Agoura Hills planners open scoping period for programmatic EIR on Bicycle Master Plan

The Agoura Hills Planning Commission held a public scoping meeting to collect input on the programmatic environmental impact report for the city’s proposed Bicycle Master Plan, staff said. The city published a Notice of Preparation on Jan. 13 and is accepting scoping comments through Feb. 17.

City staff described the Bicycle Master Plan as a proposal to expand the local bicycling network and identified projects and environmental topics the EIR will examine. Denise Thomas, Agoura Hills community development director, said the meeting’s purpose was to confirm the environmental issues the draft EIR should analyze rather than to review the plan’s design details.

Senior civil engineer Charmaine Yambo and Taylor Freeman, a senior environmental planner with Rincon Consultants, outlined the plan’s background, outreach, proposed projects and the CEQA process. Staff said the plan seeks to build on the city’s existing bicycle network (staff reported an existing network of about 1.3 miles of bicycle routes and 9.2 miles of bicycle lanes) and proposes new bikeways and bikeway improvements. Presentation slides and remarks referenced both “about 30.1 miles” of new bikeways and, in a later slide, “11.5 miles of new bikeways and bikeway improvements”; staff did not reconcile those two figures during the presentation.

Staff identified two projects prioritized for early implementation: the Madea Creek Pathway, described as a roughly 2.0-mile bicycle path along the Madea Creek channel providing an alternative to Canaan Road, and an Agoura High School connection, described as roughly a 0.3-mile path from Thousand Oaks Boulevard to Easterly Road and Fountain Place adjacent to Agoura High School. Staff also described a proposed vehicle‑miles‑traveled (VMT) mitigation/banking program that could allow projects that exceed CEQA VMT thresholds to fund bicycle improvements identified in the plan.

Freeman explained the CEQA timeline: the Notice of Preparation was circulated Jan. 13; scoping comments are being accepted through Feb. 17; the draft EIR is expected for public circulation in summer or fall 2025; a 45‑day public review period will follow; and staff currently anticipate certification of the final EIR and project approval in early spring 2026. Freeman said scoping comments do not receive formal written responses but will be summarized in the administrative chapter of the EIR and cross‑referenced to where each issue is evaluated.

Staff reviewed typical environmental topics that will be considered, including biological resources (noting potential impacts for off‑road Class I facilities), cultural resources, aesthetics and visual consistency, construction air quality and construction noise. During commissioner questions, staff said they will also consider agency comments and notified responsible agencies of the Notice of Preparation. Staff noted that street lighting is already present on most roadways where bikeways are proposed and that the city is not proposing new lighting as part of the project.

Commissioners asked about outreach; staff said the plan’s development included two community workshops (March 22 and July 12, 2022), online surveys, stakeholder outreach to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and Las Virgenes Unified School District, social media postings, and community events including a Strava challenge in May and Bike Safety Month activities. Staff said the final draft of the Bicycle Master Plan was posted for public review in August 2022 and remains available on the city website. At the meeting, staff reported no written public comments or speaker cards had been received for the scoping period.

Members of the commission asked procedural and substantive questions, including whether the city had coordinated with other agencies and whether potable water access for cyclists could be considered; staff said agencies had been notified and would have the opportunity to comment during scoping and on the draft EIR. Commissioners also asked whether comments received on Feb. 17 would be accepted if the date fell on a holiday; staff said comments received after the date would still be entered into the project record.

Votes at a glance - Motion to excuse Commissioner Sharon from the meeting: moved by Commissioner Stein, seconded by Commissioner Merrill Plattzer; roll‑call vote recorded as Plattzer Aye, Stein Aye, Vice Chair Reinhardt Aye, Chair Roth Aye; outcome approved, 4‑0. - Motion to approve the meeting agenda: moved by Vice Chair Reinhardt, seconded by Commissioner Stein; roll‑call vote recorded as Plattzer Aye, Stein Aye, Vice Chair Reinhardt Aye, Chair Roth Aye; outcome approved, 4‑0. - Motion to adopt the consent calendar: moved by Commissioner Merrill Plattzer, seconded by Commissioner Stein; roll‑call vote recorded as Plattzer Aye, Stein Aye, Vice Chair Reinhardt Aye, Chair Roth Aye; outcome approved, 4‑0.

The commission closed the public scoping hearing after staff answered commissioners’ questions. The meeting concluded with an adjournment in memory of former planning commissioner, council member and mayor Joan Iacobone.

How to comment and next steps Staff said scoping comments may be submitted in writing (mail or email addresses provided on the Notice of Preparation), by using a comment card at city offices, or verbally at the meeting; written comments are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 17. Staff expects to publish the draft EIR for a 45‑day review period in summer or fall 2025, followed by preparation of responses and a final EIR for consideration in early spring 2026.