Calabasas Mayor James Bozajian was honored at the annual Calabasas Chamber Mayor’s Lunch on August 27.
Bozajian is celebrating 30 years with the city, and his seventh term as mayor.
He updated chamber members, city officials, residents and guests on the state of the city, and entertained the group with a history of Calabasas quiz.
He gave updates on city business, including the passage of the one cent sales tax which he said should generate $5.3 million annually. “It’s hard to operate the city as we do with rising costs, inflation and revenue stagnation. This is a local tax which will help maintain Calabasas as it is,” he explained.
He addressed the development at The Commons, which will include 80 apartments, and he said, “unfortunately only four affordable units.”
The city lost their suit against West Village, he reported, that will bring detached condos to the open space at Las Virgenes Road and Agoura Road.
However, he was happy to announce the annexation of Craftsman Corner, the land on the north side of the 101 Freeway that for 35 years has not been a part of the city. Officials have been working with the county since 1992 on the annexation, which was just approved August 17. “Craftsman Corner boasts the oldest operating business in Calabasas,” said Bozajian, “the pet cemetery.”
The city is holding workshops on another area of Calabasas – Old Town, to discuss incentives, zoning and more.
The mayor pointed to the many new businesses that had moved to the area, including Jon & Vinny’s, The Library, Glow Lagree, HiHo Cheeseburger and more.
He talked about how Calabasas has changed in 35 years. “The growth has been exponential with infrastructure. When I started there was one park, no cell phones to communicate with residents, only landlines or letters! Technology has moved us forward with the city website and streaming.”
He lamented a little about the loss of the small town feel and the lost history. “It was a lot simpler and a lot more fun then,” he said.
He acknowledged that traffic has grown along with the city. “You used to stand in the middle of Calabasas Road and not find one car.”
Bozajian did talk about the loss of local control as the state mandates more and more development requirements. He hopes that the state legislature will see that local officials know what’s best for their community instead of forcing “mindless urbanization” on cities like Calabasas.
“I want to see that. It’s why I’ve stayed in local government for 30 years,” he said.
