New Street Names Sought

Seeking a new image to match a safer, better-tended community, homeowners in Newbury Park’s Las Casitas neighborhood have applied to change the names of the tract’s seven streets.

Sheriff’s deputies, city officials and residents have worked over the past few years to improve the 25-year-old condominium complex.

Residents credit several city programs for helping revitalize their neighborhoods, including laws banning street vendors and restricting overnight parking. A community policing program helped cut crime.

Now, residents hope to build on their success by erasing the names that used to turn up frequently on police scanners.

To replace existing names like Calle Diamonte, homeowners association members voted for Western names, including Stagecoach Court and Chumash Way.

Of the 246 homeowners or proxies present at the annual board meeting early this year, only six voted against changing the street names. A smaller group then picked four possible names for each street and submitted the list to city staff to winnow.

During the next few weeks, staff member Donna Paschal will check to be sure that the names are unique to Thousand Oaks. She must also consider whether they are easy for children to pronounce, read and memorize.

The Ventura County Fire Department can scratch any name that too closely resembles a street in an adjacent community. Finally, the City Council must approve a resolution amending the names.