AGOURA HILLS/CALABASAS : Community Center Plan Moves Forward

Agoura Hills and Calabasas officials took another small step toward planning the construction of a gymnasium and community center to be paid for by both cities.

After considering an outline of the potential scope of the project, the Agoura Hills City Council agreed to hold a joint meeting with the Calabasas council this summer to discuss possible sites for a gym, a community center or both, and funding for the project.

Agoura Hills will receive $1.4 million within several months from a Los Angeles County bond measure designed to give cities resources for parks and recreation. Calabasas, which incorporated two years ago, is expected to receive more than $3 million from the county, some of which will probably be spent on the proposed Lost Hills Park and a tennis and swim club.

In a report submitted last week, the Agoura Hills planning staff stated that a community center should be between 8,000 and 14,500 square feet, with a kitchen, an enclosed patio area, meeting rooms, storage and office space and at least one room large enough to accommodate 300 people.

A gymnasium would need to be at least 12,000 square feet to allow badminton, volleyball and basketball courts, spectator space and, possibly, handball and racquetball courts, according to the staff report.

Although no specific plans have been drawn up, the report recommended four sites for all or part of the project: the proposed library site on Clareton Avenue near the Ventura Freeway in Agoura Hills; the northeast section of the 12-acre Chumash Park in Agoura Hills, Agoura High School; and a parcel next to the sheriff’s Lost Hills/Malibu Station in Calabasas.

“I think this is something that would get a lot of use,” said Calabasas City Manager Charles Cate, who had not read the Agoura Hills report. “Every time we have a meeting with teen-agers, we hear the common cry: ‘There isn’t anything to do, there’s no place to go, there’s no place that’s ours.’ This would give them something to do--some good, wholesome physical activity.”