THOUSAND OAKS : Commission Rejects 24 Townhouse Units

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission on Tuesday denied permission for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to build a 24-unit townhouse complex that was strongly opposed by neighbors.

After a four-hour public hearing, the commission voted 4 to 1 early Tuesday to turn down the archdiocese’s proposal to build eight one- and two-story buildings at the northwest corner of Sunset Hills Boulevard and the Moorpark Freeway.

Commissioners said they agreed with residents of the Sunset Hills neighborhood that the project would obstruct the view of the mountains from scenic Sunset Hills Boulevard. About 50 residents raised their objections at the commission meeting, which began Monday night.

“For the amount of people that use this as a scenic corridor, this would be an intrusion,” Chairman Mervyn Kopp said. He suggested that single-story houses would be more appropriate for the 5.3-acre site.

Commissioner Forrest Frields cast the lone vote in support of the project.

Commissioners also expressed concerns that the development would create a hazard because traffic from the complex would be forced to turn right onto Sunset Hills Boulevard, then make U-turns to get on the freeway.