THOUSAND OAKS : Plan OKd to Preserve Rustic Atmosphere

An extensive blueprint for the future of Thousand Oaks that would limit development and preserve the city’s semirural atmosphere has passed review by the City Council, moving the two-year project a step closer to completion.

The Thousand Oaks City Council reviewed the Comprehensive General Plan on Tuesday night and agreed to forward it to the Planning Commission.

Councilwoman Judy Lazar, who worked on the committee that formulated the plan, said she was pleased with its progress, despite a continuing struggle between pro-growth adherents and those wishing to preserve a semirural atmosphere.

“This is not a small town. It’s a city of 110,000 people. But we have a strong desire to maintain a rural feeling,” Lazar said. “It’s always been a balancing act.”

The general plan touches on a wide range of issues, including the widening of streets, the protection of undeveloped land, preservation of special zones for ranch-style homes with horse stables, and height restrictions on buildings.

The plan was not fully endorsed by every council member Tuesday, but the council agreed to discuss the fine points at a later date.

“I’m not totally in favor of all of the recommendations, but I didn’t want to stop the process,” said Councilman Alex Fiore. “I will take on the specific issues when they come back to us.”

Mayor Elois Zeanah said future debate probably will be focused on zoning changes that reduce the number of units that can be built on certain properties. But she said she believes the current version, as a total plan, will satisfy most Thousand Oaks residents.

“We were surprised that there seemed to be such community consensus about the vision of the city and how it should look in 20 more years,” Zeanah said after the meeting. “We feel the way we’ve drafted this plan is reflective of the community’s goals.”