SPACE MOUNTAIN; DEVELOPER DONATING LAND TO AGOURA.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

Vance Moran remembers gazing out his window each morning at a deer that would come down from Ladyface Mountain into his back yard where he kept for the animal a salt block.

That was many years ago when he lived in a two-story house where the 50-shop Whizin's Center, which he owns, now stands.

``It was such a beautiful area,'' said Moran, 76. ``I hate to think it would be built on.''

And as one of the city's larger land owners, with 470 acres of residential and commercial properties to his name, Moran is making sure that doesn't happen.

Moran has announced plans to donate 125 acres - the entire north side of Ladyface Mountain or ``everything you can see from Agoura Road'' - to the city for open space.

Moran said if he kept the land, years after he has passed on, the property valued at $4 million may change hands numerous times and ``sooner or later something may happen.''

``As long as that property is privately owned, there is always a chance in the future, 10, 25 years from now, the council will have a different attitude, and some developer may talk them into putting a building on top of the mountain,'' said Moran, who has lived in Agoura Hills for almost 50 years. ``You can see it all over the country, beautiful hills with buildings on it.

``I don't want to see it happen here. By donating it to the city of Agoura Hills, I'm confident they won't allow any building on it.''

Moran's announced donation came as no surprise to Mayor Dan Kuperberg, who noted the developer's philanthropic track record includes donating land for the farmers' market because it helps the library.

``He is a land owner and a businessman who sees the need to give to the community,'' Kuperberg said. ``Agoura Hills is lucky to have a man like Mr. Moran and his wife, Pat, who are always looking out for the best interest of Agoura Hills.''

He added, ``I hope other land owners can be as generous in their own way in seeing the need to preserve open space in Agoura Hills.''

The city is taking its own steps to preserve open space with a SOAR-like ballot measure in November similar to the Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources initiatives passed in Ventura County last year.

The ballot measure is part of the community's effort to shield itself from sprawling development and maintain its undeveloped land.

Moran's property includes a 2,000-foot-high peak, a prominent landmark in the city visible from the Ventura Freeway. The entire Ladyface Mountain extends from the corner of Kanan and Agoura roads to the city's most westerly boundary and beyond into Westlake Village.

One time he was offered $5 million for the property by a developer who wanted to build a Magic Mountain-type entertainment center on top of the mountain. Needless to say, Moran rejected that offer because he didn't want the mountain defaced.

Moran has his own development project coming before the city within the next six months, but he said he doesn't expect anything in return for his donation.

``The only thing I want from the city is what I am entitled to,'' he said. ``The donation of land has nothing to do with it.

``I want them to be free to do what is right, and they will get the land regardless if they turn me down.''

He plans to build an entertainment shopping center with a 16-screen theater and restaurants on 30 acres at the southwest corner of Agoura and Kanan roads near the site of the donated land. The so-called Creekside project has been in the works for years.

``It'll be like the Westlake Promenade but more upscale and more pedestrian oriented,'' he said. ``It'll be like a village with people strolling through it and not worry about traffic.''

Kuperberg said such a large donation won't color the City Council's decision-making if a Moran project comes before the group.

``Mr. Moran knows the people on the council (well enough) to know that there will be no tie-in or connection between this generous donation and any project that he has before us,'' Kuperberg said. ``Any project will stand or fall on its own merit independent of this action.''

The city's own steps to preserve open space are unfolding with the ballot measure in November, which asks voters if an ordinance should be adopted to preserve and protect existing areas of open space that make up about one-third of Agoura Hills.

Land zoned as open space would require a two-thirds voter approval to change the designation to another zoning, such as one to allow homes or shops. As it is now, a vote of the City Council can change the land zoning.

The measure mimics the Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources initiatives that passed in cities of neighboring Ventura County last year to protect against urban sprawl.

Under a specific plan for the mountain, which goes from Agoura Road to the 1,100-foot elevation, the kind of development allowed mostly is office space, which is the most adaptive to hillside property, said Dave Anderson, the city's director of Planning and Community Development.

Without knowing the specific boundary lines, Anderson was unable to determine what development is now allowed on the 125 acres. Buildings now on Ladyface Mountain include a hotel, a church and some office buildings.

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Photo: (Color in Conejo only) Vance Moran stands on land he is donating to Agoura Hills.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer