Agoura Hills planning commission backs evacuation analysis after hours of public objections

Agoura Hills — The Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to recommend that the City Council adopt a General Plan amendment updating the safety element to incorporate an updated evacuation analysis, the adopted evacuation plan and the 2024 multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan.

The 4-0 vote followed lengthy commissioner questioning of staff and more than two hours of public comment focused largely on the capacity of Kanan Road and other local evacuation routes. Commissioner Stein moved the recommendation; Vice Chair Sharon seconded. Commissioners Platzer, Stein, Vice Chair Sharon and Chair Roth voted in favor.

Staff told the commission the update is a planning and feasibility action intended to bring Agoura Hills into compliance with state law, specifically Government Code section 65302.15, and that the evacuation analysis is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under State CEQA Guidelines sections 15262, 15269, 15301 and the common-sense exemption (section 15061(b)(3)). "Staff respectfully recommends the Planning Commission adopt…