Lost Canyons finalizing application for private course, housing project
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

More than a year and a half after getting the initial okay from the City Council, Lost Canyons LLC is reportedly just weeks away from submitting its application to convert one of the country club's golf courses into a residential development.

In January 2006, City Council members agreed in concept with plans by the company to build 312 high-end custom homes and 52 smaller homes on one of its two 18-hole courses, at 3301 Lost Canyon Drive, and make its other golf course membership only.

According to John McClure of Hillwood Capital, one of the partners in Lost Canyons LLC, the proposed changes to the golf course would be similar to what is available in Thousand Oaks at the North Ranch and Sherwood communities.

He said they submitted the initial application in January of this year and are now working on the final set of studies to complete it.

"Most are finished," McClure said. "We're hoping to have all of them completed in a short time."

McClure and fellow representatives presented the concept at a City Council meeting on Jan. 23, 2006, during the project's pre-screening hearing.

The council gave the developer its informal support to submit the application but did not approve the project officially.

During that meeting some nearby residents expressed opposition to the project, citing a potential increase in traffic and the loss of a semirural setting, while others supported it, mentioning the community's need for higher-end homes.

McClure said the company will submit a traffic report that the city will review as part of the application.

"Obviously we recognize that there are people who live south of the property who don't want to have substantial traffic on the roads," McClure said. "We will do the best we can to accommodate that."

Peter Lyons, city planning director, said there's no specific timeline for Lost Canyons LLC to complete the application.

In order to complete it, the developer must first finish conducting traffic, biological, hydrology, grading and other studies.

"It's still very, very early in the process," Lyons said.

Once the application is submitted, Lost Canyons LLC will have to appear in public hearings before the neighborhood councils and the planning commission before going to the City Council for final approval.

If Lost Canyons goes forward, the city would be left with two public golf courses, Simi Hills and Sinaloa.