Agoura Hills : Council Upholds OK of Golf Driving Range

Over objections from a small group of homeowners, the Agoura Hills City Council has upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of a golf driving range at Lake Lindero Country Club.

The 2-2 vote followed lengthy debate Wednesday.

“It was a very difficult decision,” said Councilman Denis Weber, who voted to deny the homeowners’ appeal.

Agoura Hills-based Golf Projects International, which manages the country club, wants to build a 24-tee driving range north of Thousand Oaks Boulevard. The plan has widespread community support.

In 1994, the company signed a 33-year lease to take over operation of the fiscally ailing country club from the Lake Lindero Homeowners Assn., which owns the facility.

But several homeowners along Cape Horn Drive and other streets abutting the golf course say a driving range would bring glaring lights at night and unsightly safety netting that would block their view of the golf course.

“Even though the majority of the homeowners supported it, I think someone needs to consider the rights of the minority,” Councilwoman Louise Rishoff said.

The association could have raised money in other ways, for example, through the creation of a special assessment district, Rishoff said, but twice voted that idea down.

To minimize the driving range’s impact on neighbors, the city has imposed various conditions, including installation of safety netting and restriction on hours of night operation. The application must also submit a landscaping plan designed to minimize the project’s visual impact.

David Smith, president and chief executive officer of Golf Projects International, said that he hopes to have the driving range completed by September.