Bell Canyon vs Calabasas?

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by puffle

You are definetly right about no development in Hidden Valley, thank god!

LOL! Yes, that would be a shame.

[JustPassinThru]

Bell Canyon is a very desirable area, especially if you desire privacy and enjoy communing with wildlife. However, you also should have a high tolerance for life's little annoyances, for there are many in the Canyon.

Many of the older homes were just built to code, and problems surfaced later. Grading was improper, and some homes suffered water damage. There are many insect and rodent problems, not to mention the snakes, mountain lions, and coyotes. One coyote snatched my client's poodle away when it followed him out to the car.

Then you have different groups jockeying for power. The last I heard, the "horse crowd" was winning.

B.C. is in the southernmost part of the county, so it may take a while for the sheriff to arrive, but I have seen motor officers posted there to catch speeders.

[Abearhunter]

Lived in Calabasas for 6 years and love it. We live in a gated community, our home is NOT cookie cutter, and my kids go to private school (though my oldest went to Calabasas high and was not a druggie.) Bell Canyon is lovely though I am not a fan of the one way out.

[mightIhelp]

I live in Calabasas, and agree with previous posts that Bell Canyon is really "away" from things. I've been through to drop off or pick up kids, but always try to avoid it because it takes so long to wind through there. It isn't easy or convenient to get in or out. It is a long commute for kids to get to school in Calabasas. In terms of Calabasas schools, the middle school in outstanding. I've had 2 kids through there and neither one ever saw any type of drug or alcohol problem. It is one of the safest, nicest schools in the area, with good kids and teachers. There are drug/alcohol issues at the high school, as with ALL high schools, but I've actually heard worse stories from some of the private schools in the area. Our home is also not a "cookie cutter" home. Many aren't.

[chuckgersch]

Have been in Bell Canyon since I upgraded from one of the developments in Calabassas and have to say the fact that it is 'away' from things is the actual appeal to most residents as it avoids through traffic. For those concerned by the comments about fires check the comments of residents from surrounding communities during the 2005 who complained about the amount of attention paid to the 'multimillion dollar Bell Canyon Homes' and I for one was very happy that the structure protection teams never lost a single home. How could somebody that admits they have never been inside the gate talk about the extensive damage ?
The Canyon is great for young families although the boards are a complete waste of time and money so caveat emptor when looking at property as the committee for architectural and proctology will pretty much ask for cash just to change your mailing address if they can. If the property is not exactly what you want then walk away or face a lengthy frustrating experience dealing with the boards who are also residents of the canyon but feel you need their approval to breathe. Everyone hates them but usually ignores them !