Council to Discuss Offer in Land Lawsuit

The Westlake Village City Council will meet today to discuss Village Properties’ offer to settle its lawsuit against the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

The developer has offered to swap 150 acres it owns in Calabasas for 80 acres of conservancy land near the Las Virgenes Reservoir in Westlake Village, said Laurie Collins, an attorney for the land acquisition agency.

The conservancy’s board of directors discussed the settlement proposal two weeks ago on an informational basis, Collins said, but has not taken any action.

The developer sued the conservancy and the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District after the district purchased 492 acres of land near the reservoir that the developer had been trying to purchase for a housing tract.

Village Properties charged that the two agencies conspired to keep it from purchasing the land. (The water district, which bought the land in 1993 for $6.3 million, later sold half to the conservancy.)

A judge sided with Village Properties and ordered the two agencies to compensate the developer.

Jim Colbaugh, general manager of the water district, said Monday that his agency has not received any similar settlement offers from Village Properties.

Some Westlake Village residents are reportedly upset over Village Properties’ proposal because they want the land kept as open space. Village Properties would need city permits to develop the property.

The firm could not be reached for comment Monday.

The purpose of today’s meeting is to bring the council up to date on the latest developments, said City Manager Ray Taylor.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in City Hall, 4373 Park Terrace Drive.