Hill Canyon Development

Thousand Oaks residents deserve a binding vote on whether Hill Canyon should be developed or left in its natural state. According to state election codes, the advisory vote being proposed by Mayor Linda Parks is the equivalent of an elaborate opinion poll.

There is no reason for the Hill Canyon Recreational Resources Authority (HCRRA), made up of the five members of the Thousand Oaks City Council and the five members of the Conejo Recreation and Park District board, not to approve an advisory vote because it would have no value and no legal influence to stop their development of Hill Canyon.

An advisory vote would not stop the HCRRA from continuing to spend taxpayer funds, moving forward to certify the final environmental impact reports, putting bonds out for funding, obtaining state permits, making more land swaps or approving land-use changes to the general plan. It would merely be another feel-good pacification trick to shut the public up.

By the time this advisory vote is put on the ballot in the year 2000 and residents vote, it will be too late to stop it. Unless residents take matters into their own hands to either circulate a legally binding ballot initiative now or circulate a legally binding ballot referendum after the HCRRA certifies the final EIR approving the project, city leaders will have once again fooled and deceived the public.

We cannot allow our elected city leaders to destroy the majestic beauty of Hill Canyon, the open space extension of Wildwood Regional Park, simply for their recreational pleasure.

CHRIS BUCKETT, Thousand Oaks

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I beg to differ with the conclusion that the Hill Canyon multipurpose facility needs additional validation by the electorate.

In November 1998, the voters of Thousand Oaks went to the polls and voted for the people whom they are willing to trust to study the facts and make the decisions, such as this one. There is no tax burden to resolve or density problem to consider. There is only the deliberation of whether the long-term benefits of fiscal, recreational and environmental pluses outweigh any contribution the raw and neglected landscape that now prevails has to offer.

If every voter were compelled to read the 394-page environmental impact report, cover to cover, before he or she could vote, then maybe we could expect a reasoned and rational judgment and we would have no purpose for staff involvement or a joint powers authority decision or any official process. Until that scenario becomes practical, or possible, let’s stick with the constitutional, democratic principle of government by elective representation--as opposed to the confusion and chaos of Ballot Box Bingo. Time and time again, the latter method has resulted in an action the voter did not want or expect when he or she pulled the lever.

I am willing to place my confidence in the ability of our elected park board and City Council members to vote their convictions in this matter, based on the facts and data supplied to them. Do not compromise them with a meaningless “advisory” vote. Give them the breathing room to do the job we elected them for.

MARSHALL DIXON, Thousand Oaks

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Hill Canyon and Wildwood Regional Park are one of the last local, natural areas where we can take our children to show them the wonders of California. We’ve seen cougars roaming the hills there. What if we cut off their 300-mile radius? Would the cougars be attacking our children, as in other areas?

I understand the need for revenue. Perhaps we could do fewer projects like the copper monstrosity on the side of the Civic Arts Plaza.

I’ve lived in this area for 20 years and am very saddened when I have to tell my daughter that our city was much better before all of the growth.

LAURA SMITHKLINE, Thousand Oaks