WOODLAND HILLS/ENCINO : Road Closure Urged for Specific Periods

Environmentalists, homeowners and state parks officials urged a Los Angeles City Council committee Wednesday to close off a six-mile section of Mulholland Drive during brush fire season, heavy rains and during darkness hours.

A plan to install gates and close Mulholland Drive between Santa Maria Road in Woodland Hills and Encino Hills Drive in Encino was discussed at a meeting of the city’s Public Works committee. It is a plan supported by Councilman Marvin Braude, who represents the southwestern section of the San Fernando Valley.

The section of Mulholland Drive that is proposed to be temporarily closed is a dirt road adjacent to property owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Department of Water and Power, and the state Department of Parks and Recreation. It is mostly used by joggers and bikers.

Police, fire officials and representatives of the conservancy have recommended that the road be closed during specific periods to reduce brush fire potential, illegal dumping and mud slide accidents during the rainy season.

Under the proposal recommended by Braude, keys to the gate would be given to all local agencies requesting a key. The Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy would be responsible for closing and opening the gate.

Representatives of Friends of Caballero Canyon, the state Department of Park and Recreation and the Federation of Hillside and Canyon homeowners told the committee that they support Braude’s proposal.

But Councilman Richard Alarcon, chairman of the committee, decided to delay a decision on the proposal based on a recommendation by the city attorney’s office, which said the closure plan cannot be approved until the entire city adopts a formal policy for road closures citywide.

Braude’s proposal is likely to be discussed again in Alarcon’s committee in two weeks.