Plans Revamped for Park Sorrento Senior Project

Plans for a senior residential project at 23500 Park Sorrento are being revised by the developer after concerns from some neighbors regarding the its potential negative effect on traffic.

In the revised plans, Park Sorrento would be restriped to include a through lane and a turning lane for both sides of the street. There would also be on-site parking in an attempt to keep parking off the street.

"There's a large group very much in favor and a small contingent that's very much against it and both sides need to be heard," said Lawrence Dimovitz, owner of Woodland Construction, which would oversee the construction of the project.

The proposed project, which would replace the Calabasas Inn, would include 120 condos for people over the age of 55.

About 8,000 square feet is being set aside for commercial space.

"[Residents'] biggest concern is traffic and unfortunately the project with the least amount of traffic would be assisted living," Dimovitz said. "This would be a true senior center, with a theater, space for art and gym."

Resident Jerry Becker had opposed the previous plan because of the traffic. When informed about the new plan, he said he would not oppose it.

"As long as he does what he says he's going to do we would not be opposed to it," Becker said. "If it's only six units of low-income housing it's not a problem…It just didn't go with the neighborhood."

Dimovitz will present the plan to the community to get its input in September before presenting it to the Calabasas Planning Commission for approval. If Woodland Construction gets the go-ahead to start building, the mixed-use property is expected to be completed by spring 2012, he said.

"It's really a development of an existing project and from an environmental standpoint we're not taking away open space and we're providing something very necessary to the community," Dimovitz said.