Housing Project Changes Approved

Despite protests from more than two dozen residents, the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission approved more changes to the embattled Dos Vientos Ranch development.

In a 3-2 vote, the commission late Monday approved a request by Courtly Homes, one of the project’s two developers, to build 208 single-family homes in a tract initially planned for 244 attached duplexes--or 122 two-unit buildings. “It appears this is unquestionably a better project than what was planned,� commission Chairman Forrest Frields said. “Is it the best? I don’t know.�

The changes are intended to take advantage of an ordinance approved earlier this year by the City Council that allowed such modifications in so-called “in-fill� lots--those substantially surrounded by existing or approved developments.

But several critics said the tract in question did not qualify as an in-fill project.

Commissioner Marilyn Carpenter, who along with Commissioner Linda Parks voted against the changes, said the intent of the council when it approved the ordinance was that it should apply only to older, established areas.

Critics also accused Chuck Cohen, an attorney for Courtly Homes who was on the committee that drafted the in-fill ordinance, with attempting to twist the law to benefit his client. “The Dos Vientos project in no way fits the criteria for an in-fill project,� said Joy Meade, a Thousand Oaks resident. “Mr. Cohen . . . should know that because he and others with real estate interests wrote the law.�

The commission also approved another request by Courtly Homes to certify an environmental impact report and a tract modification to comply with requirements to preserve wetlands along the Conejo Mountain Creek.

Only three commissioners were present to review the report, which they did not discuss until after 11 p.m. Parks left earlier in the evening because of illness. With no one from the public present because of the late hour, Carpenter left in protest.

“I just felt it was unfortunate the commission would begin a hearing on such an important project when there were no members of the public present,� Carpenter said.