Council Opposes 2 Golf Driving Ranges

The City Council has voted unanimously to oppose two plans to build driving ranges in the Tierra Rejada Valley greenbelt, the mostly undeveloped land between Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

But the council’s decision Tuesday night may mean little because the greenbelt is within Ventura County’s jurisdiction, and the county’s zoning regulations allow driving ranges in the area.

The Tierra Rejada Valley greenbelt, formed to preserve a buffer zone between the east county’s three cities, has become a contentious topic lately.

In 1983, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley officials signed a “gentleman’s agreement” to protect the land and preserve its rural character. Moorpark joined the pact a year later and, since then, county planners have asked officials from each city to provide comments on possible development in the greenbelt.

However, county leaders have not always followed the cities’ suggestions. Earlier this month, despite strong opposition from all three cities, the County Board of Supervisors agreed to allow the construction of six luxury homes on a 60-acre parcel next to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. As part of the deal, the developers agreed to donate 220 acres on Tierra Rejada Valley’s eastern end to the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

Thousand Oaks leaders are concerned that such small projects will chip away at the greenbelt. Two applicants are looking to build driving ranges in or near the greenbelt. Tom Barger Golf Centers wants to build a 75-tee driving range on 20 acres within the greenbelt, south of Tierra Rejada Road. Ralph Mahan is interested in building a 30-tee range and four-hole practice course on 117 acres just outside the greenbelt at the northeast intersection of Tierra Rejada Road and the Moorpark Freeway.

Council members said Tuesday that those ranges would probably be open and brightly lit at night, taking away from the pristine look that was originally envisioned for the greenbelt. They hope that county leaders think twice before allowing more development in the area.