Plan for Renovation, Development Unveiled

A draft plan to encourage renovation and development around Las Virgenes Road at the Ventura Freeway while preserving the rural flavor of Calabasas was unveiled at a meeting of the city’s Planning Commission.

The Las Virgenes Gateway Master Plan envisions stone monuments welcoming visitors to Calabasas, abundant landscaping, a new shopping center and a creek reclaimed from its present concrete bed.

“At present,” the plan says, “the dominant visual feature at this important entrance to the city is asphalt.”

Drafted by city consultants, the plan was embraced Thursday by the Calabasas Planning Commission.

“The response was very positive,” said commission Chairman William Pauli. “The Planning Commission was in full support of the plan.”

The proposal evolved from a series of public meetings that encouraged residents to suggest improvements. More than 630 people returned questionnaires about the proposed uses and architectural standards for the area.

Commission members recommended a few revisions to the plan, such as changing some land-use designations for individual properties south of the freeway.

Pauli said consultants are expected to incorporate the changes and bring the revised document back to the commission, and then the City Council, for approval.