Dense-Pack Housing Should Be Defeated

The Thousand Oaks recall is behind us, the mayoral selection has been made and it is time to move on.

The members of the City Council majority have taken the position that they are all for slow growth. The Dos Vientos situation will provide them a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate their sincerity.

The council will soon have to deal with the situation created when the majority members illegally approved a sweetheart deal to permit dense-pack construction in part of the massive Dos Vientos project. The variance totally blows the Thousand Oaks building standards out of the water. Instead of the modest three-bedroom condos originally planned, the council approved, without the required public hearing, huge five-bedroom houses on minuscule lots. Features include three-foot side yards, half-sized backyards and short driveways.

This action prompted a citizens’ lawsuit in the county Superior Court in which the judge condemned the council majority’s illegal approval of the development. Councilwoman Elois Zeanah had opposed the council majority vote, and in fact the judge quoted her dissenting statements in the ruling. Linda Parks likewise opposed the action as a planning commissioner.

Any council member who is truly for slow and responsible growth will abide by the ordinances established for that purpose and not subvert them to favor a developer’s interest in squeezing more profit.

The council majority should not pass the buck back to the Planning Commission. The council--and only the council--has the final legal authority. It should defeat dense-pack housing when this issue is next addressed. If the council somehow approves the project as previously submitted, look for these same high-density projects throughout the city.

JOHN RELLE

Thousand Oaks