Pro & Con on Westlake North . . .

Westlake North is a new project proposed for 131 acres in Westlake Village north of the Ventura Freeway. It is bounded on the west by Lindero Canyon Road, to the north by Thousand Oaks Boulevard and to the east by the city of Agoura Hills.

The plan calls for 1.5 million square feet of buildings, including a business center with several six-story towers, a 250-room hotel and 31 acres of stores, including a major supermarket and large retail chain stores. This will be topped with 400 apartments.

The massive nature of this project is almost incomprehensible for suburban, semi-rural areas such as Westlake Village and Agoura Hills. Although Westlake North is located geographically in Westlake Village, the drastic impact of this enormous project will be borne by the people of Agoura Hills.

This development will cause the following problems:

Smog, pollution and a traffic nightmare as a result of 30,000 additional vehicle trips per day.

Overflow of traffic into residential neighborhood streets, especially Reyes Abode Road, Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Lake Lindero Drive.

Increased congestion on the Ventura Freeway in the Agoura Hills area and impact on all adjacent freeway ramps, especially Reyes Abode, which has a single-lane bridge.

More students pouring into already overcrowded neighborhood schools.

Destruction of the watershed and clogging of Lake Lindero with silt deposits.

The project shows a total lack of sensitivity and disregard for the communities in which it will be located. The residents of Agoura Hills are going to be the victims of this monstrous and ill-planned project.

Do not destroy the communities of Agoura Hills and Westlake Village!

SUSAN LEVY

Agoura Hills