Thousand Oaks City Council
July 11, 2023

Public Draft
June 2, 2023

THOUSAND OAKS
- rooted in community -
GE N E R A L P L A N 2 0 4 5
ATTACHMENT #1

THOUSAND OAKS
- rooted in community -
GENE R A L P L A N 20 4 5
Public Draft
June 2, 2023
City of Thousand Oaks
2045 General Plan
City Council
Kevin McNamee, Mayor
Al Adam, Mayor Pro Tem
Bob Engler
David Newman
Mikey Taylor
Planning Commission
Sharon McMahon, Chair
Justin Link
Mic Farris
Marcella Tyler Ketelhut
Don Lanson
General Plan
Advisory Committee
Alicia Rincon
Amy Commans
Andy Fox
Chaise Rasheed
Dr. Chris Kimball
Darren Bovard
Dena Jenson
Dustin Woomer
Emily Dale
Fred Fukunaga
Jacqueline Emanuel
Jennifer Lobenhofer
Dr. Karen Gorback
Ken Lamont
Laura Behjan
Mic Farris*
Michael Nigh
Nicholas Reale
Patrick DuRoss
Paul Shrater
Rorie Skei
Tara Carruth
Dr. Victor Hayek
Wyatt McCrea
*Denotes former member
City Staff
Executive Team
Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
Tracy M. Noonan, City Attorney
Ingrid Hardy,
Assistant City Manager
Kelvin Parker,
Community Development Director
Alexandra South,
Strategic Communications and
Public Affairs Director
Jaime Boscarino,
Finance Director
Jonathan Serret,
Cultural Affairs Director
Clifford G. Finley,
Public Works Director
Tim Giles,
Human Resources Director
Jennifer Patterson,
Library Services Director
Lead Staff
Krystin Rice, Senior Planner
Iain Holt, AICP, Senior Planner
Supporting Staff
Nader Heydari,
Deputy Public Works
Director/City Engineer
Dr. Helen Cox,
Sustainability Division Manager
Dusty Russell,
Economic Development Analyst
Lynn Oshita,
Community Development Analyst
Tabitha McAtee, Assistant Planner
Jim Mashiko, Senior Engineer
Mark Bueno, Associate Engineer
Mohammad Fatemi,
Engineering Division Manager
Mary Anne Van Zyle, GIS Analyst
Cathy Jansen,
Community Development Analyst
Haider Alawami,
Economic Development Manager
Jesse DeAnda, Building Official
Jim Taylor, Sr. Engineer
John Minkel,
Deputy Public Works
Director/Operations
Acknowledgements
4 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Grahame Watts,
Emergency Program
Administrator
Mike Houser,
Transit Program Manager
John Brooks, Senior Analyst
Patrick Hehir,
Chief Assistant City Attorney
Consultant Team
Raimi + Associates
Matt Raimi
Simran Malhotra
Walker Wells
Melissa Stark
Juan Reynoso
Meghan McNulty
Sami Taylor
Wenhao Wu
Christian Ledezma
Rincon Consultants
Joe Power
Matt Maddox
Lexi Journey
Iteris
Viggen Davidian
Deepak Kaushik
Nelson Nygaard
Meghan Weir
Zachary Zabel
Veronica Tam and Associates
Veronica Tam
Alexis Bueno
HR&A Advisors
Amitabh Barthakur
Garrett Rapsilber
Cultural Planning Group
David Plettner-Saunders
Linda Flynn
Majestic oaks dot the hillsides and symbolize a city rooted in community Special Appreciation
In addition to the names listed, the City of Thousand Oaks wishes to extend its gratitude to the contributions of city staff, residents, stakeholders, businesses, and community leaders for their participation in the Thousand Oaks 2045 General Plan Update. Additionally, the City wishes to thank the contributions of the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, Conejo Recreation and Park District, Ventura County Fire Protection District, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. 5 9
155
179
23 33
39 81
105
129
CH.1
Introduction
CH.8
Community Facilities
and Services
CH.2
Process
CH.9
Arts and Culture
CH.3
Vision and
Guiding Principles
CH.4
Land Use
CH.5
Mobility
CH.6
Parks and Open Space
CH.7
Conservation
Contents
193
CH.10
Safety
6 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
219 261
231
243
CH.11
Noise
CH.12
Governance

APPENDIX A
Public Health and Equity Existing Conditions
Under Separate Cover

APPENDIX B
Emergency Evacuation Analysis
Under Separate Cover
CH.13
Implementation
CH.14
Glossary
7 This page intentionally left blank.
8 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION
Introduction | 9
Overview of Chapter
In 2019, the City Council initiated a process to update the Thousand Oaks General Plan. This General Plan is the first comprehensive update since the City prepared its original General Plan in 1970. Over a four-year period, the City led a robust engagement effort to identify a long-term vision, goals, and strategies that will enable Thousand Oaks to protect the aspects that residents cherish most—the natural open spaces that surround the City, family-friendly neighborhoods, diversity of jobs, and high-quality public facilities and services—while allowing the City to evolve to meet changing social, market, and environmental conditions. The updated General Plan serves as the “blueprint” for the City and directs all decisions related to land use and the City’s physical form through the year 2045.

This chapter outlines the regulatory requirements of general plans, provides background information about Thousand Oaks, describes the organization of the General Plan, and provides information on how to use the General Plan.

Gateway signs welcome residents and visitors to the City of Thousand Oaks Natural open spaces in Thousand Oaks provide recreation amenities for residents 10 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Background
Thousand Oaks’ regional location, history, and community values are important factors that influence what the City is today. Below, contextual factors about Thousand Oaks set the stage for responding to future challenges and opportunities throughout the General Plan.

What Makes Thousand Oaks
Unique and Special?
Arguably the most defining feature of Thousand Oaks is the ring of green open space that encompasses the City. Attracting residents and visitors alike, Thousand Oaks is uniquely situated at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Conejo Valley, providing mountain views across town. The City’s location, favorable year-round weather, and close proximity to numerous outdoor recreation opportunities provide an ideal environment to support active lifestyles for persons of all ages and interests. Hiking and horseback riding trails, cycling routes, neighborhood sidewalks, and a vast array of other amenities not only serve our residents but also provide training opportunities for professional and amateur athletes.

As the name suggests, Thousand Oaks is home to several varieties of native Oak trees. The City and its engaged residents have conscientiously sought to protect existing Oaks throughout the City in an effort to preserve Thousand Oaks’ majestic landscape. Oak trees offer both shade and comfort for pedestrians, enhance community character, and provide climate benefits across the City. In addition to its natural environment, Thousand Oaks is well-known for its top-performing public schools and public services. Many young families are drawn to the City for its educational opportunities, celebrated library system, and abundance of public parks. The Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) is frequently recognized with many Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished Schools awards, as well as for its honors and advanced class offerings.

While Thousand Oaks is home to nearly 125,000 people, residents routinely praise the City’s small-town feel and rich sense of community.

Known as a quiet, tight-knit suburban community, Thousand Oaks residents feel respite from the hustle and bustle of the nearby San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles basin, while still enjoying many benefits of proximity to both activity hubs. Citywide events including the annual Rotary Club Chili Cook-off, Conejo Valley Days, and California Lutheran University Scandinavian Festival, along with weekly farmers markets and Civic Arts Plaza performances, offer opportunities for social gatherings and community interaction.

Thousand Oaks residents are active volunteers in the community and participants in local government. They frequently engage on important topics affecting the City, such as sustainability and climate resilience, arts and culture, disability access and services, and housing affordability. Many residents participate in community-led organizations and coalitions and are active on media and social media platforms, including writing weekly letters to the editor which are published in the neighborhood newspaper.

As made abundantly clear throughout the General Plan community engagement process, participants cherish the unique features that make Thousand Oaks a special place to call home.

Introduction | 11
Location and Geography
The City of Thousand Oaks is located in the southeast region of Ventura County in southern California and encompasses 56 square miles, as shown in Figure 1.1. It is located in the Conejo Valley, surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains to the south, Conejo Mountain to the west, Mountclef Ridge to the north, and the Simi Hills to the east. It is about 40 miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles and about 50 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Much of the City is defined by single-family residential neighborhoods with schools, public parks, and smaller retail shopping centers dispersed throughout.

The outer edges of the City consist of protected open space that offer many recreational access points. The City’s namesake corridor, Thousand Oaks Boulevard, offers over three miles of retail, services, entertainment, and civic-related uses that stretch into the neighboring cities of Westlake Village and Agoura Hills. The Boulevard, which runs parallel to Highway 101, is home to the City’s major commercial centers, including The Oaks Shopping Center, nearby Janss Marketplace, and the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall. Industrial and employment-heavy uses are focused on each end of the City near the Highway 101 corridor at Rancho Conejo, Townsgate Road, and Lakeview Canyon Road.

This General Plan includes regulatory maps and policies for land within City limits and land within the City of Thousand Oaks’ Sphere of Influence (SOI), referred to throughout the General Plan as the “planning area.” This planning area differs slightly from the City’s 1997 General Plan Land Use Map, which included a larger portion of land outside City Limits. Figure 1.2 illustrates these boundaries in red (Planning Area) and black (city limit only).

