THOUSAND OAKS : Rules Revised on Projects Outside City

Ventura County planners have revised proposed rules that would have required property owners planning to build a house or other small project just outside Thousand Oaks city limits to either become annexed by the city or follow city architectural guidelines.

The county normally regulates all building in unincorporated communities, however Thousand Oaks has asked the county to adopt its stricter standards when development occurs in areas next to the city.

The request is aimed, in large part, at protecting undeveloped hillsides around Thousand Oaks.

But the plan to give Thousand Oaks more control has upset residents in Ventu Park, an unincorporated hillside community that has resisted annexation by the city.

County planner Emily Habib said the county has backed off a proposed requirement that landowners apply to the city for annexation when requesting certain building permits.

Under a revised plan, only landowners with major projects that require extensive grading would be required to submit to annexation by the city, Habib said. These bigger projects would also come under review by the county Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, she said.

The county also eliminated proposed rules requiring that house colors and architectural styles match those in Thousand Oaks, Habib said. The city, for example, only allows houses to be painted in earth tones.

But the county left intact portions of the plan that would give Thousand Oaks more control over new water and sewer pipelines and roads build near city boundaries.

The proposal is scheduled to be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors on March 24.