Mountain lions force city to halt 400-home plan on Woodland Hills golf course

The Planning Department determined that the Woodland Hills Country Club, a historic golf course near the Santa Monica Mountains, serves as habitat for the endangered mountain lion, forcing a conventional review of a proposed 398-unit housing project. The developer, Newport-Beach-based Arrimus Capital, had hoped to invoke AB 2011 to obtain ministerial approval, sidestepping community, fire-risk and environmental assessments.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield highlighted a wealth of biological studies and local testimony supporting the habitat finding, emphasizing the site's location in a high fire-hazard zone. Arrimus Capital’s representative Aaron Green dismissed the habitat claim as a “creative excuse,” insisting the site is not protected and warning the city of a lawsuit that could result in fines. The stalled plan would have included 175 single-family homes, 189 rental apartments and 34 rent-restricted units, along with over 55,900 sq ft of open space. Opposition to redeveloping the course dates back decades, with local homeowners groups historically defending the greenbelt.