The Planning Area covers about 37,400 acres, of which about 35,500 acres are within City limits, and about 1,900 acres are in unincorporated Ventura County. There are four clusters of “County Islands,” which are unincorporated areas surrounded by the City on all sides. The four County Island clusters include Casa Conejo, Ventu Park, Rolling Oaks, and Lynn Ranch. Aerial view of Thousand Oaks and city hall 12 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
¤£101
¤£101
£¤101
UV23
0 2 4 8 Miles
P a c i f i c O c e a n
Ventura
County
°
Los Angeles
County
Raimi + Associates 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles School
City of
Thousand Oaks
Unincorporated Counties Land
City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Adjacent Cities
County Line
Figure 1.1 Regional Location
Introduction | 13
Westlake Lake
Erbes Rd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd
W Hillcrest Dr
N Westlake Bl
W Lynn Rd
S Westlake Bl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan Rd
N Moorpark Rd
E Janss Rd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
Sunset H ills Bl
S Reino Rd
Avenida De Los Arboles
Hillcres t Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Hampshire Rd
O ld Conejo Rd
Via Las Brisas
W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
W Avenida De Los Arboles
Thousand Oaks Bl
Westlake Bl
W Wilbur Rd
Janss Rd
Agoura Rd
Camino Dos Rios
Rancho Dos Vientos
Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
ErbesRd
Westlake Bl
Avenida
Pederson Rd
DeLas Flores
Gainsborough Rd
Potrero Rd
101
101
101
101
23 23
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles Unincorporated Counties Land
City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Parks and Open Space Adjacent Cities
Lynn
Ranch
Ventu
Park
Casa
Conejo
Rolling
Oaks
Figure 1.2 Planning Area
14 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
History of Development
in Thousand Oaks
The area now known as Thousand Oaks was first settled by Chumash Indians. The first recorded permanent settlement was in 1875, when James Starr Newbury constructed a post office. Soon after, settlers built the Stagecoach Inn and the original Timber School. These structures were built along El Camino Real (later Highway 101), which served as a transportation corridor for people traveling between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The rest of Thousand Oaks was left in its natural state or used for ranching. By 1950, development in Thousand Oaks was mostly limited to a small, walkable area around El Camino Real.

Development rapidly accelerated in the 1950s and the 1960s. The construction of the Ventura Freeway (Highway 101) provided Thousand Oaks with convenient vehicular connections to the greater Los Angeles area. Thousand Oaks began to transform, with subdivision development emanating outward from Highway 101 and along Moorpark Road.

Shopping centers, industrial parks, schools, and places of worship arose alongside residential development. California Lutheran University, a major employer in the community, was founded in 1959 and opened its doors to students in 1961.

Most development has been in the form of residential subdivisions, with a few notable exceptions. The biotechnology company Amgen started in 1980 in a modest office in Thousand Oaks, and by 1995 had expanded to a 105-acre campus in the Rancho Conejo Industrial Park. Other biotechnology companies have since clustered near Amgen alongside Highway 101. The State Route 23 freeway was completed by 1981, giving residents and commuters access to Moorpark and Simi Valley.

The City’s Civic Arts Plaza opened in 1994, with a performing arts center and City offices on Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

The City’s boundaries have changed significantly since its incorporation in 1964. Several Specific Plans, including the Lang Ranch, Dos Vientos, Rancho Conejo, and Rancho Potrero Specific Plans planned for areas to be annexed into the City. Thousand Oaks’ rate of growth has slowed considerably since the mid-twentieth century due to open space preservation and lack of remaining developable land, but it continues to change gradually over time as property owners develop in-fill projects or redevelop land.

Herding sheep on Thousand Oaks Boulevard at Moorpark Road, 1965 Introduction | 15
Demographic Snapshot
The following provides some basic facts and figures about the demographics of Thousand Oaks.

Percent White alone
(not Hispanic or Latino)
Percent Hispanic/Latino
Asian
Black or African
American
Other

64.9%

19.4%

9.8%

1.7% 4.2%
Total Housing Units1
47,508
Median Income
$113,942
24% 28% 28% 20%
19 and
Under
20–44 45–64 65+
Poverty Rate

6.6%
Total Jobs2
64,327
Jobs to Housing Units3

1.31 : 1
Homeownership3
70%
Housing and Jobs
Race and Ethnicity3
Age Breakdown3
Income3
Total Population3
2010
126,683
2022
124,265
Change 2010–2021: -2,418
SOLD

1. Dwelling units = UrbanFootprint (2020)

2. https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/

3. U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts, City of Thousand Oaks. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/thousandoakscitycalifornia 16 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
What is a General Plan?
A General Plan is a city policy document required by California state law (Government Code §65300-65303.4) that provides a “long term, comprehensive, integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement” of goals and policies that reflect local conditions and the community vision. Within this broad requirement, some aspects of the General Plan are tightly prescribed, while others are left to the discretion of individual cities or counties. State law requires that a General Plan address eight mandatory subject areas, or “elements” including, land use, circulation, housing, open space, conservation, noise, safety, and environmental justice. The elements may be combined in any way a jurisdiction deems appropriate and additional topics, such as arts and culture, may be added to help guide a city into the future.

Historic Timber School Thousand Oaks Boulevard realigned, 1967 Introduction | 17
Plan Organization and Content
The Thousand Oaks 2045 General Plan is presented in 14 chapters, comprised of the State-mandated elements and additional optional chapters as listed below. Government Code §65301 allows the General Plan to “be adopted in any format deemed appropriate or convenient by the legislative body, including the combining of elements.” Consequently, some elements of this General Plan rely upon policies or information in other chapters in fulfilling the individual element’s statutory requirements described above.

Chapter 2: Process
This chapter provides an overview of the process timeline and community engagement activities that took place over the course of the Plan update.

Chapter 3: Vision and Guiding Principles
This chapter describes the driving factors and reoccurring themes. It includes a vision statement, community values, and major strategies.

Chapter 4: Land Use
This Element designates the general distribution, location, and extent of residential, commercial, industrial, public facility, and other public or private land uses. It creates citywide policies around the topics of neighborhood preservation, employment areas, commercial and retail areas, and sustainable buildings. It also includes goals and policies for specific geographic areas of the City. The Land Use Element also addresses State requirements for Environmental Justice, including the identification of Disadvantaged Communities (low-income areas with disproportionate pollution and health burdens) and policies and programs designed to address these issues.

Chapter 5: Mobility
This Element, which meets the State requirements of the Circulation Element, is closely correlated to the Land Use Element and identifies the general location and extent of existing and proposed roads, trails, transit, and bikeways. It also includes roadway network standards that will result in a balanced, multi-modal transportation network that meets the needs of all users including vehicles, bikes, pedestrians, trucks, and transit vehicles.

Chapter 6: Parks and Open Space
This Element details plans for Thousand Oaks’ parks and open space system. It addresses facilities, partnerships, management, and maintenance and plans for how to preserve, enhance, and expand Thousand Oaks’ natural open spaces. The Element addresses all topics in the State-required Open Space Element.

Chapter 7: Conservation
This Element addresses the preservation and conservation of natural resources, including scenic landforms, geology and paleontology, water resources, biological resources, air quality, and cultural and historic resources. It also addresses climate change and resilience.

Chapter 8: Community Facilities and Services
This Element provides goals and policies for the sustainability of the water supply and distribution system, sanitary sewer system, drainage and water quality facilities, and solid waste disposal. It also addresses planning for public safety, schools, and other public, civic, and service facilities including libraries, city hall, the civic center and health care facilities. The Element covers some topics required in other elements including infrastructure (Mobility) and water conservation (Conservation). 18 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 9: Arts and Culture
This optional Element details goals and policies to expand the City’s commitment to performing and visual arts and cultural events in Thousand Oaks.

Chapter 10: Safety
This Element establishes policies to protect the community from risks associated with natural and manmade hazards, such as seismic, fire hazards, flooding, as well as exposure to hazardous materials. It also addresses the potential impacts of climate change on Thousand Oaks.

Chapter 11: Noise
This Element identifies current and potential future sources of noise.

The required Element provides goals and strategies necessary to protect the community from excessive noise levels.

Chapter 12: Governance
This optional Element outlines how the City government functions and is organized. It also describes goals and commitments related to fiscal sustainability, transparency and accountability, equity, and community engagement.

Chapter 13: Implementation
This optional chapter contains all implementation actions for each element within the General Plan. The chapters includes a matrix of programs, specifying the priority, timing, and parties responsible for carrying out implementation.

Chapter 14: Glossary
This chapter includes definitions of terms used in the General Plan.

Housing Element
The Housing Element (under separate cover) assesses current and projected housing needs and establishes policies and programs for improving housing and providing adequate housing for all income levels.

The Housing Element was last adopted on January 25, 2022.

Community members enjoy evening concerts in the park
Introduction | 19
How to Use the General Plan
The General Plan is intended to be used by all members of the community, city staff and partnering agencies, and decision-makers.

Each chapter begins with a brief overview of the contents followed by a summary of the State requirements. Some chapters provide discussion for the topic, often by summarizing existing conditions in the City at the time that the General Plan was developed, followed by a list of issues and opportunities. Each chapter concludes with goals and policies that direct action by the City to implement the vision and follow the guiding principles of the City.

Goals and Policies
• Goals are an overarching statement that describes an overall vision and direction for the community. Goals are broad in both purpose and aim but are designed to establish direction and outcomes. • Policies are specific “position statements” that support the achievement of goals and serve as guides to the City. City staff also reference policies when reviewing development proposals and making other decisions. Policies seek to achieve the goals by encouraging or permitting certain behaviors that are not mandatory or where total implementation may not be possible. To remain flexible in the future, language used to describe this intent includes verbs like encourage, attract, incentivize, explore, consider, and promote.

Environmental Justice
Through the adoption of Senate Bill 1000 (Gov. Code § 65040.12, subd. (e).), The Planning for Healthy Communities Act, the state of California recognizes that environmental justice disparities are a threat to overall quality of life. California law mandates that jurisdictions currently updating two or more elements of their General Plan identify disadvantaged communities, promote engagement of disadvantaged community stakeholders in the public decision-making process, and adopt either an environmental justice element or integrate environmental justice policies throughout the General Plan to help identify and reduce risks by prioritizing improvements and programs in communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards.

