Cites ‘Marxist Hurdles’ for Country Club Project : Topanga Developer Blasts Planners

Los Angeles County’s longest-running zoning dispute would become its longest-distance dispute if a Topanga Canyon developer had his way.

Builder Christopher R. Wojciechowski has demanded that county planners who oppose his plans for a $100-million country club pack their bags and leave town.

Wojciechowski suggests Cuba as their destination.

In a letter to county Planning Director Norman Murdoch and to the county Board of Supervisors, Wojciechowski blasted the “Marxist hurdles” he said planners have put in the way of his proposed Montevideo Country Club development.

‘Nonsense of Slow Growth’

He said planners are covering up incompetence with “that nonsense of slow growth.”

Planning commissioners voted 3 to 2 in January to require Wojciechowski to scale back his proposed 257-acre golf resort next to Topanga Canyon Boulevard south of Woodland Hills.

They rejected his planned 3-story, 220-room hotel and 17,000-square-foot shopping center as something that would permanently change the rural character of the Topanga Canyon area. They said the club’s proposed 18-hole golf course must be redesigned to avoid 3.8 million cubic yards of grading.

The vote capped 10 years of debate over the country club project that has involved an unprecedented 27 public hearings. The 28th is scheduled June 9 when Wojciechowski plans to appeal the commission’s ruling to the supervisors.

Wojciechowski complains in his letter that Murdoch reacted negatively to “the best project that has been processed through your department.”

“Your position as head planner of the fastest-growing and most-desirable county in the U.S.A. should be filled by someone who understands that job,” he wrote. “You obviously do not. Therefore, you should seek employment elsewhere. Perhaps Havana, Cuba, could use your talents.

“With regard to your staff, please take them with you.”

Named 3 Members

Wojciechowski named three planning staff members who have worked on his application in the past and demanded that they be removed from the case.

” . . . Let me warn you. In the event that your staff continues to process matters with prejudice and personal vendettas against our company, me or any other owners or developers, I will do everything in my power to instigate a grand jury investigation of those unlawful activities.”

Murdoch denied Thursday that he is prejudiced against Wojciechowski. He said Wojciechowski’s demands will not affect the country club case next month.

“I decide who represents my office. Developers don’t,” Murdoch said.

“I consider myself a militant middle-of-the-roader. I’m criticized by developers as being too tough, sometimes, and by neighborhood groups as too easy.”

Contributed $28,000

A spokesman for Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who represents the Topanga area, said it is unlikely that Wojciechowski’s charges will have any affect on the board’s June hearing, which will occur two days after Antonovich seeks reelection.

Since 1980, Wojciechowski has contributed more than $28,000 to Antonovich’s election campaigns, according to campaign finance reports.

“Mike said Mr. Wojciechowski feels more frustrated than anything else,” said Dave Vannatta, Antonovich’s land-use deputy.

But Vannatta said some board members have concerns about the work being done by the planning department.

“Mike has concerns,” Vannatta said.