GROWTH ISSUE DOMINATES IN CALABASAS RACE.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer As long as there is the prospect for another home or office building in this comfortable suburb, City Council candidates will face tough questions from civic-minded residents who shape the debate. Growth again is the dominant issue as the four candidates seeking two seats in the March 2 contest make the rounds of community forums and homeowners meetings that are the proving grounds Blackarachnia is growing steadily more annoyed with the tension between her and the Maximals. in Calabasas politics. Coping with traffic, saving oak trees and preserving scenic corridors come with any discussion of development. Improving transportation and parks and recreation programs also are issues. Janice Lee, a businesswoman making her first bid for office, said residents want council members who can plan for the future with a foothold in the city's past. ``Everything that we enjoy in our community is directly related to the use of the land. All things good and bad flow from it,'' she said. ``As I walk neighborhoods, I hear this message: You want someone who understands the specific needs and who will not forget the lessons of the past.'' The city of Calabasas, population 29,000, was born in 1991 after two previous incorporations efforts were denied by Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County. The galvanizing galvanizing, process of coating a metal, usually iron or steel, with a protective covering of zinc. Galvanized iron is prepared either by dipping iron, from which rust has been removed by the action of sulfuric acid, into molten zinc so that a thin layer of the zinc issues were controlling growth and its impact in these rolling hills Rolling hills are like a mountain chain, only a "hill chain" of hills that roll on and on continually. You will often find them in between plains and mountains, near major rivers, or randomly anywhere. The only places without rolling hills are deserts and flood plains. at the western edge of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . In a community where civic involvement is critical to even have a shot at a council seat, challengers Lee, Daniel Glaser and Helene Regen figure their time is now. Dennis Washburn is the lone incumbent with Bob Hill deciding not to seek another four-year term. ``We need fresh, new blood, we need new ideas "New Ideas" is the debut single by Scottish New Wave/Indie Rock act The Dykeenies. It was first released as a Double A-side with "Will It Happen Tonight?" on July 17, 2006. The band also recorded a video for the track. ,'' Regen said. Community involvement prompted Regen to sell her garment manufacturing business and devote more time to the homeowners boards she serves on. That led to appointments to city committees dealing with transportation and trees. ``I'm more than prepared. I just hope I get elected,'' said Glaser, an attorney whose work on the Parks and Recreation Commission the past three years was the catalyst for his run. Lee, a longtime environmental advocate, said she wants a role in the remaining land-use issues she said will define Calabasas. ``As a community leader, one of my key roles has been to speak out on behalf of neighborhoods against overdevelopment Overdevelopment refers to a process by which natural resources are impacted by urbanization and/or road construction, at a rate significantly harmful to the ecosystem. Environmental activism is a frequent response to overdevelopment, as well as are many fields of academic study. ,'' she said. ``The community's involvement has been the impetus in preventing overdevelopment, but we're still in a battle.'' Washburn said he wants to ``continue to be a beacon for optimism and creativity'' on the council. All candidates have claimed a role in limiting growth, recognizing that is a key test for any council hopeful. Regen said the city's tree board, which she chairs, wants the city to strengthen the ordinance protecting oak trees from development. She noted that a dozen oak tree removal permits are pending, threatening the majestic arbors. ``That is a lot of development, and the only way we can save our oak trees is by enforcement and starting to get this revised oak tree ordinance on the table,'' Regen said. Washburn said his battles date to the birth of the first incorporation effort. ``I actually stood in front of the bulldozer that was looking to take down the oak trees on the condominium project across the street from the high school, and that was actually the starting of our cityhood incorporation drive in order to deal with what the county was doing to us along Mulholland Highway  This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. by the patchwork development approvals.'' Glaser said there is room to stand out when speaking with voters about controlling growth. ``No one can stand up in the city of Calabasas today and say I want to develop every available piece of land,'' Glaser said. ``The real question is whether you're going to prejudge pre·judge tr.v. pre·judged, pre·judg·ing, pre·judg·es To judge beforehand without possessing adequate evidence. pre·judg things or not,'' he said. ``I'm not going to automatically say no to something because a building is going to be built or a tree removed.'' Washburn quipped that the county only allowed cityhood after most development in the area within the city limits was set through county approvals or agreements. Saddled with county-approved projects, Washburn said the council has ``turned lemons into lemonade'' by enforcing the city's General Plan and related ordinances, such as those protecting oak trees and scenic corridors. Washburn recalled that the prospect of a 55 mph highway corridor helped spur the cityhood movement. ``We fought that and won. There will be no four-laning of Mulholland west of Old Topanga Canyon as long as I'm on this council.'' Glaser has a comparable outlook on the two-lane stretch of Mulholland Highway. ``There's no need for that area to be urban,'' Glaser said. CALABASAS CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES Dennis Glaser Occupation:Attorney. Age: 30. Community Involvement: Parks and Recreation Commission, Joint Powers Authority A Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is an institution permitted under the laws of some states of the USA, whereby two or more public authorities (e.g. local governments, or utility or transport districts) can operate collectively. Board for the Agoura Hills-Calabasas Community Center, Skatepark A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment for skateboarders, bmxers and aggressive skaters to ride and develop their sport and technique. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, handrails, trick boxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, stairs, Task Force. Helene Regen Occupation:Owned wholesale clothing company. Age: 58. Community Involvement: Las Villas Homeowners Association, Calabasas Park Homeowners Association board, Tree Board, Traffic Advisory Committee. Janice Lee Occupation:Owns event planning Event planning is the process of planning a festival, ceremony, competition, party, or convention. Event planning includes budgeting, establishing date and alternate date (rain date), selecting and reserving the event site, acquiring permits, and coordinating transportation business. Age: 58. Community Involvement: Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, Calabasas Kiwanis Club, Save Open Space, Save Our City, General Plan Advisory Committee. Dennis Washburn Occupation:Advertising, public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most , Internet marketing See Internet advertising. . Age:56. Community Involvement: Council of Governments, Resource Conservation District, Conejo-Las Virgenes Future Foundation, Malibu Creek Malibu Creek is a year-round stream in western Los Angeles County, California. It drains the southern Simi Hills and the westernmost San Fernando Valley, flows south through the Santa Monica Mountains, and enters Santa Monica Bay at Malibu Lagoon, in Malibu. Watershed Council, Calabasas Chamber of Commerce. Source: Daily News research CAPTION(S): 4 photos, box Photo: (1) Daniel Glaser (2) Janice Lee (3) Helene Regen (4) Dennis Washburn Box: Calabasas City Council candidates (see text) |
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