Rather than a standalone environmental justice chapter, the City has considered environmental justice policies in every aspect of design for the future and integrated them throughout the General Plan.

Environmental Sustainability
The City has a longstanding reputation as an environmental leader due to its many programs aimed at reducing waste, energy consumption, and water usage that address important topics of concern such as climate change. Advancement of environmental sustainability remains important to the community, and thus is integrated into policies across each chapter of the General Plan.

Implementation
Chapter 13 of the General Plan is Implementation. The Implementation Chapter is the workplan of actions that the City must undertake to execute the goals and policies within the General Plan. These actions are specific activities that will be completed at a specific time or at a regular interval and include the responsible party and timeframe. Not every goal or policy within the General Plan will have an implementation action; instead, many policies require ongoing efforts that are not specifically dependent on a single mobilizing action.

Note to Reader
Policies marked with this icon are related to sustainability.

Policies marked with this icon are related to health, equity, and environmental justice. 20 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Review and Maintenance
The General Plan will be implemented over the next several decades through implementation of its goals, policies, and programs. However, as the community’s needs, challenges, and opportunities evolve over time, the General Plan must change, and it may become necessary to amend specific policies and implementation actions over time.

State law recommends annual reviews of implementation actions and recommends that the entire General Plan be thoroughly reviewed every five years to ensure it is consistent with the community’s goals. State law further requires the Housing Element be reviewed and updated every eight years.

Supporting Documents
The Existing Conditions Reports, which documented the state of Thousand Oaks at the beginning of the General Plan update process, provided a framework for establishing a vision of the future and engagement with the public. These reports and existing information about the City are incorporated by reference, but not included in the General Plan. These documents can be found on the City’s website (https://www.toaks.org/departments/community-development/ planning/general-plan).

Library patrons participating in 40th anniversary activity Introduction | 21
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22 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 2
Process
Process | 23
Overview of Chapter
This chapter of the General Plan describes the process that led to the development of the Thousand Oaks 2045 General Plan, including major phases of the Plan and a summary of community engagement activities.

Pop up workshop for the General Plan General Plan Advisory Committee Meeting land use mapping exercise, December 2019 General Plan Community Workshop #1, September 2019
24 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
General Plan Update Process
The General Plan update process consisted of five phases, commencing in Summer of 2019 and concluding in Fall 2023. The following provides an overview of the phases and timeline, as well as sources of community input that informed and inspired the contents of this document:

1. Existing Conditions.

The first phase of the process focused on assessing current conditions and policies in the City to gain a better understanding of the key issues, community assets, and future opportunities and trends. This resulted in the development of a series of Existing Conditions Technical Background Reports.

2. Listening and Visioning.

Community input was gathered in the second phase through community workshops, committee meetings, stakeholders’ interviews, and focus groups informing the development of a long-term vision and guiding principles for the General Plan.

3. Policy Development and Plan Alternatives.

For the third phase, the General Plan Advisory Committee held topic-specific meetings and provided high-level direction on goals and policies for the elements of the General Plan. This phase also involved a series of community meetings to evaluate three land use map alternatives. Community input on the alternatives helped to produce a new preferred land use map. This map depicts the future intended use of every parcel in the City and was endorsed by City Council in May 2021.

4. Plan Development.

During the fourth phase, the new General Plan language was drafted.

Several meetings between City departments, outside agencies and the consultant team were held to refine the draft. This phase also involved the preparation of the Public Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), completed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

5. Review and Adoption.

The fifth and final phase of the General plan update process involved release of both the Draft General Plan and Draft EIR for public review and comment. This final phase of the process also included additional community workshops, City Council and Planning Commission study sessions, and public hearings. The final product is the Final General Plan and Final EIR.

Process | 25
Figure 2.1 General Plan Process
26 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Community Engagement
Community engagement has been foundational for how the City plans for its future since the preparation of its first General Plan in 1970.

While the preparation of this General Plan is no different, the City has evolved since the 1970s and greatly expanded its engagement efforts to be inclusive and comprehensive in informing City planning.

Engagement was intentionally inclusive of the diversity of persons and groups that make up the City’s population, including but not limited to longtime residents, new residents, seniors, youth, neighborhood groups, and businesses. A variety of engagement activities were conducted including General Plan Advisory Committee meetings, community workshops, online surveys, interactive mapping exercises, and neighborhood meetings. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic occurring midway through the process, community engagement activities shifted to online meeting platforms. Interactive surveys, features of the project website, and social media platforms were used extensively to expand awareness. Whenever possible, meetings included live Spanish translation and materials were provided in both English and Spanish.

Some of the highlights of the community engagement effort are below.

For additional details see the separate document titled, “Community Engagement Summary and Reference Materials.”
General Plan Advisory
Committee (GPAC)
The City formed a twenty-four-member General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to provide high-level direction to staff and the consultant team on the Plan’s guiding principles and core values, plan elements and topics, land use direction, and the Public Draft General Plan. The GPAC was comprised of residents, business owners, educators, students, and other members of the Thousand Oaks community at different stages of life and with different technical and professional expertise. All 15 meetings were open to the public to observe, comment, and participate in activities. Input from both the GPAC and the public helped guide each step of the General Plan update process.

Inclusive Engagement
The engagement process was inclusive of Spanish speakers and individuals generally under-represented in local government by providing live Spanish translation, materials were available in Spanish and English, surveys and materials were hand delivered upon request, and separate discussions were held with Spanish speakers, seniors, and others without internet access.

In person GPAC meeting at City Hall
Process | 27
Community Workshops
Three interactive workshops were held around key phases of the planning process, primarily during the listening and visioning and plan alternatives phase. These consisted of a visioning workshop, review of land use alternatives, and selection of the preferred land use alternative.

Activities included breakout group discussions on visioning themes and values, mapping exercises, and interactive live polling to gather input from workshop participants.

Small group discussion at the General Plan Workshop on September 12, 2019 Interactive exercise at General Plan Community Workshop #1 on September 12, 2019 28 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Pop-up Workshops
To meet with community members at times and locations convenient for everyone, and to solicit feedback from members of the community who may not seek out opportunities for engagement, pop-up workshops were held at local businesses, with youth groups, and at popular and well-attended events throughout the City. Eleven pop-up workshops were held during the visioning, plan alternatives, and the review and adopt phases.

Community Forums
Two community forums (October 2, 2019 and January 29, 2020) were hosted to delve deeper into key topics and share insights on best practices for land use, circulation, development changes, and market trends affecting Thousand Oaks and the region. The first forum speaker led a discussion on developing a vision for a happy livable city, and connecting the built environment, such as the design of streets and buildings with measures of happiness and connecting the community.

The second forum speaker led a discussion on the relationship between the impacts of development patterns and community economic health.

Interactive exercise at a pop-up workshop at the Rotary Fair Thousand Oaks youth vision drawings at Civic Arts Plaza 25th Anniversary on October 13, 2019 Community forum #2 with Joe Minicozzi Interactive exercise with Thousand Oaks High School - Youth Latino Leadership Class Process | 29
Surveys
Surveys were conducted in most phases of the update process to guide engagement activities and future outreach. The Issues and Opportunities survey (September 2019 until January 2020) gathered community members’ feedback on what makes Thousand Oaks unique, visioning themes, and issues and opportunities facing the City.

The Prioritization of Community Values survey (February 2020 to May 2020) asked respondents to prioritize their values and issues facing the City. An interactive mapping tool was also used. This tool allowed community members to drop pins on a virtual map of Thousand Oaks showing where they would like to see new development and types of uses (e.g., residential, commercial, mixed-use, etc.).

The City’s statistically reliable Community Attitude Survey (July 2020) was designed to solicit feedback and better understand residents’ satisfactions, priorities, and concerns as they relate to land use, housing, and homelessness.

Two land use alternative surveys (February 2021 to March 2021 and April 2021 to May 2021) were conducted to solicit feedback on the three land use alternatives and the preferred land use map.

Stakeholder Interviews
and Focus Groups
At the beginning of the process one-on-one interviews were conducted with stakeholders consisting of industry leaders, educational entities, property owners, and community-based organizations to better understand the issues and opportunities in the City. Additional interviews were held to discuss the Arts and Culture Element. Two economic development focus group sessions were held to solicit feedback from key stakeholders on existing conditions and to identify local economic strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. In addition, a focus group was convened to discuss and address social equity and justice in March of 2021.

Example of MapQuest survey results
30 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Example of General Plan branded materials
Community Outreach
The community was reached using a variety of methods, including a Citywide mailer sent to residents in all wastewater bills, City newsletters, City webpage postings, email blasts, paid advertisements in The Acorn and VC Star, and through emails and presentations to homeowners’ associations, and community organizations, as well as businesses.

The City created a website (toaks2045.org) to educate the community about the General Plan update process, provide updates, post documents, and included several interactive features during all phases of the process. Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook were also used extensively to educate the public, promote events, and direct the larger community to the project website for more information and opportunities to get involved in the decision-making process.

In total, the General Plan update outreach facilitated the receipt of input from community members through more than 90 outreach events and activities, and online surveys and virtual meetings, which generated nearly half a million digital impressions through website and social media views.

City Council and Planning
Commission Updates
Study sessions were held for City Council and Planning Commission periodically throughout the General Plan update process to provide updates on important project milestones and to discuss a variety of topics.

Meetings and events listed in this chapter are current through the release of the Public Draft General Plan (June 2023). Additional community engagement will take place prior to the completion of the General Plan process. This chapter will be updated prior to the final approval of the General Plan to reflect the additional community engagement.

