Calabasas : Signatures Collected in Fight Against Project

A Calabasas homeowners group appears to have cleared its first hurdle in forcing a referendum to stop a large-scale commercial and retail center approved last year by the City Council.

The Save Our City Committee said Thursday it had at least 2,054 unverified signatures. If 1,152 signatures are deemed valid, according to the city clerk’s office, it would force a referendum.

The group had until 5 p.m. today to collect the necessary signatures, under the state elections code.

The group contends the City Council went against residents’ wishes in December when it approved the Calabasas Park Centre at Parkway Calabasas and Calabasas Road. Council members scoff at the accusation, pointing out that there were numerous public hearings on the project.

John Kilroy, a representative of Ahmanson Land Co., originally won approval from Los Angeles County for the 1.5-million-square-foot Calabasas Park Centre before the city incorporated in 1991. Kilroy wanted to increase the retail portion of the project by 200,000 square feet but needed city approval. The council approved the project in December on the condition that Kilroy cut the project’s size and draw up a master plan for all but the 200,000-square-foot retail portion.

The developer says that even if the referendum were successful, it would not overturn his conditional-use permits, which allow him to build the retail component. Kilroy also points out that the project’s approval by the county permits a five-story, 12-unit complex that no one in the city wants.

Calabasas City Atty. Casey Vose has advised the city to wait to see whether the petition drive is successful, while the city studies the legal issues.