High-Tech Project : Agoura Hills Orders Builder to Alter Plans

Homeowners locked in a fight with businessmen over preservation of Agoura Hills’ rural atmosphere have gained the upper hand with a City Council order that a developer modify a $75-million, high-tech project.

Builder Gerald Katell was told to minimize grading and detrimental visual aspects in his 34-acre project, which will include seven manufacturing buildings facing the Ventura Freeway at Reyes Adobe Road about 10 miles west of the San Fernando Valley.

Council members said they will consider Katell’s new design on July 24, when a much-delayed final vote on the development is scheduled. If approved, the project would be the largest ever built within the eight-square-mile, 32-month-old city of Agoura Hills.

The redesign, requested by the council late Wednesday, dismayed Agoura Hills business leaders, who support the project as a potential source of customers for them and sales-tax revenue for the city. The project’s major tenant would be Teradyne, a manufacturer of computer semiconductor test equipment.

Could Lose Project

“We have a real chance of losing this project,” said Steve Gluck, president of the Agoura-Las Virgenes Chamber of Commerce. “Teradyne is ready to make a commitment elsewhere.”

Project planners told the council that the project already had been modified to reduce its density and to preserve oak trees at the hilly site. They said grading is necessary to allow for flat building pads required by Teradyne’s manufacturing processes.

But, during a four-hour debate before a standing-room-only City Hall audience made up of homeowner and business interests, some council members seemed unconcerned about the possibility of losing the project.

“If they want to build on flat land, I’m sure there’s some someplace else for them to build,” said Councilwoman Vicky Leary, who lives in a 20-year-old neighborhood across the freeway from the proposed project site.

Leary said she was also unswayed by Teradyne officials’ explanation that the Agoura Hills site was picked because it would benefit many employees who already live in the area. The company is seeking to consolidate its operations in Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills, which have a total of 750 employees.

“I’m sure the employees live here because they enjoy the environment,” Leary said. She said the city should not be pressured into approving “the first thing that comes along for fear nothing else will come along.”

Councilwoman Fran Pavley said granting the building request boiled down to “whether the requirements of one key tenant have a greater value than some of the provisions of our general plan. I can’t justify compromising my values because of one tenant.”

Modifications were also urged by Mayor John Hood and by Councilwoman Carol Sahm, who in recent weeks has emerged as the heavily lobbied swing vote on the issue.

Changes Sought

“I can’t accept the way it is there. I have some problems with the design but I think we can work them out,” Sahm said.

Hood said he also wanted some changes “before I’m ready to move ahead.”

The fifth council member, project supporter Ernest Dynda, said he was left “in a state of shock” by his colleagues’ stance.

“So many compromises have already been made on this project. Right now, it doesn’t look good,” he said.