Part of Mountain Given to Conservancy

Alarge section of the landmark Ladyface Mountain above Agoura Hills, named for the shape of its delicate ridgeline, has been donated to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, officials announced Wednesday.

The conservancy, a state agency that acquires and preserves land for public use in the Santa Monica Mountains, will open hiking trails in the 122-acre site donated by Piedmont Development.

“We are happy to be able to preserve it,” said John A. Diaz, a conservancy commissioner.

Behrouz Soroudi, a general partner with Piedmont Development, which built a hotel and two office buildings at the base of Ladyface Mountain, said his company turned over the mountainside land because “it should be preserved for people to enjoy.”

David Anderson, Agoura Hills director of planning, said the land dedication was part of an offer Piedmont made to the city when it sought approval in 1984 for the hotel and office complex.

The site, valued at $1 million, includes the bulk of the mountainside and ridgeline. Anderson said strict Agoura Hills zoning regulations on hillsides would have severely limited Piedmont from building on the land that was donated.

The conservancy has worked since the early 1980s to acquire Ladyface Mountain because of its unusual contours and prime hiking location.

Conservancy officials said the Piedmont gift is a major step forward. Ten other owners, however, hold land on the mountain, but the conservancy also hopes to acquire that land.

“We have a foothold and we’re going to try to continue,” Diaz said.

Efforts by Piedmont to turn the land over to the conservancy started in 1988, but the transaction was delayed for two years because of reluctant development company investors, Soroudi said.

Plans are already under way to open the land to the public.

“We hope to open a trail up to the first plateau where people can hike up and watch the sun set,” Diaz said.

Before the dedication, all trails were privately owned and were difficult to navigate. Conservancy officials expect to build a 2 1/2-mile trail system that will be easier for inexperienced hikers to use.

Agoura Hills officials praised the conservancy and the development company for contributing to the city’s preservation efforts.

“Anytime we can get open space in the city it’s appreciated,” said Agoura Hills Councilman Ed Kurtz.

A city ordinance limits developments to 1,100 feet to preserve the view of the mountain. A plan to protect Ladyface and other scenic open space will come before the City Council later this month, Kurtz said.