THOUSAND OAKS : Antenna Foe Joins Planning Panel

After fighting a radio tower site proposed by Cal Lutheran University, Denise Filz is getting exposure to issues from the other side of the dais.

Filz, who was sworn in Monday night as the newest member of the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission, said her experience with the controversial antenna issue awakened her to the complex world of environmental impact reports, planning staff recommendations and public hearings.

“It really opened my eyes as to how complicated the issues are,” Filz said. “You might disagree, but you empathize with the tremendous effort by the staff.”

Last year, Filz was active with a group called Friends of Mount Clef Ridge, which opposed plans by Cal Lutheran to locate a 150-foot-tall radio tower near their homes. Thousand Oaks planning commissioners recommended the Mt. Clef ridge site, but the City Council later decided that the tower should be placed on the ridgeline north of Rancho Conejo Boulevard.

Filz, an artist who teaches at Waverly Adult School in Thousand Oaks, painted scenic political signs that helped Jaime Zukowski win a seat on the Thousand Oaks City Council in November. Zukowski later recommended that the council approve Filz for the Planning Commission, replacing Andy Fox, who served for three years.

Filz also is a member of a community group called Citizens Q of L Action Alliance, aimed at preserving the quality of life in the city.