THOUSAND OAKS : Panel Split on Gates for Housing Tract

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission has deadlocked 2-2 on whether to allow a group of residents to install gates at the entrances to their housing tract.

The proposal would have placed mechanically operated barriers on Bowfield Street at Westview Court and Cherry Creek Circle, limiting access into the Braemar Gardens development. Residents of the development requested the gates as a safety measure and to prevent vandalism.

Under the proposal, Blue Mountain Court, Roundtree Place, Westview Court and Cherry Creek Circle would have become private streets and thus maintained by the residents instead of the city.

Residents in 75 of the 79 duplexes in the tract supported the plan, according to homeowners association officials who spoke Monday during a three-hour discussion attended by about 50 people.

Planning Commissioner Mervyn Kopp voted against the gates, suggesting the residents first see if a Neighborhood Watch program would increase safety in the Westlake Village neighborhood. Commissioner Marilyn Carpenter also voted against the gates, while commissioners Forrest Frields and Irving Wasserman approved of the proposal. Commissioner Denise Filz was absent.

Some commissioners said approving the gates could set a precedent for other neighborhoods wanting to install gates.

Frank Paolino, president of the Braemar Gardens Homeowners Assn., said afterward that the residents will probably appeal the decision to the City Council within 20 days. The gates are estimated to cost $32,000 and would be paid for by the residents.

However, not all the residents were in favor of the idea.

“I have no desire to own the streets and I don’t want to live behind bars,” said Lorrette Weber.