Cut-and-wait won't cut it

And so go the best laid plans of mice and men.

After spending two years churning through the city's painstaking land-use approval process- tweaking, twisting and tightening to address the concerns of the City Council, planning commission and residents- it appears the Larwin Co.'s condominium development at Kuehner Drive and the 118 Freeway may never get off the ground, at least not anytime soon.

This week, the Encino-based developer became the latest California company to take a hit at the hands of a slumping real estate market- and it's Simi Valley residents, and Happy Face Hill, who may be left with the black eye.

According to City Manager Mike Sedell, Larwin informed city officials it was delaying construction- after several months of work- until at least mid spring so it can "get better visibility of market conditions," before deciding whether to continue putting company resources into the proposed project.

If Larwin's waiting for a market upturn to happen in the next six months, let's hope they're not holding their breath.

Before dropping the shovels, the developer agreed to finish the rough grading of the property as well as the storm drainage, and continue to be responsible for dust and erosion control. But Larwin has yet to commit to the city's request to finish landscaping the property, which is currently just a steeply graded mound of dirt.

And what of the 23 oak trees that were to be relocated due to the development? They're still sitting in their wooden boxes on the adjacent property, awaiting a new home.

If Larwin indeed intends to one day finish construction of its 66 proposed condominiums (seven of which were to be affordable), it should start by proving its commitment to the city and its residents by going forward with the landscaping work before taking a six-month hiatus.

If not, the numerous opponents of the project are sure to become vocal again, and Simi's eastern gateway will be marked not by a smiling, flowery hillside and a welcome sign, but by rivulets of mud sopped up by a dam of sandbags at the bottom of the hill.