New Design Sought for Jungleland Site

Thousand Oaks has ordered a developer to scale down plans for a $65-million private retail, hotel and office complex on the Jungleland site.

The majority of the five-member City Council is prepared to approve the private project provided that Lowe Development Corp. of Los Angeles can provide a less cluttered-looking complex on the land at Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Conejo School Road.

“While I think it is a beautiful project, I think it’s an urban project,” Councilman Robert E. Lewis said. “I want something with a more rural feel to it.”

The council voted 4 to 1 in favor of the project provided Lowe can change the design. Councilman Lawrence E. Horner voted against it, saying he did not support the number of buildings on the site or the idea of another hotel in Thousand Oaks.

The council plans to convert the 22-acre site where the Jungleland animal amusement park once stood into an area with both the private development and a $63-million civic center that would include an auditorium, government center and park.

Lowe wants to lease some land and build a hotel with no fewer than 200 rooms, a restaurant, a 2,000-seat movie theater and an office and retail complex with up to 180,000 square feet.

But some Thousand Oaks residents and council members were concerned that the two five-story office buildings would give the area an urban feel, said Ed Johndoff, city administrative services manager. Members of the development firm, which has secured $17 million for the project from a Japanese investor, were surprised by the council action, said Ted McGonagle, the project manager for Lowe.

He said the firm was concerned that the investor would back out because of the delay. Lowe is expected to bring the matter back to the council in about 30 days, Johndoff said.

The council on Tuesday also reviewed the preliminary design plans for the civic center part of the project.

Members of the public said they were concerned about the auditorium rising 60 feet above the Ventura Freeway and blocking commuters’ views of the Conejo Valley.

The council will hold a study session at 7 p.m. today to discuss the auditorium at Council Chambers at 401 W. Hillcrest Drive. It will decide whether to approve this phase of the design for the public portion of the Jungleland site Monday at 5:30 p.m.