School Looks at Sites for Antenna : Cal Lutheran: The Thousand Oaks university hopes to decide within two weeks on a location for the proposed radio tower.

Cal Lutheran University, spurred by public opposition to seek a new site for a proposed radio tower, is examining a location along the western edge of Thousand Oaks that is far from any development, officials said this week.

University Vice President Dennis Gillette said the site, on a Southern California Edison easement near the former MGM Ranch, “looks promising” but still is under investigation.

“It would appear that this is a very good site. But all of the information isn’t in,” Gillette said Tuesday.

Gillette said the university is examining a number of other sites, including Rasnow Peak and locations in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The university hopes to decide within two weeks whether to pursue an alternative site for the tower or stick with its initial choice of Mountclef Ridge.

Mountclef neighbors criticized the proposal to place the 150-foot-tall antenna on the ridge north of Olsen Road. Cal Lutheran wants to build the antenna for a non-commercial FM station that would serve parts of Ventura County.

Denise Filz of Friends of Mountclef Ridge said her group is still wary of the university.

“We’re pleased that they are pursuing other alternatives, but we would have preferred some concrete information by now,” Filz said. “Nothing is written in stone. There’s still the possibility that they could return to Mountclef unless they pin something else down.”

Mayor Robert Lewis said the Edison site would eliminate the type of community opposition that has stalled the Mountclef Ridge plan.

“I know there are a lot of people who are very concerned, and the only way they’re going to relax is if it goes away,” Lewis said.

The university recently asked the Federal Communications Commission for an extension of the university’s application to build the radio tower. Gillette said the FCC is expected to issue an extension, which would expire in January.

On the application, Cal Lutheran still refers to Mountclef Ridge as its proposed antenna site. Gillette said this is because the university had to provide a specific location on the application but that the location can be changed.

Lewis said he would support the Southern California Edison site if it is feasible. He said the radio tower would blend in with an existing 66,000-volt power line.

“The ridge already has visual pollution on it. That visual pollution is not going to go away,” Lewis said.

Lewis expects no opposition from open space advocates.

“We’re not dealing in some oak grove where you’re hiking. These sites are right next to the power line,” he said.

The city Planning Commission in April approved the radio tower. But the university suspended its application before it was heard by the City Council after opposition materialized. It then promised to seek alternate sites.