Builder Confident City Will OK Theater Complex Next to Civic Arts Plaza

Tuesday’s City Council meeting looks to be the last chance for Kilroy Industries, the developer hoping to build a movie theater and restaurant complex next to the Civic Arts Plaza.

However, coming off a highly successful open house at City Hall last week, company officials are beaming with confidence about the future of their plans for the so-called “private side” development.

It seems they have reason to be. Council members and homeowner groups, who had been critical of Kilroy’s original plans because they considered them too dense and strip-mall-like, are now saying good things about the project.

The council could approve the project in concept Tuesday. The project would then move to the Planning Commission for closer scrutiny and then back to the council for final approval.

“I think it is a good sign that it appears to have widespread community support,” Mayor Andy Fox said. “My view has always been that the community has to be proud of whatever goes in there, because that is one of the most important sites in the city.”

Council members are eager to see something built on the city-owned 11-acre site, not only because it is beside the landmark Civic Arts Plaza, but because city officials are counting on about $9 million from selling the land to help offset the cost of the $64-million landmark.

Kilroy’s proposed 180,000-square-foot complex would be anchored by a modernistic 12- to 14-screen United Artists movie theater that would feature auditorium-style seating and hold 3,100 people.

It would also feature a special motion-simulation theater similar to the popular “Back to the Future” ride at Universal Studios. And Virtual World, a company that operates super high-tech virtual reality games, would be a sub-tenant. Virtual World’s interactive games allow teams to fight computerized battles against each other and play other cyber games.

In addition to the theater, the development would feature several restaurants, some upscale but others more family oriented. There would also be gourmet ice cream and coffee shops, a kiosk area selling novelty goods, a fitness center and, possibly, a microbrewery.

Outdoor parking would be minimal. Kilroy plans to construct a six-story parking garage that would hold 900 to 1,000 vehicles.

Homeowners’ groups criticized the company’s original plans for being too intense and failing to blend in with the small park between the Civic Arts Plaza and the complex.

In response, Kilroy scrapped several of its proposed anchor tenants, including a bookstore, record retailer, video store and hotel. Moreover, architect RTKL Associates redesigned the layout, which now features a small stream running through the complex and a much more airy feel.

Councilman Mike Markey said he still has not developed a strong opinion about the Kilroy project. But he does have something to say about Kilroy’s exclusive negotiating agreement with the city to develop the site, which expires Wednesday after a series of extensions: He will not vote to extend it again if the project does not appear to be on track.

“It looks like they have done significant changes, but I don’t know whether it will be enough,” Markey said. “I know one thing though: They’re not going to get another extension. This has taken too long already.”

Thousand Oaks staff members are recommending that the City Council grant an extension Tuesday, but only if Kilroy’s concept is approved. The purpose of the extension would be to finalize a development agreement with Kilroy.

Dave Armanetti, director of development services for Kilroy, believes the company’s plans now match what residents and council members said they wanted.

“We’re optimistic about our chances,” Armanetti said. “We’ve made some significant changes, and we have received some positive feedback. We’ll see what happens.”