THOUSAND OAKS : Broad Plan OKd for Amgen Expansion

Thousand Oaks City Council members have given a green light to Amgen’s broadly sketched proposals for expansion.

The successful biotechnology firm--founded and based in Thousand Oaks--plans to double its 1-million-square-foot headquarters over the next five years. Located along Hillcrest Drive at the city’s west end, Amgen now occupies 21 buildings spread over 100 acres.

The development plan calls for adding five additional buildings by 1998. Some would be 55 to 75 feet tall, which would exceed the city’s 35-foot height limit.

At Tuesday night’s joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission held to review the Amgen proposals, council members said that since the taller buildings appear to be largely hidden from public view, they do not seem to be a sticking point.

The approval allows Amgen officials and city staff to go ahead with designing a more specific development plan.

Among items approved “in concept” is Amgen’s request that--except for elements such as building heights addressed in the city’s development plan--the interior area of its development not be subjected to council scrutiny.

“There is a tremendous benefit that accrues to this community in return for giving Amgen (these) rights, and that is a large employment base in the community,” said Councilwoman Judy Lazar. “I am willing to give Amgen a certain degree of trust we have not given to other builders.”

The council also approved Amgen’s request to waive city requirements that all public buildings be set back 100 feet from the center of the street. Amgen may design buildings with only 70-foot setbacks, as long as they are on Rancho Conejo Boulevard and as long as the encroachments are balanced by wider-than-required setbacks nearby, council members said.