Residents Press Voters to Protect Canyon Site

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. are looking to the November election as a possible boost to their effort to prevent the development of 79 acres of canyon land near Mulholland Drive.

The groups say passage of a city ballot measure, Proposition K, would provide funding for the conservancy to declare the site of the proposed Deervale-Stone Canyon residential development as open space.

The association has said that the land is the largest undeveloped space in Sherman Oaks.

In a meeting of the two groups last week, conservancy head Joseph Edmiston discussed strategy with association president Richard Close.

“Some people have criticized the [Malibu-based] conservancy, saying all they’re concerned about is what’s west of the San Diego Freeway,” Close said. “But this is an issue that affects where homeowners live. Not only is there a way to preserve this land, but it’s designated in a voters’ measure.”

Project supporters, including developer Kenneth Chang, are not concerned about opponents’ effort, the latest in the years-long debate over the proposal. Developers are focusing on the city’s report on the expected environmental impact of the project--expected in the coming months--which will be followed by a series of commission meetings.

“We have been very supportive in the past of the conservancy, independent of this project,” Chang said. “I continue to wish them the best.”