Politics & Government

Pedalers Fork Project Gets Redesign

A proposed restaurant in Old Town Calabasas loses an element of its design to calm some opposition.

A portion of a two-story glass wall was removed from the proposed design of a cyclist-themed restaurant in Old Town Calabasas to win support from the and residents who deemed it inappropriate for the historic site.

The restaurant project is now scheduled to go before the City Council at its Wednesday meeting.

The developers of Pedalers Fork were granted a certificate of appropriateness by the city's Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 11 to move forward with renovating and adding 300 square feet of restaurant space to 23504 Calabasas Rd., the site of the historic Kramer's Store property.

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The certificate is required to remodel historic structures, according to the city's Historic Preservation Ordinance.

But on Nov. 7, resident and Parks, Recreation and Education Commissioner Myra Turek filed an appeal to the decision as a private citizen, saying that the Pedalers Fork design was not keeping with Old Town's "old west" style.

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Turek's primary concern was the proposed two-story glass wall on the west end of the property.

The Planning Commission took up the matter and was charged with deciding whether to uphold the Historic Preservation Commission's decision and grant developers Robbie Schaeffer and Tim Rettele an administrative site plan review.

Planning commissioners ended up postponing their vote.

Less than 24 hours later, Councilmen Fred Gaines and Jonathan Wolfson called up the item to have it decided by the City Council this Wednesday.

Since the Planning Commission meeting, Pedalers Fork architect Louis Skelton met with Turek twice to negotiate a compromise and eventually agreed to substitute the portion of the west end glass wall that faces the sidewalk with a plain wall, Skelton said.

The proposed glass wall on the portion of the building's west end that wraps around the rear of the property would remain, said Community Development Director Maureen Tamuri.

In addition, the size of the second-floor windows facing the sidewalk has also been reduced, according to staff reports.

Skelton said he was not 100 percent happy with the outcome.

"We've made it work, but we've lost some elements," he said.

A bicycle repair shop is also proposed to be a part of Pedalers Fork.

City officials posted the new project design on the city's website on Monday.

The new design mostly satisfies Turek's concerns, according to a city staff report. Turek did not return calls or emails for comment at press time.

Gaines said he is glad both parties were able to work out their differences.

"I am thankful to both the project applicant and the appellant for taking the time to meet, and that both sides have compromised on a revised plan," he said in an email. "I am hopeful that the compromise plan with appropriate conditions of approval will be approved by the City Council on Wednesday night."

The Calabasas City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at


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