AGOURA HILLS : Board Delays Action on Fantasy Island

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors delayed action on the fate of Fantasy Island on Thursday, hoping instead that a representative of the glitzy Agoura retreat and local residents will resolve their dispute on their own.

Located in a 23-acre oak forest in the Santa Monica Mountains, the resort, which includes a restaurant, landscaped grounds with several fish ponds and mood lighting, is a popular place for weddings and bar mitzvahs.

But since it opened three years ago, Fantasy Island’s neighbors have complained about excessive noise and traffic and alleged violations of county regulations.

For the past month, the board has been set to decide whether to allow Fantasy Island to expand or to limit its activities. But on Thursday, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents the area, announced he will take part in a private meeting with county planning officials, members of his own staff, a lawyer for Fantasy Island and a homeowners’ representative to try to resolve the problems.

The issue was put on the board’s July 13 agenda.

Residents in the Triunfo and Lobo canyon areas have complained that Fantasy Island’s owner violates noise, light and traffic restrictions, and that the retreat is not compatible with other land-use in the mostly rural area.

A resident who lives across the street has complained that amplified music from the facility at night literally shakes her house, and that she has put her property up for sale because of it.

Owner Avihu Datner maintains he has all the necessary operating permits and has obeyed their requirements. He also says neighbors oppose him and his $8.5-million retreat, which now operates only on weekends, in part because he is a wealthy Israeli immigrant who doesn’t mince his words.

But neighbors angrily deny those charges, noting that some of the local residents are Jews themselves.

Thursday’s meeting drew at least 10 homeowners who signed up to address the supervisors on the controversy. During the discussion, Yaroslavsky downplayed the significance of thousands of letters his office has received in support of Datner and Fantasy Island.

“This is not a popularity contest, this is not an issue that is going to be decided by 6,000 people who write letters,” he said. “If there are six people whose lives are disrupted by this, I’m going to side with the six people. . . . Save your postage, save the mail carrier’s shoulder.”