Process | 31
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32 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 3
Vision and Guiding Principles
Ch.3 Vision and Guiding Principles | 33
Overview of this Chapter
This chapter of the General Plan describes the driving factors and recurring themes throughout TO2045, including the Plan’s vision statement, community values, and major strategies.

Vision
The City of Thousand Oaks has been recognized as, and is committed to being, one of the most desirable places in all California to live, work, recreate, and raise a family. The vision for this General Plan embodies this statement:
“Thousand Oaks—surrounded by a ring of open space and
varieties of mature, native oak trees—is a tight-knit community where people of all ages, stages of life, and backgrounds can thrive in a suburban, family-friendly environment. Its high quality of life is supported by award-winning public schools and services, extensive parks and recreation offerings, worldrenowned arts and culture facilities and programs, and biotech and emerging technology businesses. Residents and visitors alike value the safe, welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.” Accordingly, this General Plan lays out a series of guiding principles to chart a path forward. The intent is to build upon the City’s success and continue to create a family-friendly community with a wide variety of housing, recreation, arts and culture, entertainment, and employment opportunities accessible to everyone.
“Fishing Frenzy” event in Thousand Oaks
34 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Guiding Principles
At the heart of the General Plan are the guiding principles, which are comprised of two parts – community values and major strategies. They describe the key values of the community today and aspirations for how the City will achieve its vision between now and 2045.

Community Values
A good general plan is based on a community’s values and incorporates diverse input from its people, businesses, organizations, and community groups. The City actively sought such input during initial phases of the engagement process, which included community workshops, pop-up workshops, surveys, the General Plan Advisory Committee, and City Council.

The following list is the result of this engagement process and represents what the community has defined as characteristic values of the Thousand Oaks community. The following values are embedded throughout this General Plan.

1. A family-friendly community with a high-quality of life accessible to all.

2. An inclusive and welcoming community that embraces ethnic, racial, age, gender, disabled and special needs, sexual orientation, religion, and economic diversity.

3. High-quality parks, public facilities, and services.

4. The protection of open spaces, oak trees, and natural beauty and habitat.

5. A suburban community that is easy to get around, and where you can live, work, shop, and play.

6. The ability to live in the City regardless of income, stage in life, or disability.

7. A recognition that the community will evolve over time and change is inevitable.

8. Safe and convenient mobility options.

9. A diverse and resilient economy.

10. High-quality schools, including public/private schools and institutions of higher education.

11. A community devoted to arts and culture.

12. A safe and healthy community.

13. A City that recognizes its role as a leader in the Conejo Valley, Ventura County, and the Southern California region.

14. A leader in climate change and environmental sustainability.

15. An active and involved community.

Youth events exemplify the City’s commitment to being a family-friendly community Ch.3 Vision and Guiding Principles | 35
Major Strategies
To successfully implement the vision and uphold the community’s values, the General Plan includes a series of strategies to be implemented over the next several decades. These strategies serve as a guidepost for the development and refinement of the goals, policies, and actions across this General Plan and are mapped in Figure 3.1.

1. Maintain the “ring of green” open space at the outer edges of the City to provide a physical separation from adjacent communities, beautiful vistas, and a connection with nature.

2. Preserve and expand the existing urban forest, especially oak trees, through tree preservation and the significant addition of new trees.

3. Enhance visual gateways to the City with iconic architecture, open spaces, and monument signs.

4. Expand the existing network of parks and trails so that all residents are within a short walk of a park, trail, or other open space.

5. Preserve and enhance single-family and multifamily neighborhoods as low-scale, family-friendly, and safe places to live. Recognize that the majority of residential neighborhoods will experience minimal change over the time horizon of the General Plan.

6. Create a new “downtown core” for the City near the Civic Arts Plaza.

7. Revitalize underutilized land and opportunity areas (including the malls, older shopping centers, and Thousand Oaks Boulevard) with a diverse mix of uses including residential.

8. Expand the number and types of entertainment options.

9. Create “village centers” throughout the community that provide retail and services, gathering places, and multifamily housing.

10. Expand the number and diversity of jobs in biotech, healthcare, and education, and attract new jobs and businesses to the City to create a balanced and economically resilient economy.

11. Continue to engage California Lutheran University and Los Robles Regional Medical Center as community stakeholders.

12. Create a diversity of housing types and affordability levels, including mixed-use and multifamily development.

13. Establish a human-scaled network of complete streets that includes enhanced bicycle, pedestrian, and transit networks.

14. Expand the high-quality, diversity, and accessibility of public facilities and services, focusing on youth, seniors, and residents with special needs.

15. Take steps to protect the City against future natural or humancaused disasters, including earthquakes and wildfires, and develop resilience plans to respond to such events.

16. Meet or exceed State-established targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy use, water use, and recycling.

17. Maintain long-term fiscal sustainability by increasing revenues through land use and other policy changes.

Multi-family housing development in Thousand Oaks
36 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles Adjacent Cities
Priority Areas
Employment
CLU and Los Robles Hospital
Unincorporated
Counties Land
City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Residential Neighborhoods
Parks
Village Center
Monument Signage
6 Downtown Core
9 3
1 11
12 10
5 The numbered circles correspond to the vision strategies: Base Map 4 Open Space
1&4
3 5
6 7
9 10
11 12
Erbes Rd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd
W Hillcrest Dr
N Westlake Bl
W Lynn Rd
S Westlake Bl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan Rd
N Moorpark Rd
E Janss Rd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
Sunset Hills Bl
S Reino Rd
E Avenida De Los Arboles
E Hillcrest Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Hampshire Rd
Old Conejo Rd
Via Las Brisas
W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
W Avenida De Los Arboles
Thousand Oaks Bl
Westlake Bl
W Wilbur Rd
W Janss Rd
Agoura Rd
Camino Dos Rios
Rancho Dos Vientos
S Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
23 23
101
101
101
101
Figure 3.1 Vision Map
Ch.3 Vision and Guiding Principles | 37
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38 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 4
Land Use
Land Use | 39
Overview of Chapter
The Land Use Element describes and defines the distinct types of places that the City aims to create to achieve the community’s vision.

Collectively with the Mobility, Parks and Open Space, Conservation, Housing, and Community Facilities and Services Elements, this chapter defines how buildings and public spaces should shape Thousand Oaks in the future. The focus of this Element is to accommodate and plan for necessary change, comply with existing and new State regulations, and modernize the City, while preserving and enhancing unique features that attribute to the high-quality of life Thousand Oaks is known for.

Land Use also impacts livability, equity, and community health, which are included as important issues addressed in this Element. Goals and policies that serve to guide and direct long-term planning for land use in the City are provided at the end of this chapter. Topics covered in this Element include:
• Statutory Requirements
• Thousand Oaks Existing Land Uses
• Health and Environmental Justice
• Issues and Opportunities
• General Plan Land Use Designations
• Goals and Policies
Low density housing and views of the hills dominate the character of Thousand Oaks 40 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Statutory Requirements
The Land Use Element has the broadest scope of all the required elements of a general plan, regulating how land in the City is to be used in the future.

California Government Code Section 65302(a) requires that a Land Use Element “designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of uses of the land for housing, business, industry, open space, including agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and enjoyment of scenic beauty, education, public buildings and grounds, solid and liquid waste disposal facilities, greenways, as defined in Section 816.52 of the Civil Code, and other categories of public and private uses of land.” The location and designation of permissible land uses for public and private purposes shall consider the identification of land and natural resources. The Land Use Element shall include a statement of the standards of population density and building intensity recommended for the various districts and other territory covered by the plan.

The Land Use Element shall also include designations for timberland production and a discussion of activities for military readiness.

However, these uses are not located within the City and are therefore, not analyzed. Additionally, areas covered by the plan that are subject to flooding identified by flood plain mapping prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the California Department of Water Resources is also required but included in the Safety Element.

Environmental Justice, as required by Government Code Section 65302(h), is also covered by this chapter. Per State law, a local jurisdiction must include an Environmental Justice Element (or topics addressing environmental justice), if the jurisdiction contains disadvantaged communities (as defined in Gov. Code, § 65302 (h) (4)(A)). Based on the analysis described below, Thousand Oaks does contain disadvantaged communities. More specifically, pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 65302, an Environmental Justice Element, or related goals, policies, and objectives integrated into other elements, requires jurisdictions to do all the following:

A. “Identify objectives and policies to reduce the unique or compounded health risks in disadvantaged communities by means that include, but are not limited to, the reduction of pollution exposure, including the improvement of air quality, and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity.

B. Identify objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in the public decision-making process.

C. Identify objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of disadvantaged communities.” The Land Use Element regulates the intended future use of all parcels of land in the city Land Use | 41
Background
This section provides background information on existing conditions in the City. It includes a summary of existing land use patterns, the “environmental justice” existing conditions analysis required by SB 1000, and key issues and opportunities for land use. This information sets the stage for the land use designations and goals and policies later in the chapter.

Thousand Oaks Existing Land Uses
Thousand Oaks spans 56 square miles. The City consists of a diversity of land use types, development patterns, and roadways linking different parts of the City together. This composition creates a built environment offering a unique and special human experience. The following section describes existing land uses and the character of different land use types in the City of Thousand Oaks and its Planning Area. Existing land uses are mapped in Figure 4.1, described in the sections below, and summarized in Table 4.1.

Open Space and Recreational Uses
Abundant open space, golf courses, and local and regional parks are the most prevalent land uses and highly valued community assets in Thousand Oaks. As shown in Table 4.1, open space occupies 45% of the land area and 47% of the City. Approximately 88% of open space areas are accessible to the public. Most of the open space is managed by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA), an agency formed via a joint powers agreement by the City of Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). CRPD maintains more than 50 parks, recreational facilities, and open space areas. For more information about parks and open spaces, refer to the Parks and Open Space and Conservation elements.

