Local News in Brief : Group Asks Picus to Add Their Neighborhood to West Hills

Agroup claiming to represent about 2,500 Canoga Park households asked Councilwoman Joy Picus on Monday to add a neighborhood to the fledgling community of West Hills.

“All notions of fairness” dictate that Picus extend the boundaries of West Hills to include the area bounded by Shoup Avenue and Roscoe, Topanga Canyon and Victory boulevards, attorney Mark L. Edwards said in a letter delivered to Picus’ office.

A dozen people organized by real-estate agent Mickey Epstein and Edwards, both of whom live in the area, have been fighting Picus’ Oct. 15 decision to move the eastern boundary of West Hills from Platt and Woodlake avenues to Shoup Avenue.

Picus based her decision on a survey mailed to about 8,500 residents in three separate zones. Picus said she excluded the area east of Shoup Avenue because only 47% of its residents wanted to be included in West Hills. A two-thirds majority was required for inclusion, she said.

But Edwards claims the survey was flawed. He said 68% of the residents living in the area wanted to be included in West Hills.

At least 388 residents living in the Shoup area did not receive questionnaires, Edwards said. In addition, 269 of the 2,866 questionnaires used by Picus as a basis for the decision were sent to residents living outside the Shoup area, he said.

“The true opinion of the residents was never considered,” Edwards said in an interview.

Sharon Schuster, Picus’ chief deputy, acknowledged “that the mailing wasn’t perfect,” but said Picus will not reconsider the boundaries. “The issue is closed,” Schuster said.