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Woodland Hills committee reviews general plan draft, sets timeline for public review
Summary
The Woodland Hills Community Development Committee reviewed a near-complete draft of the city's general plan Aug. 25, focusing on annexation goals, natural-hazard policies and a contested dark-sky element; members agreed to finalize remaining chapters in September and send the draft to planning commission for a public hearing in October.
The Woodland Hills Community Development Committee reviewed a near-complete draft of the city's general plan during a meeting Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, and agreed on a timeline to finalize remaining chapters and present the document to the planning commission for a public hearing this fall.
Kirsten Thompson, chairperson of the Community Development Committee, opened the meeting and led a discussion of the draft's seven chapters, with particular attention to annexation goals, natural-hazard planning and an element addressing "dark skies." Committee members Laurie Thomas and Brandy Johns participated; Daniel (consultant) joined to present the draft and explain next steps.
The committee agreed that chapters 8 (natural resources/water preservation) and 9 (infrastructure/public facilities) are complete and that chapter 6 (parks, recreation and trails) is finished except for design work and review by the parks committee. Daniel said he would send chapters 8 and 9 to the committee immediately and expected chapter 6 to follow within about a week.
"I can send it to you right now," Daniel said, referring to chapters 8 and 9, and later added that he would provide the parks chapter after it has gone through marketing and been reviewed by the parks committee.
Why it matters: the general plan guides future annexations, land use and infrastructure investments. Committee members flagged annexation language they updated from the prior plan and discussed how the city can use annexation agreements to require dedication of land for trails, utility connections and other improvements at the time property owners choose to annex.
On annexation, Daniel explained the city has the greatest discretion during the annexation process. "You can require them to connect into sewer lines or water lines or install a trail," he said, adding that property owners may decline annexation if they disagree with conditions attached to it.
The draft also adds a natural-hazard integration to the land-use chapter to address Woodland Hills' wildfire, landslide and earthquake risks. Daniel said the natural-hazard chapter provides background on the hazards while the land-use chapter describes zoning and regulatory tools the city could use to mitigate risk.
A point of contention is a proposed dark-sky element. Committee members acknowledged resident concerns but declined to vote on the language at the meeting. Daniel told the committee he anticipates differing views on dark-sky policy at the planning commission and offered to produce an alternative draft that omits the dark-sky language so planning commissioners could choose between versions.
"I could have our marketing team create an alternative draft that removes the references to dark skies," Daniel said. He said presenting two versions would allow planning commission members to vote on the version they prefer and would speed the review process if the commission and the committee disagree.
On public outreach and the public hearing process, Daniel summarized state requirements and typical local practice. He said state code requires a public hearing at the planning commission for adoption of the general plan and recommended posting the draft on the city website, linking it in the city newsletter and providing an email address for public comment in advance of the planning commission hearing.
The committee set a schedule to complete its work: finalize the remaining chapters at the committee's September meeting, then post the draft publicly and plan for a planning commission public hearing in October. Daniel identified Oct. 15, 2025 (the third Wednesday), as a likely planning commission hearing date if the schedule holds.
Logistics and next steps agreed by the committee included Daniel sending chapters 8 and 9 immediately, circulating chapter 6 when it is ready, and attempting to have a full committee present for the September meeting. The committee set its next meeting for Sept. 22, 2025.
Administrative action: the meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote after a motion to adjourn was made and seconded.
The committee did not take final votes on the general plan during the meeting; members agreed to continue review and to forward the draft to planning commission following the committee's September action.