Residential
Residential uses are the second most prevalent land use, occupying about 31% of the land within the Planning Area and 29% of the City.

Most of the residential development in Thousand Oaks is in the form of detached single-family tract homes in subdivisions built within the last half-century. Higher density housing only occupies about 2% of the land uses and is generally concentrated adjacent to commercial areas along Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Moorpark Road, and Hillcrest Drive. This multi-family housing primarily consists of apartments, townhomes, condominiums, and duplex-style housing. Eight mobile home parks are also located in the City, all located in close proximity to the Highway 101 Freeway.

A “ring of green” surrounds Thousand Oaks
42 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Commercial
Commercial uses occupy 3.5% of the Planning Area and 3.7% of the City. The most significant commercial uses are clustered along Highway 101 on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Newbury Road, Moorpark Road, Hampshire Road, Westlake Boulevard and Hillcrest Drive, all which provide convenient vehicular access. The commercial uses range from strip-malls located at major intersections separated from roads by a parking lot, to shopping centers generally located along the Highway 101 with large, big-box structures set back far from the street. Commercial corridors are located along major thoroughfares and typically characterized by 1-2 story buildings on individual lots with parking in the front or on the sides of buildings. However, parcel and building sizes, building placement, and architectural styles vary greatly, resulting in an inconsistent character.

Industrial
Less than 2% of the Planning Area in the City is comprised of industrial uses, which include biotechnology labs, warehouses, research and development facilities, offices, and manufacturing uses. These uses are primarily concentrated in the Rancho Conejo Industrial Park in the western portion of the Planning Area. This area includes Amgen headquarters and hundreds of other smaller biotech, light manufacturing, and distribution facilities. Additional industrial uses are located in the southeastern portion of the Planning Area, along Highway 101, between Hampshire Road and Westlake Boulevard.

Public/Institutional
Public-serving and institutional uses can be found throughout the Planning Area. Such uses include healthcare and medical centers, public and private schools, libraries, government offices, and places of worship. Public/Institutional uses comprise approximately 3% of the Planning Area.

Table 4.1 Existing Land Uses
Land Use
City of Thousand Oaks Unincorporated
Sphere of Influence
Total
Acres Percent
of City
Total
Acres Percent
of SOI
Total
Acres Percent
of Total
Residential 10,222.1 28.8 1,181.6 63.1 11,403.7 30.5
Commercial 1,317.6 3.7 0.0 0.0 1,317.6 3.5
Industrial 584.0 1.6 77.3 4.1 661.3 1.8
Public/Institutional 1,140.2 3.2 28.8 1.5 1,169.0 3.1
Mixed-Use 9.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.2 0.0
Open Space 16,523.7 46.6 204.2 10.9 16,727.8 44.8
Water 73.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 73.0 0.2
Transportation/
Utilities
499.2 1.4 17.8 0.9 517.0 1.4
Vacant 1,054.5 3.0 200.1 10.7 1,254.7 3.4
Sub Total 31,423.5 88.5 1,709.8 91.3 33,133.3 88.7
Right-of-Way 4,063.3 11.5 162.1 8.7 4,225.3 11.3
Total 35,486.8 100.0 1,871.8 100.0 37,358.6 100.0
Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding. Residential Common Areas (894 Acres in total) are included in the Open Space category.

Source: City of Thousand Oaks, 2020; County of Ventura, 2019.

Commercial land uses, such as this office building, provide jobs and revenues for Thousand Oaks Land Use | 43
Erbes Rd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd
W Hillcrest Dr
N Westlake Bl
W Lynn Rd
S Westlake Bl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan Rd
N Moorpark Rd
E Janss Rd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
Sunset Hills Bl
S Reino Rd
E Avenida De Los Arboles
E Hillcrest Dr
La Granada Dr
RanchoConejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Hampshire Rd
Old Conejo Rd
ViaLas Brisas
W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
MoorparkRd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
W Avenida De Los Arboles
Thousand Oaks Bl
Westl
akeBl
W Wilbur Rd
W Janss Rd
Agoura Rd
Camino Dos Rios
Rancho Dos Vientos
S Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
¤£101
¤£101
¤£101
¤£101
23 UV
UV23
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
°
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; UrbanFootprint, 2019 Major Roads
Freeways
Adjacent Cities
Sphere of Influence
Residential City Limits
Commercial
Industrial
Civic/Institutional
Mixed Use
Open Space
Water
Transportation/Utilities
Vacant
Unincorporated Counties Land
Figure 4.1 Existing Land Use
44 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Health and Environmental Justice
This section provides an overview of the health and environment justice analysis required under Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000), or the Planning for Healthy Communities Act. The Public Health and Equity Appendix (Appendix A) includes detailed results of the analysis, including data, maps, and tables.

Overview
The goal of SB 1000 is to help identify and reduce risks in communities disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. Environmental justice covers a wide range of topics including air and water pollution, toxic contamination, healthy homes, physical activity, access to healthy foods, access to health care, and access to parks and open spaces. SB 1000 provides an opportunity for local jurisdictions to address existing community health concerns and disparities during the decision-making process to prevent disproportionate impacts of future decisions on disadvantaged populations. Environmental justice transcends the scope of any individual general plan element. Thus, in order to effectively address environmental justice issues and concerns, the City has selected to incorporate environmental policies throughout the General Plan.

Creating Healthy Communities
Environmental justice is part of a broader movement of healthy communities. Healthy communities are places that foster positive health outcomes for all who live, work, and play. Eleven key components are needed for creating healthy and equitable communities (see Figure 4.2).

Disadvantaged Communities
While Thousand Oaks as a whole is a thriving community, there are pockets within the City that currently experience poverty and suffer from a combination of economic, social vulnerability, and environmental burdens. For Thousand Oaks residents, the burdens include impaired water bodies, traffic impacts, low birth weights, hazardous waste, low income, linguistic isolation, exposure to diesel particulate matter, groundwater threats, and housing burden.

Community engagement is a critical part of the SB 1000 requirements California Government Code (Section 65040.12) defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful participation of people of all races, culture and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” Land Use | 45
At the beginning of the General Plan update process, these pockets were identified using the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen), which is a screening methodology used to identify disadvantaged communities burdened by multiple sources of pollution and other vulnerabilities. According to California’s Health and Safety Code (Section 39711), a “disadvantaged community” is defined as “a low-income area that is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.” In general, the higher the CalEnviroScreen score, the more the community is impacted by pollution burdens and population vulnerabilities.

CalEnviroScreen identified most census tract scores in the City are below the 25th percentile, which indicates the best overall health and environmental conditions compared to the rest of the state.

Census tracts with an overall index score at or above the 75th percentile are considered to be disproportionately burdened. There are currently no census tracts in the City with an overall score at or above this threshold.

However, there are four census tracts (65, 69, 70, and 71) with median incomes below 80% of the state median income and three of these (69, 70, and 71) scored above the 75th percentile threshold for at least one individual pollution burden and social vulnerability indicator from CalEnviroScreen. Thus, census tracts 69, 70, and 71 can be considered disadvantaged communities (see Figure 4.3).

The analysis also found that other census tracts in the City, with household incomes above the median income, experience similar disproportionate burdens related to impaired water bodies, traffic impacts, low birth weights, hazardous waste, and exposure to diesel particulate matter.

Figure 4.2 Healthy Communities
Safe housing
Public safety
Social support and cohesion
Access to parks
Walkable neighborhoods
Transportation options

HEALTHY

COMMUNITIES
Access to healthy foods
Low exposure to pollution
and toxics
Educational, economic,
and job opportunities
Access to health care services
Quality child care and
after-school activities
46 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
69 70
71 0
City Limits
City Sphere
Disadvantaged Communities
Major Roads
Freeways
Adjacent Cities
Figure 4.3 Census Tracts and Identified Disadvantaged Communities Land Use | 47
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key issues and opportunities facing the City, relative to land use topics. This concise list was developed in combination of the public engagement phase and existing data to address issues facing the City now and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change. The topics inform the overall direction identified in the goals and policies listed below.

In addition, land use and urban design-related policies are integrated throughout the General Plan in the Mobility, Governance, Community Facilities and Services, Parks and Open Space, and Conservation elements.

Lack of Housing Diversity
The most critical issue addressed in the General Plan is the provision of more affordable housing. The housing stock in Thousand Oaks is comprised primarily of single-family homes. Many older adults, young professionals, persons with special needs, and non-traditional families have expressed a desire to live—or remain—within the Thousand Oaks community but need a more diverse housing stock consisting of a range of multi-family buildings, townhomes, and walk-up apartments and units that provide independent living for persons with special needs.

Open Space Buffer
The City’s natural beauty and preserved “ring of open space” separating it from neighboring areas provides a valuable amenity to residents and visitors. Preserving and enhancing this natural beauty and network of open space is important to residents and provides considerable opportunities for the City to continue to distinguish itself from other cities in the region and benefit from the wide range of environmental and socioeconomic benefits of this characteristic feature of Thousand Oaks.

Complete Community
The City has a diverse mix of uses that make it a complete community.

This includes residential neighborhoods, jobs, neighborhood-serving and regional retail, arts and cultural amenities, a hospital, a 4-year university, and parks and open spaces. This diverse mix of uses means that residents have the opportunity to live, work, play, and shop all within the Thousand Oaks city limits.

Development Pattern
Residents are attracted to the overall low intensity of development throughout the City. Most buildings are three stories or less and this contributes to the suburban character and continued views of the ridges and mountains surrounding the City.

