THOUSAND OAKS : City Will Buy 11 Lots on Ridgeline

Thousand Oaks will purchase 11 prominent ridgeline lots in the Skyline Area for $46,750 after all, as Councilman Frank Schillo has reversed his earlier “no” vote and decided to endorse the acquisition.

A tour of the area persuaded him that the parcels would make an ideal trail head for hikers and equestrians, Schillo said. Although last week he voted against the purchase, arguing that the city should spend the money elsewhere, Schillo said he changed his mind after learning that the Skyline Area lots link up to the Los Robles trail system.

On Tuesday night, he called on his colleagues to rescind last week’s vote and start the debate afresh. Bolstered by the new information, Councilwoman Jaime Zukowski joined Schillo in changing from a “no” to a “yes” vote.

“My eyes have been opened--this is a good opportunity for us,” Schillo said. “I’m convinced that trail heads are pretty important to our community. Here’s a chance to buy one for $46,000 and at the same time, eliminate the possibility that someone will come and build a house on one of those parcels, a house that could be seen from as far away as Agoura.”

In the end, Mayor Elois Zeanah cast the only vote opposing purchase of the Skyline Area lots, which are on sale because the property owner has failed to pay taxes for the past seven years.

Zeanah said she could not support using park funds, which come from the taxes developers pay on each bedroom they build in the community, for the purchase. She also chastised Schillo for seeking to change his vote.

But other council members called the purchase a bargain. They pointed out that the city recently approved several goals for the Skyline Area, including acquisition of sensitive ridgeline lots to preserve the region’s rural feel.

City Manager Grant Brimhall said Wednesday he believes the sale will go through soon. The Ventura County tax collector is obligated to offer the property to the city before auctioning it to private developers, he said.