Project Pits Regulations Against Needs of Elderly

This city may become a more welcoming place for Conejo Valley’s elderly after the City Council tonight considers allowing a 60-unit apartment complex intended for senior citizens.

But the proposed Oak Creek Senior Villas, a four-story affordable housing project, would require an amendment to the land use portion of Thousand Oaks’ General Plan, a zoning change and the removal of four oak trees before it could move forward.

“Obviously, there is a need for affordable, low-cost senior housing,” said Mayor Andy Fox. “And it fits in with our goals. My only concern is the height of four stories. That might set a bad precedent for that area.”

The city Planning Commission approved Senior Villas last year. However, commissioners expressed concerns at the time that an underground garage planned for the lowest floor of the proposed apartments could be vulnerable to flooding, which could again be an issue.

“Senior housing is still a distinct need in this city, and this project helps fill that need,” said Councilwoman Jaime Zukowski. “This is one of those cases where we must evaluate the public benefit against the modification of our development policies.”

The 43-foot-tall apartment building would be on the north side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Hodencamp Road and Broadway Avenue. The 1.83-acre parcel was formerly the site of a Montessori private school that was destroyed by fire in 1988.

The area--close to public transportation and shopping areas--is already a mini-mecca for senior housing with several developments, including the Conejo Future Village, Hillcrest Royale and Florence Janss Apartments catering to the elderly, said city housing officer Olav Hassel.

But the need for senior housing in the Conejo Valley is so great that Thousand Oaks could certainly use another apartment complex, Hassel said.

“I would say that our record is very good as far as senior housing is concerned,” Hassel said. “But we could never meet the need for this area--it’s so great. As far as reasonable goals are concerned, I feel we have done a good job.”

The project developer is Oak Creek Senior Villas Ltd., a partnership involving a Camarillo doctor, M. Philip Bacon, and Many Mansions, a Thousand Oaks-based nonprofit group that specializes in affordable housing.

Many Mansions would manage the apartment complex and handle applications from prospective tenants, whose rent would be between $400 and $550 monthly. In fact, the group already has a lengthy waiting list for the project, said Executive Director Dan Hardy.

“There’s no doubt about it--there’s a desperate need for low-cost housing for seniors,” Hardy said. “Anyone who says no to a project like this is crazy. The need is so great, and it’s so politically correct. Everyone has a mother or father or an aunt or uncle who will need this type of housing.”

Councilman Mike Markey said he is concerned about Senior Villas’ effect on oak trees. But he added that he is more concerned about people.

“It appears to be a pretty good project,” Markey said. “There’s some oak trees that will have to be moved, and one of our goals as a council is to protect the oak trees. But one of our goals is also to provide affordable housing, and I think that’s more important.”