Oak Crest Properties Favored for City Use

The majority of residents who responded to a survey asking where the city of Westlake Village should build a permanent city hall and library facility favored two lots off Agoura Road.

City Manager Ray Taylor said the city had a 33% response rate to its mail-in survey last month.

City residents were asked to choose from two options: building a city hall on a site on Foxfield Drive and a library and community center on lots 9 and 10, or using lots 9 and 10 for the entire complex.

“Residents felt that lots 9 and 10 were better locations,” said Taylor. “They give the city more flexibility to put all the buildings together.”

Of the respondents, 87% were in favor of the Oak Crest Drive lots, which combined are nearly four acres, and 13% said they favored using the 1.34-acre Foxfield Drive site.

The survey also showed that there was heavy opposition to the Foxfield site because it is across the street from St. Jude’s Catholic Church and Los Angeles County Fire Station 144. Residents were concerned about increased traffic in the area.

Westlake Village rents its facilities on Park Terrace and Agoura Road, but officials determined that it would be more cost-effective to own the land and buildings.

The new civic center is envisioned as having a 10,000-square-foot city hall, a 10,000-square-foot library, a 5,000-square-foot community center and a 2,500-square-foot office for the Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce.

Taylor said plans are in the early stages and construction is not likely to begin for another two years.