, such as traffic patterns, environmental impact assessments, economic factors and so on.

However, it should be noted that the USA gas station and the Islands/Ladyface Ale restaurant facilities were all developed using community input that rose from the Agoura Village Plan design and visioning process.

The USA fuel facility is like no other in the region, with the pumps, mini-mart and car wash function hidden from view as one approaches northbound on Kanan. The Islands restaurant was also set back, with a landscaped area facing the intersection.

Now, as then, the Agoura Road/Kanan intersection presents an opportunity to reflect the community's position as a Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains, a city that values a high quality of life, open space, and well-designed projects that speak to the standards developed, adopted and refined by the city's residents.














September 13, 2019

Albert D. "Bud" Marley , October 21, 1931 - September 4, 2019

The entire Las Virgenes community was saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Albert "Bud" Marley. Dr. Marley served for eleven years as the Superintendent of the Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD), from 1984 to 1995. But his influence and impact on our community went well beyond his role as head of the school district. Bud and his beloved wife, Jacqueline, "Jackie," were notable fixtures at every significant community event and civic institution in the Las Virgenes/ Conejo region for over 30 years.  While helping to build LVUSD into one of the leading school districts in the state, Bud was also helping to build a community.

Bud's incisive intellect was coupled with a friendly, down home style of speaking that never failed to engage his listeners. Deeply caring and generously giving of their time, both Bud and Jackie will be long remembered for their contributions of time and wisdom to many civic causes and institutions in our region.

As former Mayors of Agoura Hills, each of us has had many opportunities to work with Bud and to enjoy the company of Bud and Jackie, who were inseparable until her death in 2015. We mourn his passing and extend sincere condolences to his family.

Donations in the name of the Jacqueline and Albert “Bud” Marley Boys & Girls Club can be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley, 30343 Canwood St., Ste. 200, Agoura Hills, CA 91301.

July 5, 2019

City Council Considering Posssible New Park for Agoura Hills, South of the Freeway*




"As part of its storm water treatment responsibilities, the City is proposing to construct a visionary new public park by covering the concrete flood channel located between Cornell Road and the Whizin Market Square driveway. Water collected and cleaned at the treatment plant would be used to irrigate landscaping within the park and street medians.

With design set to begin in mid-August, the City is seeking input from the community on the types of amenities people would like to see. A series of workshops are scheduled."

*Above picture and story provided by Council Member Deborah Klein Lopez in her July newsletter.


June 26, 2019

Golden Eagles Chicks Found In The Santa Monica Mountains — The First In 30 Years

The National Park Service announced today that two golden eagle chicks were found in a nest in the Santa Monica Mountains. The male and female chick were the first found in the Santa Monica Mountains since the late 1980s. The 12 week old eaglets have been banded so they may be further studied by the NPS biologists. For more photos and the complete story, go to LAist, a website about Los Angeles, or click HERE.

May 19, 2019

Kanan/Agoura Road Intersection On City Agenda

On Wednesday night, May 22, the Agoura Hills City Council will consider several design aspects of the Kanan / Agoura Road intersection, the Cornell/Kanan Road intersection and nearby Agoura Village signs and monuments. If you are interested in what will be done on Kanan and Agoura Road, we urge you to attend the meeting at city hall.

So there is no confusion, this IS the project that requires the transplanting or removal of the 2 heritage Oak trees in front of Islands/Ladyface. It also proposes a right turn only lane when heading east on Agoura Road, then south on Kanan which requires removal of additional oak trees. The Council would like to hear from you whether by email or in person on Wednesday night, 6:00 pm at City Hall. Written comments may be sent to Kimberly Rodrigues at krodrigues@ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.

The agenda and copies of the staff report are available on the City's website:
 
www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us

Or you may use the following links to see the staff reports and drawings of the proposed designs:

http://www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=21185

http://www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=21187

http://www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=21189


http://www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=21191

http://www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=21193