Opposition to Broome Ranch Site

* Re “Thousand Oaks Broome Ranch Site for School Opposed,” Dec. 8.

Dan Del Campo’s proposal to build a middle school on Broome Ranch, our “protected” open space, is an outrage.

I realize the Broome Ranch purchase was before Del Campo’s tenure on the Thousand Oaks City Council, so maybe he doesn’t realize how much work went into saving it from the very thing he is proposing.

Possibly, our council member, who ran on a slow-growth platform, is just showing his true colors.

Even more outrageous is his attempt to bail Dos Vientos developers out of their obligation to build a K-8 school on Dos Vientos property, as written in the development agreement.

Wake up, Del Campo, and work for the citizens who elected you.

JOCELYN DE VAULT

Newbury Park

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When we purchased our view-lot home in the Estancia Development, which overlooks and is adjacent to the open space known as Broome Ranch, we were assured that the land south of Lynn Road was guaranteed open space and that the only possible improvements were an equestrian center, a golf course or a park. We have been in our house less than a year and we are already facing development pressure and broken promises. Not only will our view be impacted by the possible development of a middle school, but our access to and from our community will be adversely affected by the traffic congestion associated with a school. Additionally, the noise pollution from traffic, band and school functions will be severe.

We realize that more schools are needed. We had thought that a K-8 school was planned for the center of the Dos Vientos project. But it is our understanding that that commitment is being excused in favor of the developer creating more market-level homes. There are other school solutions, but part of the council seems to view this one as preferable because it is the greatest benefit to the developers.

We have three children, ages 13, 10 and 7, who would obviously benefit from a new middle school. However, it was never our intention to live next to a school. If we wanted to do so, we could have saved ourselves a lot of money and moved next to the site where it was supposed to be developed.

ROBERT and

LINNEA WENTWORTH

Thousand Oaks