University’s Impact Gives Neighboring City Pause

Excited about the prospect of a state college campus in Ventura County, but worried about the traffic and congestion it would bring to their city, Thousand Oaks leaders say they have increasingly mixed feelings about plans to convert Camarillo State Hospital into a four-year university.

The City Council tonight is scheduled to consider whether to formally endorse the conversion of the mental hospital into the campus for Cal State University Channel Islands, the county’s first public university.

And although the proposal is likely to gain the council’s approval, several council members say they have growing concerns about the campus’ impact on Newbury Park.

Those concerns were amplified last week when Cal State officials said that a university cannot be developed at Camarillo State Hospital unless the campus is surrounded by a retirement community, student housing and other enterprises that would help financially support it.

“Originally, I was for it, but I’m not so sure about that now,” Councilman Mike Markey said. “Now they’re talking about housing and other development, and I think we need to have a serious discussion on that.”

Much of the focus of the plan to convert Camarillo State Hospital into an university has centered on its impact on Camarillo. However, the Newbury Park section of Thousand Oaks is also close to the site, and may be substantially affected.

Hilly, meandering Potrero Road--which leads into Lynn Road in Newbury Park--is one of the shortest routes to the state hospital and some city leaders believe it could swell with traffic, despite obvious safety hazards.

“I really believe Ventura County needs a state university,” Mayor Judy Lazar said. “A university is long overdue, and the possibility of having a university at Camarillo State Hospital seems a quicker way than any other, so that’s a plus.

“But I have to say, I don’t know the potential impact on Thousand Oaks,” she added. “And frankly, I don’t think anyone really does at this time. People are people, and they’re going to take Potrero Road, whether we want them to or not.”

Ventura County planners will soon conduct an environmental review of a proposed Camarillo regional park adjacent to the hospital site.

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The park will include a golf course and amphitheater. As part of that environmental report, county planners will conduct an analysis of the university proposal and its traffic impacts, including the effect on Potrero Road.

Cal State Channel Islands President Handel Evans said Monday that he doubts many people would choose to take Potrero Road to the campus instead of the intended thoroughfare, Lewis Road, which may be widened from two to four lanes. But he, too, believes the potential traffic repercussions for Thousand Oaks need to be examined closely.

“We’ve been talking to the county about the traffic implications of the site, and we’ve not reached any conclusions yet, but the county is doing a traffic study as we speak,” Evans said. “I’m sure there is some concern, but frankly, I don’t see Potrero Road as a major traffic area.”

Councilwoman Elois Zeanah contends that common sense dictates otherwise.

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“If that becomes a university, it’s going to take a serious toll on Thousand Oaks and our roads, and it’s going to have a negative impact on the quality of life of residents in Newbury Park,” Zeanah said. “Where is that traffic going to go? Lynn Road, obviously.”

Zeanah said she is especially uncomfortable with the aims of Cal State officials to build commercial enterprises around the campus in order to help pay for it.

“I’m worried about these public agencies becoming developers,” Zeanah said. “I wonder whether the community’s best interest is at hand here.”

Evans said Cal State officials have always been candid about plans to offset some of the initial costs of converting the hospital to an university--estimated at $40 million to $45 million--by developing some of the surrounding area.

Such a move, he reiterated, would be necessary to help accomplish the goal of the task force Gov. Pete Wilson put together last year to find a new use for the aging psychiatric hospital.

“We’re doing nothing untoward, when you consider that is where the governor’s task force is pushing us,” Evans said. “It’s never been a secret that there would be development to offset the costs of the first phase.”

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Councilman Andy Fox said converting the mental hospital into a university would be one of the most positive uses imaginable, fulfilling one of the county’s greatest community needs while ensuring the state does not turn the site into something undesirable, such as a prison.

He said the university’s traffic plan would surely funnel cars onto Lewis Road, lessening the impact on Potrero Road and Thousand Oaks.

“The issue has been discussed enough to take a position,” said Fox, who asked the council last year to wait for more details before endorsing the plan.

“I was hesitant before, because there were a lot of unanswered questions. There are still a lot of those, but we have enough facts on the table now, and there is no question of the need for a Cal State university here.

“I think it’s time for us to support this,” he added. “It’s probably the best thing that could happen to that site.”