Council May Increase Size of Home Project

The Westlake Village City Council will consider a proposal at its meeting tonight to increase the number of residential units in the Westlake North development from the approved 179 to a maximum 540 homes.

Officials from Richland Westlake Ltd., which owns the land, are expected to be on hand to field questions about their proposal to eliminate 780,000 square feet of commercial development to add 361 homes north of the Ventura Freeway.

It would also set aside 10.55 acres for a park and an elementary school where commercial buildings were planned previously, although four acres that had been set aside for a park near the homes to the north would be used for housing.

City Manager Ray Taylor said the council will make no decision regarding the amendment at the meeting and will only hear the proposal and take public input. Public hearings are expected to be scheduled in September or October.

In May, the residential project’s developer, Western Pacific, had proposed to build 183 detached units--later negotiated down to 179. At that time residents said the project would be too densely populated with little room for recreation areas.

Councilman James B. Henderson said he voted against the proposal then, concerned that the homes would be too close together and that the project was eliminating heritage oaks from the land.

Tuesday he said he is reserving judgment about the amendments until he hears the details of the proposal. He said Richland Westlake was instructed by the council to get public input in 1994 when it asked for an amendment to provide a maximum 720 condominiums.

“[Richland Westlake] seems to have done that,” Henderson said.

The Westlake North Specific Plan, approved in 1989, had originally allowed for a maximum 250 condominiums and townhomes and 1.4-million square feet of commercial space. The plan regulates development on a 130-acre plot bordered by the Ventura Freeway, Lindero Canyon Road, Thousand Oaks Boulevard and the city of Agoura Hills.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 7:30 at City Hall, 4373 Park Terrace Drive.