Industrial Area Now Set Aside for Housing

Despite protests from several surrounding companies, the Thousand Oaks City Council has changed the city’s blueprint for growth, allowing apartments to be built in an area of Newbury Park previously set aside for industrial uses.

Council members voted 3 to 1 to allow the change. Councilwoman Elois Zeanah cast the lone vote against the plan. City planners had recommended the change, saying the apartments would provide a needed “buffer zone” between the industrial firms and nearby single-family homes.

Shapell Industries of Beverly Hills is planning to build about 108 apartments on about six acres at the southeast corner of Lawrence Drive and Rancho Conejo Boulevard. The City Council would still have to approve a specific development proposal before the project could move forward.

Earlier this year, the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission voted 2 to 2--a “no action” vote--on whether to amend the land-use portion of the city’s General Plan for the development.

Nearby companies protested the possible incursion of apartments into their industrial zone, saying the noise, traffic and heavy equipment from their businesses made the area unsuitable for habitation.

Several company representatives also said they feared residents would complain about the industries after moving in, thus forcing the plants out. They also said they would like the area to remain industrial so they have room to expand, and stay in Newbury Park should they grow.

“We would hate to come to a point where, God forbid, we would have to leave Thousand Oaks,” said Michael Casanova, controller for Vivitar Corp.

Mayor Andy Fox and Councilwoman Judy Lazar said that in this instance, it made sense to change the General Plan because most planning guidelines suggest some kind of buffer between industrial parks and single-family homes.