Entertainment Center Plan Gains Support

Impressed by revised plans for an entertainment complex next to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, city officials have granted conceptual approval to the plans and the developer behind them.

The City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency board, voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the project’s general outline, proposed by Kilroy Industries of El Segundo. The council also extended until May 29 the exclusive negotiation contract with Kilroy. The extension will give the city and the company time to hammer out final business terms for developing the property.

Council members Tuesday complimented Kilroy for seeking residents’ advice to help redesign the project after initial plans met with public criticism.

“They were smart enough to go back and revise and get community input,” said Councilwoman Judy Lazar. “This is a long step in the right direction.”

Some residents had complained that Kilroy’s original proposal was too dense for the 11-acre site. The company responded by cutting some of the larger stores proposed for the center and redesigning the layout.

The 180,000-square-foot complex would contain restaurants, a 12- to 14-screen movie theater and a virtual reality entertainment center.