Outdoor dining helps to support family-friendly neighborhoods and community identity 48 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Family-Friendly Residential Neighborhoods
Thousand Oaks is known for its pleasant single-family neighborhoods that are an ideal setting for families. These neighborhoods also provide opportunities for access to parks and open spaces and neighborhood shopping within a short drive.

High-Quality Public Facilities
The City is known for having a wide range of public facilities that serve the needs of residents. These public facilities include the Civic Arts Plaza, two libraries, Alex Fiore Teen Center, Goebel Adult Community Center, and beautiful and well-maintained parks and other open space areas. As the City grows, it needs to ensure it continues to provide public services that serve all residents.

Strong Job Base
Thousand Oaks currently benefits from a strong professional job base, which includes a robust presence of biotechnology and other research and development industries. The strong job base provides an important revenue to the City to support investment in high-quality public facilities and services. This existing job base provides the City with a significant opportunity to build upon its success and expand the proportion of higher paying jobs in the City. This effort will support the long-term economic prosperity and of the City.

Opportunity to Develop a Downtown Core Neighborhood
The Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan and the Thousand Oaks Downtown Core Master Plan envision the area along Thousand Oaks Boulevard near Civic Arts Plaza as a walkable, mixed-use, and cultural destination.

Underutilized Retail Areas
Thousand Oaks has a significant amount of retail for current and future projected populations that is either vacant or underutilized. These properties provide opportunities to repurpose underperforming retail areas for multi-family housing and office and service commercial uses.

Disadvantaged Communities
Three of 31 census tracts in Thousand Oaks have a combination of being low-income (defined as a median household income at or below 80% of the County’s area median income) and a high pollution burden or social vulnerability (defined as being in the top 25% of census tracts in the state). The identified burdens are from traffic impacts, diesel particulate matter, low birthweight, housing burden, and linguistic isolation.

Multifamily housing increases the diversity of housing types in Thousand Oaks Land Use | 49
Dwelling Units Per Acre (DU/AC)
The term density is used for residential uses and
refers to the population and development capacity
of residential land. Density within the General Plan
is described in terms of dwelling units per gross acre
of land (du/ac), which consists of total land area,
including areas dedicated for future public uses,
such as infrastructure facilities, parks, streets and
rights-of-way. Existing streets, whether dedicated
right-of-way or in easement are not included in
gross acre of land.

It should be noted that du/ac is not always a
useful predictor of neighborhood design character or
population density. While in areas of single-family detached homes, du/ac does establish how many homes -and presumably how many families – will be present in each acre, in areas of mixed-use or multi-family development, it is much less helpful.

General Plan Land Use Designations
The following land use designations describe the intended future use of every parcel of land in the City. They are developed to provide both a vision for the organization of land uses and a flexible structure to allow for changes in economic conditions and community vision over time. Each land use designation includes a description of the use, a list of allowable uses, the density/ intensity of the use (measured in dwelling units per acre or floor area ratio), and maximum allowable building height. The accompanying photographs are illustrative examples for scale and character and not architectural design. The Land Use Designations Map can be found in Figure 4.4.

Understanding Density and Intensity
State law requires that General Plan land use designations provide a measurement of the maximum development intensity allowed within each designation. According to State law, land use designations must identify the allowed uses and the development intensity (measured in dwelling units per acre, floor area ratio (FAR) or jobs/residents per acre). It is important to note that density is only loosely related to urban form and character.

Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
Floor area ratio (FAR), which applies to nonresidential and mixed uses, refers to the extent of development
on a parcel of land or lot. FAR is used in the General
Plan as a measure of non-residential or the nonresidential portion of mixed-use development intensity.

FAR expresses the intensity of use on the lot. The
FAR is the ratio between the total gross floor area of
all buildings on a lot and the total land area of that
lot. For example, a 20,000 square foot building on a
40,000 square foot lot yields a FAR of 0.5. A 0.5 FAR
can describe a single-story building that covers half of the lot, a two-story building covering approximately
one-quarter of the lot, or a four-story building covering one-eighth of the lot. This makes FAR a useful tool for measuring development and environmental impacts.
50 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Residential Designations
* Note that single-family zones are subject to SB9, which was passed in 2021. This law allows for parcels in single family zones to be subdivided and duplexes built on each lot.

Neighborhood Rural*
Neighborhood Very Low*
Description: This designation provides for
very low-density, single-family neighborhoods.

The designation applies to areas with significant
topography and in locations that necessitate a
transition from residential areas to preserved
open spaces. The designation helps to maintain
a rural feel at the City’s periphery.

Allowed Uses: Single-family dwellings and
accessory dwelling units, religious institutions,
parks, schools, and other public facilities.

Agricultural uses may be allowed if compatible
with adjacent uses.

Density: 0 to 1.0 du/ac
Height Maximum: 35 feet
Description: This designation corresponds
to existing and planned single-family
development within the City. The purpose is to
preserve single-family large lot developments
in areas with topographic variation.

Allowed Uses: Single-family dwellings and
accessory dwelling units, religious institutions,
parks, schools, and other public facilities.

Density: >1 to 2 du/ac
Height Maximum: 35 feet
Land Use | 51
Neighborhood Low 1*
Neighborhood Low 2*
Description: This designation allows for
low density, single-family neighborhoods
between 2 and 4.5 dwelling units per acre.

The purpose is to maintain existing singlefamily neighborhoods and to provide for infill development of a similar scale.

Allowed Uses: Single-family dwellings and
accessory dwelling units, religious institutions,
parks, schools, and other public facilities
are allowed.

Density: >2 to 4.5 du/ac
Height Maximum: 35 feet
Description: This designation allows for
single-family neighborhoods at slightly
higher densities than the Neighborhood Low
1 land use designation. The purpose is to
maintain the character of these existing singlefamily neighborhoods, while allowing infill development of a similar scale.

Allowed Uses: Single-family dwellings and
accessory dwelling units, religious institutions,
parks, schools, and other public facilities
are allowed.

Density: >4.5 to 6 du/ac
Height Maximum: 35 feet
Neighborhood Low Medium*
Description: This designation allows a
variety of attached and detached housing units
and at slightly higher densities than other
single-family neighborhoods. Lot sizes range
from approximately 4,000 square feet to 7,200
square feet. Homes should be oriented toward
the street to allow for walking and bicycling
while still being accessible by car.

Allowed Uses: Single-family homes, duplexes,
and accessory dwelling units. Typical building
types include row houses, townhomes, and
courtyard housing.

Uses such as religious institutions, parks,
schools, and other public facilities are allowed.

Density: >6 to 10 du/ac
Height Maximum: 35 feet
* Note that single-family zones are subject to SB9, which was passed in 2021. This law allows for parcels in single family zones to be subdivided and duplexes built on each lot. 52 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Neighborhood Medium 1*
Description: This designation provides for
a range of housing choices within a walkable
setting and a short distance to goods and
services to meet daily needs. It includes a mix
of small lot attached and detached singlefamily homes and lower-scaled multi-family buildings. This designation is intended to
provide a greater diversity of housing types
to provide additional opportunities for all
residents, including older adults, workers, and
young professionals to live in Thousand Oaks.

Allowed Uses: Single-family and small multifamily buildings.

Allowed building types include small lot
single-family homes, townhomes, rowhouses,
duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes, courtyard
housing, walk-up multi-family buildings, and
accessory dwelling units.

Uses such as religious institutions, parks,
schools, and other public facilities are allowed.

Density: >10 to 15 du/ac
Height Maximum: 35 feet
* Note that single-family zones are subject to SB9, which was passed in 2021. This law allows for parcels in single family zones to be subdivided and duplexes built on each lot.

Neighborhood Medium 2*
Description: This designation is similar
to Neighborhood Medium 1 but at a higher
density. It provides for a range of housing
choices within a walkable setting and a short
distance to goods and services to meet daily
needs. The designation allows for a mix of
small lot attached and detached single-family
homes and lower-scaled multi-family buildings.

This designation intends to provide a greater
diversity of housing types for residents,
workers, older adults and young professionals to
live in Thousand Oaks.

Allowed Uses: Single-family and small multifamily buildings allowed within the density range.

Allowed building types include small lot
single-family homes, townhomes, rowhouses,
duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes, courtyard
housing, walk-up multi-family buildings, and
accessory dwelling units.

Uses such as religious institutions, parks,
schools, and other public facilities are allowed.

Density: >15 to 20 du/ac
Height Maximum: 35 feet
Land Use | 53
Neighborhood High
Description: This designation enables
a variety of multi-family housing. The
designation supports walkable, transit-ready
residential neighborhoods concentrated near
commercial, civic and recreational uses. The
designation allows for a variety of multifamily building types including apartments, townhomes, rowhouses, and walkup buildings.

This designation applies to both existing
multi-family housing and new infill housing in
appropriate locations. The Neighborhood High
designation is mostly focused near Thousand
Oaks Boulevard between Hillcrest Drive and
Highway 101, east of State Route 23.

Allowed Uses: Multi-family uses. Building
types include townhomes, rowhouses, and
other types of multi-family buildings.

Uses such as religious institutions, daycare
centers, parks, schools, and other public
facilities are allowed.

Density: >20 to 30 du/ac
Height Maximum: 50 feet
Mobile Home Exclusive
Description: This designation provides for
the continuance of existing mobile home parks
in Thousand Oaks.

