Plans for Multiplexes Next to Thousand Oaks Arts Plaza Offered : Entertainment: Two cinema chains have approached officials on building up to 18 screens on the former Jungleland site. The city is awaiting more details.

Envisioning an entertainment mecca where the Jungleland zoo once stood, executives from two cinema chains have approached Thousand Oaks with preliminary proposals to build up to 18 screens next to the Civic Arts Plaza.

Both General Cinema and Pacific Theaters have expressed interest in opening multiplexes on the eastern 11 acres of the former Jungleland site, a slice of city-owned property that has been set aside for private development.

City officials briefly discussed the plans this week but put the matter on hold while they await details.

“We do consider the Civic Arts Plaza an ‘A’ location for a theater,” said Jay Swerdlow, executive vice president for Pacific Theaters. “We would want to build a theater in keeping with the upscale Thousand Oaks neighborhood . . . a state-of-the-art theater in every way.”

The city has dangled the 11-acre site before potential developers for years--even printing a brochure advertising “unique, centrally located property.”

With eight acres of perfectly flat land, a sloping knoll by the freeway, readily available utility hookups, and just one oak tree, the eastern portion of Jungleland looks ready for development.

But the cinema proposals represent the first serious interest since 1991, when Lowe Developers of Los Angeles failed to find financing for its plan to build a 232-suite hotel, office and commercial space, and eight-screen theater on the site.

In this latest bid, both General Cinema and Pacific Theaters “have indicated they would try to do a layout of their proposal so we can see what they have in mind,” said Ed Johnduff, the city’s liaison with prospective developers.

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Even before the blueprints materialize, however, some residents who have studied the site’s potential are concerned.

An advisory committee of 107 residents ranked movie theaters fourth on its wish list for the Jungleland site--below boutique shops, restaurants and office space, and tied with museums.

The committee also agreed that any development next to the Civic Arts Plaza should be “people-oriented” and “pedestrian friendly,” with broad appeal to woo families, singles and senior citizens.

Citing art galleries and specialty shops as possible features, some residents urged “an aesthetic, touchy-feely approach . . . an appeal to the spirit and the mind and the heart,” committee member David Carpenter recalled.

“Rather than a movie theater where you park, dash in, see the movie and dash out, we would like to have an attraction that would encourage people to stay and walk around,” Carpenter said, proposing a festive town plaza with street performers and restaurants.

Aside from the philosophical divide, several council members said they would worry about traffic and parking if a huge cinema opened next to the Civic Arts Plaza.

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The Civic Arts Plaza’s two theaters can seat a combined 2,200 spectators, but the nearby garage holds only 735 cars. To deal with overflow parking, city officials have suggested opening the undeveloped 11-acre site to theater-goers. If a cinema swallows up that space, the city would have to find extra parking spots elsewhere.

Such issues would be considered in future planning sessions if the theater executives go ahead with their proposals.

Another concern: whether Thousand Oaks can absorb a dozen or more new screens.

Already, Janss Mall developers are planning to replace a faded, two-screen cinema with a plush nine-screen Mann Theater. Sketches of the proposed Seventh-day Adventist shopping mall in Newbury Park also include a multiplex.

And Pacific Theaters has received city approval to build a 10-screen cinema off Borchard Road, also in Newbury Park. That project, which also includes a senior housing center, office buildings and restaurants, has been on hold for nearly five years.

Despite the delays in building the Newbury Park complex, Pacific Theaters executive Swerdlow said he is interested in pursuing up to 14 screens on the Civic Arts Plaza site, which would enjoy high visibility and freeway access. He cautioned, however, that plans remain “very preliminary.”

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General Cinema’s vision of a Jungleland multiplex is equally sketchy.

The company’s attorney, Bob Rosenthal, would not comment for the record. But in a letter to the city last month, he wrote that his clients “are very interested” in building 10 to 18 screens, as “the Civic Center site appears to be an excellent location for an entertainment type of use.”

Depending on the layout, a multiplex and parking garage could still leave room for at least one restaurant on the private side of the Jungleland lot--something theater director Tom Mitze would like.

“Restaurants are a natural complement for a performing arts facility--they help each other,” Mitze said. “The most often asked question at the box office, after ‘How much?’ and ‘Where are my seats?’ is ‘Where can we eat?’ ”