Agoura Hills planning commission eases use restrictions for Shops at Oak Creek to help fill vacancies

The Agoura Hills Planning Commission on Thursday approved an amendment to the list of uses prohibited at the Shops at Oak Creek shopping center, a move intended to increase leasing flexibility at a site with multiple vacancies.

The commission voted 4-0 to amend Planning Commission Resolution No. 771 to change the prohibited-use list for commercial parcels 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Tract 53752 and to make a determination of exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Chair Roth made the motion; Commissioner Stein seconded it. The roll call recorded Commissioners Plattzer, Stein, Vice Chair Reinhardt and Chair Roth voting aye.

Community development staff said the restriction change responds to a property owner’s request to allow additional commercial uses that had been barred by earlier conditions of approval intended to produce a pedestrian-oriented center. Denise Thomas, Agoura Hills community development director, said the center was originally entitled with a list of prohibited uses and that the amendment would allow some uses that are already permitted elsewhere in the city’s Commercial Retail Services (CRS) zone.

“Katrina Garcia, our associate planner, will present to you this evening a very detailed explanation of the…