COMMITTEE TO EXPAND REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

Hoping to create an aesthetically unified Civic Center area, a review committee has expanded its reach and will now hop across the street to take a look at development plans on the east side of Tapo Canyon Road.

The City Council this week agreed to broaden the bounds of the committee and also to form a second committee that will specifically review plans for a prime piece of land across from City Hall recently purchased by a housing developer.

Councilwoman Barbra Williamson said she brought the issue before the council Monday night because she was concerned about a proposed Rite Aid drug store on the east side of the road, north of the Ronald Reagan Freeway.

She said the chain's plans would clash with the new Civic Center Plaza going up on the west side.

``In my opinion, it's not something I want to see across the street,'' she said of the store's design and color scheme. ``This is not a hammer, but it's something that says, `We aren't going to take second best anymore.'

``We learned a long time ago that corporations have their own colors and designs, but other cities have said, `We understand that but we don't want it.' We have to get tough.''

Initially, the council considered expanding the Civic Center ad hoc committee's reach to include each corner in the intersection at Alamo Street and Tapo Canyon Road.

But it was ultimately decided that a new committee would handle plans for the 36-acre parcel - a piece of land on Tapo Canyon between Alamo and Avenida Simi that was purchased recently by New Urban West from the school district.

Officials said the decision was made primarily to gain some new insight and a fresh perspective to the corner.

Williamson and Mayor Bill Davis have been working on the Civic Center project at the southwest corner for years. Council members Paul Miller and Steve Sojka will serve on the new, yet-unnamed committee.

Sojka said the new committee is expected to meet with New Urban West next week. This will be the first time he's worked with the developer, who also is building the Long Canyon homes in Wood Ranch.

``The committee keeps an open line of communication with the decision makers of all parties, and that's how you come up with a good project,'' he said.

Tom Zanic, vice president of the Santa Monica-based company, said he is looking forward to working with the new committee.

``It's our practice to work closely with staff and decision makers all through the process, so this committee arrangement should only enhance that process,'' he said.

The company has not yet finalized plans for the property, which is zoned for residential use only.

Sojka said he'd like to see a proposal that includes single-family home development, with a commercial element.