Agoura Hills Picks Planning Commission

A new Planning Commission pledged to help enforce homeowners’ slow-growth mandate in Agoura Hills has been appointed in the eight-square-mile town west of the San Fernando Valley.

City Council members picked their representatives to the five-member advisory panel Tuesday night. Commissioners will begin considering zoning changes and building requests Jan. 23.

Officials said the commission’s land-use philosophy is expected to closely parallel that of the council. The five-member council has been controlled by a four-vote slow-growth majority since November, when voters ousted the city’s pro-growth mayor.

Returning commission members are Joan Yacovone and Steve Soelberg. They will be joined by newcomers Christopher Calvert, Louise Rishoff and Stuart Schneider.

Calvert, appointed by Mayor Vicky Leary, served as a planner last month, replacing Darlene McBane, who was elected to the City Council. Rishoff, an unsuccessful council candidate last year, was picked for the commission by McBane.

Schneider, who helped elect a slate of slow-growth council candidates in November, was appointed by one of them, Councilman Jack Koenig.

Yacovone was returned to the panel by Councilwoman Fran Pavley, who was re-elected in November.

Soelberg, who served on the commission last year after being appointed by former Mayor John Hood, was appointed this time by Councilman Ernest Dynda, who is viewed as the lone pro-development council member.

Commissioners are paid $25 for each of their twice-monthly meetings.