Staff to Explore Fox’s Zone-by-Phone Idea

City Councilman Andy Fox’s proposed experiment with 1-900-zoning has received a lukewarm response from his political peers.

The Thousand Oaks City Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday night to ask city officials to look into Fox’s plan, devised as a way to give the public more say in choosing what should be built on the vacant lot east of the Civic Arts Plaza.

Fox’s idea, in a nutshell, is to televise a handful of builders’ development proposals for the site and then let residents call a 900 number to vote for the plan they like best.

Councilwoman Elois Zeanah voted against the proposal, arguing that the results would not be representative of the community at large.

Other council members said the idea was worth considering, but needed to be fleshed out much more.

“It needs some work,” said Councilman Mike Markey. “But I definitely think it has some feasibility.”

After more than a year of planning, the City Council shot down a proposal by El Segundo-based Kilroy Industries earlier this year to build an entertainment complex on the site. In response to complaints from residents, council members decided that the company’s plans--which included a virtual reality center, a multiplex movie theater, restaurants and office space--were too intense for the 11 1/2-acre lot.