THOUSAND OAKS : Planners Vote to Deny Satellite Dish

Following protests by area homeowners associations against a satellite dish that is designed to look like a patio umbrella, the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission voted early Tuesday to recommend against allowing the antenna.

After a one-hour public hearing, the commission voted 4 to 1 to recommend that the City Council deny the permit requested by homeowner Charles Dabby. Chairman Andrew Fox cast the sole vote for approval of the antenna, which had also been recommended for approval by the city’s Planning Department.

Dabby, who paid at least $3,000 for the antenna, said he would appeal the decision to the City Council. He installed the dish on the patio of his home overlooking Westlake Lake in February.

Commissioner Irving Wasserman, who said he also lives on Westlake Lake, made the motion to recommend denying the permit. He said the antenna does not meet the city requirement that satellite dishes fit the surrounding area.

At least a dozen representatives of area homeowners associations and other neighbors came to the hearing to oppose the satellite dish.

Windward Shores Homeowners’ Assn. President Doris Goetz told the Planning Commission that, in addition to violating the association’s rules against outside antennas, the dish detracts from the lake view of one of Dabby’s next-door neighbors.

Commissioners stressed that they enforce city law, not homeowners association rules.

Dabby’s satellite dish is mounted seven feet above the ground on a pole that runs through the middle of a patio table. The dish is covered by a blue awning made of acrylic fiber that allows signals to pass through without interference, and which makes the antenna look like a table umbrella, city planner Pam Leopold said.

This was the first time the Planning Commission had considered a request for this type of satellite dish, Leopold said.