The Planning Commission said yes on August 6, but an appeal sent the final decision to the City Council, which heard it on September 30. The city has not posted that result yet.
What the city is deciding
The Commission vote was 4 to 1. The appeal argues the city’s 2021 environmental review and its evacuation planning fall short, and that the project has its own life safety impacts. Staff recommended denying the appeal and upholding the approval. The packet’s resolution is an unsigned draft.
Where and who it affects
The existing 600 unit complex at 3831 Orchid Lane lies between Lost Hills Road and Las Virgenes Road, on both sides of Meadow Creek Lane. The proposal would bring it to 735 apartments. Nearby uses include homes, A.E. Wright Middle School and Juan Batista de Anza Park.
What it could mean for your property
The proposal adds nine buildings, each three stories, reaching up to 43 feet above existing ground. Existing buildings reach about 35 feet, the zone’s limit; the extra height is a waiver under the state density bonus law. Base zoning allows 132 new units, so the bonus also covers three more. No existing buildings would be removed, but carports, tennis courts and landscaped areas would be demolished.
Of the new apartments, 27 would be deed restricted for low income tenants for at least 55 years.
Parking changes would remove 418 spaces and build 421, leaving 1,234 spaces on the property. Another 160 spaces sit on five public cul-de-sacs that serve only the complex.
Work would encroach on 34 oak trees, 19 of them off the property; none would be removed, and protective measures are conditions of approval.
The site, like all of Calabasas, is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Staff say the city’s safety plan meets the state evacuation route law the appeal cites, and the draft finds the project consistent with the evacuation traffic assessment. County fire plan review is required.
Questions to ask before you buy or build
- How close is the home to the new buildings, which reach up to 43 feet?
- What do insurers quote for a home in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
- Has the city posted the Council’s decision on the appeal?
What happens next
The city’s notice says the Council’s decision is final. As of October 12 it is not posted, and no construction start date is given.