THOUSAND OAKS : Commission to Debate Zoning Proposal

The seemingly endless battle between Thousand Oaks and developer Nedjatollah Cohan over a 47-acre parcel in Newbury Park will return to the Planning Commission on Monday.

Planning commissioners are scheduled to debate a proposal to change the zoning of the Cohan property, a move that would limit the number of homes that can be built there.

The debate between Cohan and the city has included lawsuits, numerous planning sessions and a hearing where Cohan collapsed and was hospitalized.

Monday’s hearing should have its own fireworks, according to Irving Wasserman, the Planning Commission chairman.

“We’ve been at this for a long time,” Wasserman said. “The emotions involved are quite high.”

The zoning proposals stem in part from a proposed change to the city’s General Plan, which would rezone a portion of the Cohan property that is currently designated for commercial development.

If the proposal is approved, some of Cohan’s property could not be developed and some would be zoned to allow only a limited number of homes.

Last month, Cohan’s son, Albert Cohen, submitted a 1994 study to the commission that contends the property is economically viable for commercial development.

Opponents to the development have argued that the property should be preserved because water runoff at the property has created a wetlands environment.

But Commissioner Mervyn Kopp said he still believes Cohan should be able to develop his property.

“I think people in that neighborhood should have been prepared to see a development go in there,” Kopp said. “After all, the property is his, and he does have a right to use it.”