Agoura Hills OKs Office Park

A proposal for a controversial, $75-million business park was narrowly approved by the Agoura Hills City Council Wednesday night over objections of homeowners who argued that it would destroy the rural atmosphere of their bedroom community.

The council voted 3 to 2 to allow the project after developer Jerald Katell agreed to replace two of seven proposed office buildings with facilities that generate city sales tax, such as hotels.

Much of the project, to be on 34 acres next to the Ventura Freeway and 10 miles west of the San Fernando Valley, will house Teradyne’s semiconductor division.

Opposition to the business park, debated for months, was led by Councilwoman Fran Pavley, who warned that officials were “compromising” community attitudes.

But Wayne Adelstein, vice president of the Agoura-Las Virgenes Chamber of Commerce, called the vote “a victory for the community because it sets a standard of quality development for the future.”