Despite objections from about two dozen people, the Simi Valley City Council last week voted to give a developer a second chance to come up with a design for a proposed Douglas Ranch project.

Last month Larwin Co. proposed plans to build 75 condos in 25 triplexes on 10 acres of open land at Kuehner Drive near the 118 Freeway, but Mayor Paul Miller and Councilmembers Barbra Williamson and Michelle Foster rejected it, saying it would infringe too much on the view and the wildlife habitat and voiced concerns about earthquake safety in using 30 feet of fill called for in the designs.

Miller and Foster subsequently met with the property owner and agreed to bring the matter back to the council if their concerns were alleviated.

"(The developer has) shown a desire to change the project significantly to meet my objections," Miller said regarding his decision to revisit the matter.

In a preview of the proposal, Larwin president Denis Cullumber showed slides that replaced a terraced wall with a sloped hillside and wall and eliminated three of the proposed buildings, a total of nine units. The remaining buildings were moved farther back from the freeway.

Moving the homes back would reduce the amount of fill needed, he said.

Before casting her vote at last week’s meeting, Williamson suggested the developer meet with residents again before finalizing the new plan.

Several people told the council they wanted the area, which is dotted with oak and other trees and attracts wildlife, preserved as open space.

The final design presentation is expected to come before the council in the coming weeks.