500-Acre Development Gets Preliminary OK

Over objections from Las Virgenes area residents and environmental groups, the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a housing development on nearly 500 acres of hilly, oak-studded land designated as an ecological preserve.

Approval of the Malibu Terrace project west of Las Virgenes Road near Calabasas was also counter to staff recommendations. The developer, Las Virgenes Properties, wants to build 341 housing units and 73,700 square feet of commercial space on the property, which is part of the 2,900-acre county-designated Palo Comada Significant Ecological Area.

The vote to recommend that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approve the project was 3 to 2. Though such areas are considered important for wildlife migration, many have been at least partially scarred by housing and commercial projects.