Plan Calls for Homes to Replace 4 Towers

For countless commuters, the four radio towers perched on a hillside east of Erbes Road in Thousand Oaks are a familiar sight.

But under a proposal going before the city’s Planning Commission on Monday, the towers could disappear, replaced by 13 homes and a tennis court.

The property owner, Comedy Broadcasting Co., has suggested tearing down the more than 20-year-old towers and building homes on 11 acres of land. Since the houses would be visible throughout the surrounding area, city planners have recommended that seven of the homes be no taller than one story.

The rest of the property, more than 19 acres of undeveloped land, would be dedicated to the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency.

Project engineer E.J. Kim said the towers, which are more than 50 feet tall, haven’t been used in years. And though they have become familiar landmarks, in this case familiarity has bred contempt.

“Residents complain about them,” Kim said. “It’s an eyesore.”

At one time, Comedy Broadcasting owned two radio stations in Thousand Oaks, KNJO and its sister station KMDY-AM.