SIMI VALLEY : Residents Drop Out of Youth Club Suit

The Alamo Court Homeowners Assn. has voted to withdraw from a lawsuit aimed at forcing the Boys and Girls Club of Simi Valley to redesign the $3.3-million youth center it plans to build at the southwest corner of Rancho Tapo Community Park.

The homeowners had joined CPC Enterprises, the owner of an office complex immediately south of the proposed club site, in a lawsuit against the youth organization.

The suit seeks to force Simi Valley officials to conduct a full environmental review, focusing on how the club’s location and appearance will affect the office complex and the neighborhood near Alamo Street and Lemon Drive.

Ventura County Superior Court Commissioner John H. Pattie heard arguments on the suit last month but has not yet handed down a decision.

Toni Rolfe, president of the Alamo Court Homeowners Assn., said its members voted 9 to 7 Monday night to withdraw from the suit. She said some members are concerned about potential noise, traffic and crime problems, but a majority decided that they did not want to be involved in a lawsuit over those issues.

Rolfe said Lloyd Green, a partner in CPC Enterprises, wrote a letter to the homeowners, promising to be responsible for all costs connected with the suit. But Boys and Girls Club officials sent a letter to the homeowners saying the club’s attorneys believe that the residents could face some financial liability despite Green’s assurances.

Becca Merrell, executive director of the club, said this letter was part of the club’s attempt to present its side of the dispute over the design and location of the new building.

She said the club is pleased by the association’s vote. “We definitely want to be good neighbors,” Merrell said.

Green said Tuesday that his legal battle against the club will continue even without the cooperation of the homeowners’ group.