Probst’s Hill Alive With the Sound of Mowers

In a Herculean task sure to keep a few of this town’s landscapers busy for some time, reclusive millionaire Charles E. Probst has finally begun cutting the dehydrated lawn around his hilltop estate--the first step toward bringing the unsightly property in line with city codes.

City officials and attorneys for Probst--best known locally for pledging $2 million to the Civic Arts Plaza, then failing to make the promised payments until he was taken to court--are scheduled to meet next month to discuss the unkempt state of the Probst property, which is on the market for $14.5 million.

In the meantime, Thousand Oaks has demanded that something be done to minimize the blight of Probst’s landscaping--and Probst has apparently agreed.

Workers with weed trimmers have been spotted around the front of Probst’s estate at the corner of Kanan Road and Westlake Boulevard, busily snipping some of the half-dead growth that has residents of this North Ranch neighborhood so upset. And according to Probst’s attorney, workers are watering the lawn as well.

Progress has been slight, however, judging from the lawn’s appearance Monday.

“I’m meeting with [City Manager] Grant Brimhall and [Assistant City Atty.] Jim Friedl next month,” said Paul Stansen, the Calabasas-based attorney representing Probst. “From what I understand, there are people up there weed whacking and watering. There is work being done.”

Probst, 53, had ignored numerous warnings from city officials to revive the dying jungle of trees and shrubs he planted in 1994 on the hillside below his 25,000-square-foot, 30-plus-room mansion. He has since left left Thousand Oaks and is living somewhere in Northern California, according to the real estate agents trying to sell the house.

His ambitious landscaping project, which was never finished or properly maintained, violated a city agreement with the previous property owner and was only allowed by a vote of the City Council.

That vote drew criticism because it came just after Probst donated $2 million to the Civic Arts Plaza. The City Hall and arts complex’s main theater was then named the Charles E. Probst Center for the Performing Arts.

Probst filed plans with Thousand Oaks several months ago saying he would drastically downscale his landscaping, bringing the lawn closer to the way it looked before he began his efforts.

In addition, he proposed adding a large water pump to propel water to the top of the hill, where it could flow downward, watering the parched landscape. But none of these improvements has taken place.

Probst has also failed to complete construction of a wrought iron fence around the property. Because it was too close to Westlake Boulevard, part of the fence was in violation of city codes for the area. Probst took down the section following prodding by the city, which threatened to do the job and send him the bill. But Probst never realigned the remaining fence, leaving it to end abruptly.

Friedl said last week that he hopes the meeting with Probst will result in a fixed fence, a green lawn and the end of the controversy surrounding the property. Legal action is an option he would not want to pursue, but it is the only alternative left after numerous warning notices, he said.

Probst is not getting anymore warnings at this point.

“I don’t want to go to court over something like this,” Friedl said. “If Mr. Probst takes care of his property, everyone will be happy.”