Allowed Uses: Mobile homes
Density: None defined
Height Maximum: 35 feet
54 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Mixed-Use
Description: The Mixed-Use designation
allows for multi-story, multi-use infill
development in potential growth areas of
the City, such as Thousand Oaks Boulevard,
Rancho Conejo, and Village Centers. The
intent is to allow for single use retail areas to
redevelop with higher intensity uses and to
allow for more multi-family residential uses
within the City. The designation is intended
to allow for a diverse mix of residential and/
or commercial uses. Uses may be mixed
either vertically or horizontally and single-use
buildings (such as residential-only buildings)
are allowed. Buildings with this designation
will be designed to contribute to a walkable
environment with wide sidewalks, active
frontages, and minimal setbacks from the
back of the sidewalk.

Allowed Uses: Retail, restaurants,
entertainment, bars, service commercial uses
(such as banks or real estate offices), office
buildings, hotels, multi-family buildings and
attached single-family, such as rowhouses or
townhomes.

Detached single-family homes, duplexes and
industrial/manufacturing uses are prohibited.

Uses such as religious institutions, daycare
centers, parks, schools, and other public
facilities are allowed.

Density and FAR:
>20 to 30 du/ac

1.0 FAR (non-residential)
The density and FAR may be applied
independently, so long as the total building
form (e.g., heights, setbacks, etc.) is consistent
with the zoning regulations.

Height Maximum: 50 feet**
Mixed-Use Designation
**Heights may be increased up to 75 feet where specified by a Specific plan or Height Overlay zoning.

Land Use | 55
Commercial Neighborhood
Commercial Town
Commercial Regional
Description: This designation accommodates
a variety of neighborhood-serving retail,
offices and service activities designed to serve
the daily needs of residents. This designation
also includes existing auto dealerships and
related uses in specific locations.

Allowed Uses: Retail, personal services,
restaurants, bars, entertainment, service
commercial uses (such as banks), offices,
automobile service uses (including sales and
repair). Parks, public buildings, and religious
institutions are allowed.

FAR: 0.5 FAR
Height Maximum: 35 feet
Description: This designation allows for
a variety of commercial uses at medium
intensity and includes small business parks,
garden-style offices, and a variety of retail and
service uses.

Allowed Uses: Retail, office, service
commercial, hotel/motel.

Uses such as parks, public buildings, and
religious institutions are allowed.

FAR: 1.0 FAR
Height Maximum: 50 feet**
Description: This designation provides
for “big box” and “large format” retailers
in commercial shopping centers that serve
residents of and visitors to Thousand Oaks.

Most of the parcels are located along Highway
101 and are near freeway interchanges. The
designation also allows for visitor-serving uses
such as hotels and motels.

Allowed Uses: Retail, office, service
commercial, hotel/motel. Uses such as parks,
public buildings, and religious institutions are
allowed.

FAR: 2.0 FAR
Height Maximum: 75 feet
Commercial Designations
**Heights may be increased up to 75 feet where specified by a Specific plan or Height Overlay zoning. 56 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Industrial Low
Industrial Flex
Description: This designation allows for
lower intensity job-producing uses including
manufacturing, distribution, industrial,
research and development, offices, breweries,
distilleries, and supportive retail and services.

Buildings are generally large footprint
buildings with surface parking. Care should be
taken to create an attractive environment along
public rights of way.

Allowed Uses: Manufacturing, distribution,
light industrial/flex, research and
development, office, supportive commercial.

Parks, public buildings, and religious
institutions are allowed by right. Residential
uses are prohibited.

FAR: 1.0 FAR
Height Maximum: 50 feet**
Description: This designation allows
for a wide variety of higher intensity
employment uses including offices, research
and development, industrial, breweries
and distilleries. This designation includes
the highest intensity job areas of the City
and is critical to the long-term fiscal health
of Thousand Oaks. Hotels, motels, and
conference centers are allowed. Limited
retail and services are allowed to support the
employment uses.

Allowed Uses: Office, research and
development, light industrial, hotels/motels,
service commercial and ancillary retail.

Public buildings and religious institutions are
also allowed. Residential uses are prohibited.

FAR: 2.0 FAR
Height Maximum: 75 feet
Industrial Designations
**Heights may be increased up to 75 feet where specified by a Specific plan or Height Overlay zoning.

Land Use | 57
Institutional
Parks, Golf Courses, and Open Space
Description: This designation allows public,
quasi-public and institutional facilities,
including utilities.

Allowed Uses: Public facilities, utilities, public
and private schools and colleges, hospitals,
other public and quasi-public institutions, and
religious institutions.

Density: None defined
Height Maximum: None defined
Description: This designation includes the
City’s public and private parks, golf courses,
and open space.

Allowed Uses: Public and private recreation
and open space.

Density: None defined
Height Maximum: None defined
Institutional Designations

LIMITATIONS OF LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
It is important to note a few limitations of land use designations. Land use designations cannot require specific uses or tenants. This means that the General Plan cannot require the type of ownership of buildings (rental versus ownership, or specific tenants in buildings). For example, the General Plan cannot require or prohibit that a specific parcel be used for affordable housing, senior housing, special-needs housing, or prohibit certain types of tenants in commercial spaces (such as chain stores). Further, the City cannot identify specific locations for parks, schools, and public buildings unless they are on land that is currently publicly owned. 58 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Figure 4.4 Land Use Designations
Land Use | 59
Citywide Urban Structure and Pattern of Development
Goal LU-1: Create a land use pattern of development that preserves existing neighborhoods while providing opportunities for targeted infill projects in strategic locations to enhance the quality of life, preserve the natural environment, and ensure the long-term fiscal viability of Thousand Oaks.

1.1 Overall City structure.

Establish a clearly defined urban pattern of development and open space by:
• Maintaining and expanding the open space network and natural areas around the City.
• Maintaining the single-family residential character of established neighborhood areas.
• Supporting development along Thousand Oaks Boulevard in the area encompassing the Downtown Core Master Plan through revising the Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Civic Arts Plaza specific plans to implement the General Plan policies, and the Downtown Core Master Plan’s Primary Actions and Supporting Activities. • Revitalizing Thousand Oaks Boulevard with a diverse mix of multifamily residential, retail, commercial, office, healthy food options, service and entertainment related uses, and civic gathering spaces. • Incentivizing and streamlining infill multi-family development. • Redeveloping large shopping malls, including The Oaks shopping mall and Janss Marketplace, into walkable, mixed-use places that include multi-family residential, hotels, entertainment and retail uses. • Promoting new visitor-serving uses, such as lodging and commercial recreational uses, along Highway 101.
• Expanding and diversifying the employment uses in the City with a focus on biotech, high tech, research and development, and office uses. • Redeveloping strip commercial shopping centers into walkable, mixed-use centers with housing, retail, and public meeting and gathering spaces. Discouraging the development of drive-through facilities and building designs for single use occupancy within mixed-use areas.
• Providing a supportive network of public uses throughout the City including parks, schools, libraries, and community centers. • Supporting new development with sufficient sewer, water, electrical, and other critical infrastructure.

1.2 Complete community.

Strive to maintain a diverse and balanced mix of uses in the City, so that Thousand Oaks is a “complete community” with a diversity of housing for all stages of life and income levels; improve alignment of educational attainment opportunities with high-paying employment opportunities, open space, public facilities that meet residents’ needs, and retail and services to support daily life.

1.3 Balance character and infill.

Maintain community character while promoting infill development that brings needed housing, amenities, and jobs to the City.

Goals and Policies
The following section includes goals and policies for the Land Use Element. Land Use implementation actions are located in Chapter 13: Implementation. 60 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

1.4 Infill locations.

Focus most new development in areas identified in the
“Areas-Specific Guidance.”

1.5 Mixed-use development.

Allow mixed-use developments, consistent with the General Plan land use map, to support a healthy jobs/housing balance, promote walkability, and increase economic vibrancy.

1.6 Non-residential transitions.

Require transitions in building height, massing, and character for new buildings in mixed use, commercial, and industrial areas that are immediately adjacent to single-family residential areas. These transitions may include a combination of vegetation, berms, building setbacks, upper story setbacks, and a decrease in building height.

1.7 Quality “Third Places.”
Support the development and enhancement of “Third Places” (places people go after work or when not at home), including open space, recreation, art, and entertainment venues.

1.8 Entitlement process.

Seek to be a business-friendly City by streamlining the City’s entitlement process to encourage new development and renovations of existing buildings for residential and non-residential uses.

1.9 Adaptive reuse.

Promote adaptive reuse of existing buildings, especially those with building designs that reinforce community design and pedestrian orientation.

Residential Neighborhoods
Goal LU-2: Preserve and enhance existing neighborhoods throughout the City.

2.1 Maintenance and improvement of residential properties.

Require the ongoing maintenance and improvement of existing residential properties.

2.2 Deteriorated structures and nuisances.

Encourage neighborhood associations to proactively identify and address nuisances and reduce property deterioration.

2.3 Sustainable residences.

Encourage sustainable building practices during new construction or when buildings are substantially renovated.

2.4 Building additions.

Building additions and expansions should use matching materials to ensure compatibility with the existing character of the neighborhood.

2.5 Sustainable residential landscaping.

Encourage property owners to use sustainable and climateappropriate landscaping by incorporating natural materials and native vegetation and trees to enhance the urban forest and provide shade and habitat for fauna.

2.6 Circulation connectivity.

Seek opportunities to enhance existing residential neighborhoods by improving pedestrian and bicycle access and infrastructure, installing traffic calming measures, and creating new connections between adjacent streets, subdivisions and commercial areas.

2.7 Access to neighborhood amenities.

Improve sidewalks and bike lanes within neighborhoods and along routes to retail areas, schools, parks, and other points of interest to promote active transportation. Improve active transportation-related street amenities, including bike parking, lighting, and seating along major routes.

Land Use | 61
Goal LU-3: Promote a diversity of housing types for Thousand Oaks residents through all stages of life.

