City Continues Talks on Fate of Small Lot

The Westlake Village City Council has wearily decided to continue discussions on the fate of a small piece of city-owned property on Foxfield Drive, a parcel that residents would like to see as a park but that some religious officials see as a way to solve their traffic woes.

After three hours of public testimony Wednesday night, council members were little closer to making a decision on the disposition of the 1.34-acre parcel, which according to a development agreement would revert to the Las Virgenes Unified School District if a public use for the land is not determined by May. Whatever that use might be, it must contain at least 40 parking spaces. It was initially thought to be a potential site for a permanent city hall.

Residents said they do not want the land to be used as a landscaped parking lot, citing an already congested traffic situation growing worse with cars trying to make a left turn into the park.

But St. Jude Catholic Church officials said their parishioners need the spaces and are presented with danger when they resort to parking on the streets.

Joe Manion, a church representative, said the church is prepared to offer between $100,000 and $300,000 to help the city build the park with a 45-space parking lot. He also said the church would oppose discussions with the school district to modify the parking requirement.

But council members directed city staff members to discuss that possibility, as well as extending the agreement a few months so they can work on the issues.

Council members asked those in attendance to put aside their differences and work toward a common solution, a beautified public open space. “The issue is not the church and parking lot and the homeowners and a passive park,” Councilwoman Kris Carraway-Bowman said. “The issue is, we have this open space and we want to turn it into a public park. We want everybody to enjoy it.”