Planners to Consider Lot Bisected by Trail

In a city where housing projects often involve dozens of homes, a request to build a single house on vacant property may not seem like a big deal.

But when Thousand Oaks hikers and equestrians have been using an informal trail across the property, the situation becomes a bit more complicated.

Tonight the city’s Planning Commission will consider a proposal by Doug and Rebecca Reu to build a 4,207-square-foot house at 470 Helga Court in Newbury Park. Normally, such a request would be handled by the city’s planning staff and would never reach the commission.

But for years, area residents have walked and ridden a trail across the property, using it to reach the Potrero Open Space to the west and Los Robles Trail to the east.

The Reus have told the city that they do not want a trail easement across the property, and according to the city attorney’s office, the city cannot require them to accept one.

Trail users, however, have written to city planners to ask for a trail easement across the lot, and neighboring property owners have written with their objections to an easement. Fearing that any staff decision on the project would be appealed to the commission, city planners have taken the case directly to the panel.

Planners are recommending that the commission approve the project without a trail easement.