Hue and Cry on Club Disney Paint Pattern

In Disney’s Magic Kingdom, there are plenty of things that fly: large elephants and exotic carpets, to name a few.

But in this image-conscious town, there are plenty of things that don’t fly, namely checkerboard paint patterns in high-profile shopping plazas.

Fearing that company officials may have gone a little goofy with the new Club Disney at the Promenade at Westlake, the city’s Planning Commission on Monday night will discuss what to do about the building’s paint scheme.

According to the city’s planning department, the checkerboard pattern lining the top of Club Disney does not comply with approved design guidelines.

City Planner Bob Rickards said Thursday that the individual colors on the Club Disney building--including muted shades of yellow, red and blue--comply with project guidelines.

But the checkerboard pattern--predominantly yellow and white but blue and yellow near the entrance--was never approved by city officials, Rickards said.

And in Thousand Oaks, where city officials trying to preserve the city’s image hold developers to strict standards, Club Disney is getting a close look.

A Disney spokesman would not comment on the issue Thursday.

But the plaza’s developer, Rick Caruso, said he didn’t see why the city would want to change the look of the children’s clubhouse that has drawn crowds since its opening last month.

“I don’t think they’re really eager to make changes,” Caruso said. “I don’t think people want to fool with a project that’s so popular.”

Monday night’s consideration of Club Disney will take part during a broader discussion of paint colors at the Promenade at Westlake, the popular new shopping center near the Ventura Freeway and Westlake Boulevard.

Already planners have raised questions about the center’s use of colorful neon lights--banned under design guidelines--and weekend parking problems that have plagued the center since its November opening.

Planning Commissioner Marilyn Carpenter said she has received numerous calls from residents who say the colorful plaza represents a break from traditional development in Thousand Oaks.

“They feel that [the colors] are not earth-tone colors,” Carpenter said. “The fear is that they don’t comply with . . . design guidelines.

“I can’t tell you the number of people that say it looks like Disneyland, it’s not Thousand Oaks,” she added. “Personally, I find the place charming . . . but we wanted to create a project that fits the rural character of Thousand Oaks.”

Developer Caruso said he has not heard any complaints from the city about Club Disney or the new plaza. In fact, he said, people love the project’s colors, with some residents even writing to him to say thank you for bringing a bright, attractive shopping center to Thousand Oaks.

“The people are tired of the earth tones,” Caruso said. “It’s dull out there . . . They’re glad there’s color in town.”

Rickards said Thursday that all the paint colors used at the Promenade comply with the city’s design guidelines, except for Club Disney’s checkerboard pattern. Disney could seek a design variance for the checkerboard pattern or seek another solution, Rickards said.

The planner said problems with paint design and neon signs could have cropped up during the project’s expedited construction schedule last year.

“This was a fast-track project. They had a deadline to meet,” he said. “Then we pick up the bodies when they’re finished.”

Staff writer Miguel Bustillo contributed to this story.