THOUSAND OAKS : Planners to Review Land Amendment

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission will review a proposed amendment to the city’s General Plan at its meeting tonight.

The amendment, which would affect about 1,862 acres west of Lawrence Drive and Rancho Conejo Boulevard, includes setting aside 5.5 acres for the future relocation of Conejo Valley High School, increasing industrial space by 11 acres and reducing existing park, golf course and open space by 28.5 acres.

Shapell Industries, which owns and is planning to develop the site, has agreed to grade the 5.5 acres for the high school, build a road to the site and provide all utilities for the site by Jan. 16, 1995. In turn, the city may allow the developer to build houses in areas on the city plan that are now designated for industrial uses.

The proposed site of the high school was moved from its original location on Rancho Conejo Boulevard, near Lawrence Drive, to the end of Rancho Conejo Boulevard near a proposed golf course and open space area.

The state has already approved the new site of the high school, said Sarah Hart, assistant superintendent of business administration at Conejo Valley Unified School District. “Depending on when the site is made available to us, the school may move in three to five years,” Hart said.

The 5.5-acre proposed school site is in an area originally designated for industrial uses. But the developer is asking for an additional 11 acres for industrial use, most of which is being carved out of an area slated for parks, golf courses and open space.

“Generally speaking, when we lose open space, it is not a desirable effort,” said Michael Berger of the board of directors for the Conejo Valley Parks and Recreation District.

Only the City Council can approve proposed amendments to the city’s General Plan, which was adopted in 1970, City Planner John Prescott said.

After the five-member Planning Commission makes a recommendation, the amendment will go to the council for final approval March 26.