3.1 Diversity of housing.

Promote a diversity of housing types in locations throughout the City, specifically in neighborhood areas that contain goods and services, parks and open space, and public schools in a walkable setting.

3.2 Housing for different life stages and incomes.

Encourage new housing types for all residents including young professionals, older adults, and middle- and low-income families.

3.3 Intergenerational supportive housing.

Support extended family living within residential neighborhoods through modifications to existing homes.

3.4 Aging in place.

Promote development of housing types that support opportunities to age in place.

3.5 Housing for special needs.

Support housing for older adults, special needs groups (including those with developmental disabilities), and non-traditional family groups by allowing a diverse range of housing configurations and universally accessible design features.

3.6 Universal Design.

Encourage the use of Universal Design principles in new construction and rehabilitation of housing.

3.7 Parking requirements.

Allow a reduction in parking requirements on a project-by-project basis to achieve high-quality design, increased housing affordability, and to promote walking, bicycling, and transit use, while working to minimize potential negative impacts on adjacent properties.

Goal LU-4: Support the creation of safe, affordable, and sanitary housing for all ages, income levels, and abilities.”

4.1 New housing in very high fire hazard zones.

Discourage developing housing on undeveloped land within the City’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

4.2 Incentives for healthy housing.

Create incentives for new and rehabilitated residential buildings to be designed and constructed to consider the health of residents, such as:
• Siting buildings to encourage walking;
• Designing buildings to allow for high levels of natural light and air; and, • Providing safe connections to parks, trails, schools, and recreation.

4.3 Barriers and buffers.

Require design features such as site and building orientation, trees or other landscaped barriers, artificial barriers, ventilation and filtration, construction, and operational practices to reduce air quality impacts to new residential development from high-volume roadways.

4.4 Air quality of homes.

For new residential land uses that cannot be sited at least 500 feet away from high-volume roadways, require design mitigation, such as:
• Design residential units with individual heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to allow adequate ventilation even with windows closed;
• Locate air intake systems for HVAC systems as far away from existing air pollution sources as possible;
• Use High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) air filters in the HVAC system and require a maintenance plan to ensure the filtering system is properly maintained;
• Use sound walls, berms, and vegetation as physical barriers; and • Notify new potential home buyers and renters of risks from air pollution.
62 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

4.5 Affordable housing stock.

Increase the number and diversity of affordable housing units in the City and encourage housing of varying income levels and unit sizes/ floor plans.

4.6 Affordable housing locations.

Focus on locating affordable housing close to areas with retail and services and in high resource areas as identified in the TCAC/HCD Opportunity Map.4

4.7 Affordable housing preservation.

Preserve or replace affordable housing units that are subject to expiration with the use of new housing subsidies.

Mixed-Use Areas
Goal LU-5: Enhance quality of life, enable active modes of transportation, and provide housing opportunities with vibrant mixed-use areas.

5.1 Mixed-use development.

Actively encourage vertical or horizontal mixed-use development projects, especially in areas with underperforming retail and service uses.

5.2 Active ground floor uses.

Encourage active ground floor uses, such as retail, restaurants, and other commercial uses in new development projects that have a potential for significant pedestrian activity.

5.3 Pedestrian-oriented design.

Orient new buildings towards the primary public right-of-way and require new projects to construct sidewalks designed to accommodate street amenities and landscaping in front of the project. Encourage new project designs with the primary building entrance facing the front, instead of behind the building or from a side street.

5.4 Residential infill within commercial shopping centers.

Encourage infill residential development on underutilized parking lots in mixed-use areas while also maintaining the site’s retail and commercial activity.

5.5 Land use integration.

Provide infrastructure connectivity between mixed-use
developments and surrounding land uses, including streets, pedestrian trails, bikeways, park lands, commercial retail, and employment uses.

5.6 Shared and flexible parking.

Provide measures that allow shared parking between properties and uses with different peak parking demands and flexibility in meeting parking requirements for changes of use in existing structures.

5.7 Drive-through facilities.

Restrict new drive through facilities in areas designated as MixedUse in order to minimize conflicts with pedestrian oriented design and promote pedestrian activity and safety.

5.8 Comprehensive site design.

Require mixed-use development to be comprehensively planned.

Discourage “outparcels” for specific commercial uses or other subdivision of sites into smaller parcels that would restrict the redevelopment of the area for housing in the future.

4. The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Opportunity Map identifies areas in every region of the state whose characteristics have been shown by research to be most strongly associated with positive economic, educational, and health outcomes for low-income families.

Land Use | 63
Industrial Areas
Goal LU-6: Enhance the City’s core high-value sectors and diversify its job base in a manner that contributes to the City’s long term economic vitality.

6.1 Attract biotechnology.

Expand the biotechnology sector by attracting new companies and startups, and foster relationships between existing biotechnology, educational, and healthcare organizations in the region.

6.2 Support small technology businesses.

Leverage the strong demand for research and development and flex spaces to support smaller high-technology and biotechnology firms.

6.3 Attract complementary professional services.

Attract other professional services that complement existing industries (e.g., biotechnology, healthcare).

6.4 Coworking facilities.

Encourage amenity-rich coworking spaces to attract employees that want to work remotely.

6.5 High-value industrial uses.

Preserve industrial land for high value uses. Discourage development of logistics and warehousing facilities, as well as self-storage facilities.

6.6 Employment intensification.

Support the intensification of employment uses within the Industrial Low and Industrial Flex land use designations, as indicated on the General Plan Land Use Map.

6.7 Emerging industries.

Attract and retain innovative and emerging businesses in the fields of research and development, technology, life sciences, aerospace, and medicine.

6.8 Non-polluting industries.

Promote the development of clean industries that do not produce significant amounts of air pollution, water pollution or other sources of pollution that negatively impact human health or the natural environment.

6.9 Employee services.

Enhance the working environment by allowing and promoting small retail, restaurants, day care, and service uses that directly serve employees.

6.10 Redevelopment of older buildings.

Encourage redevelopment of older office nodes that have the potential to become ‘next generation’ workspaces including spaces for coworking, and research and development.

6.11 Jobs/housing relationship.

Work with large employers to explore programs and policies that promote additional housing in Thousand Oaks to support a growing number of employees. These could include incentives to build housing for company employees, a jobs-housing linkage fee, and other impact fees.
64 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Commercial and Retail Areas
Goal LU-7: Redevelop underperforming commercial areas to support a thriving local economy.

7.1 Redevelopment of declining centers.

Encourage redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties, including declining shopping centers, to become high performing commercial and service areas.

7.2 Flexible commercial uses.

Encourage flexibility in building design to allow for uses and programs to evolve and adapt to the fast-paced changes of the retail industry.

7.3 Retail connectivity to neighborhoods.

Support retail development that incorporates pedestrian connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods.

7.4 Strip commercial centers.

Discourage the development of new strip commercial centers that are auto oriented with large parking lots and single-story buildings set back from the primary roadway. New commercial areas should be designed as pedestrian-friendly walkable areas.

7.5 Visitor-serving uses.

Encourage hotels, restaurants, commercial entertainment and other visitor-serving uses. Allow these uses in all areas designated as Commercial Town and Commercial Regional.

7.6 Gathering spaces.

Promote new public gathering places in shopping centers, such as plazas or courtyards.

7.7 Bicycle and pedestrian connections.

Improve pedestrian and bicycle connections within one mile of commercial areas and neighborhoods. Improvements could include new pedestrian connections through cul-de-sacs, upgraded pedestrian crossings, the addition of bicycle facilities, such as bike paths or separated bike lanes and bicycle parking.

Community Design and Public Realm
Goal LU-8: Support high-quality and visually interesting design and construction of all buildings throughout the City.

8.1 Quality design and materials.

Require simple, urban building forms made with permanent, highquality materials and architectural detailing.

8.2 Building entrances.

Use visual and physical features within a building’s design and entries to emphasize the building entrance and connection to public spaces.

8.3 Public gathering spaces.

Encourage public and quasi-public gathering spaces within development that support community activities.

8.4 Architecturally significant buildings.

Strive to maintain the architectural integrity of significant developments that represent notable styles in Thousand Oaks, including the Eichler homes, Case Study House No. 28, and other similar buildings.

8.5 Iconic design.

Encourage iconic and memorable building designs, particularly on larger properties and those visible from major thoroughfares, including Highway 101.

8.6 Lot consolidation.

Encourage assembly of small parcels along commercial and mixeduse corridors to achieve a cohesive pedestrian-oriented development and building design.

8.7 Crime prevention strategies.

Implement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, that include site design, mixtures of uses, lighting, nighttime security and other measures.

Land Use | 65

8.8 Design of mixed-use, commercial, office and industrial areas.

Design areas to be more urban in character by amending the zoning regulations, including but not limited to the following:
• Buildings sited near front lot lines by establishing maximum setbacks
• A high percentage of lot coverage
• Building facades with transparency (e.g., windows) and an active street frontage
• Parking and loading areas located behind or on the side of buildings • Wide sidewalks with landscaping
• New street connections to create more walkable blocks Goal LU-9: Design public streets and other spaces for pedestrians and that foster interaction, activity, and safety.

9.1 Streetscape design.

Encourage pedestrian-oriented streetscapes by establishing a unified approach to street tree planting, street lighting, sidewalk design, pedestrian amenities (such as lighting and street furniture) and highquality building frontages with visible street-facing walk-in access.

9.2 Pedestrian focus on high volume streets.

Design the streetscape of high-volume streets (such as Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Hillcrest Drive, Moorpark Road, and Westlake Boulevard) to balance regional traffic flow with pedestrian movement, comfort, and safety through such means as wider and winding sidewalks with landscaping and shade, safe and visible pedestrian crossings with midpoint stops, and buffers or bike lanes between traffic lanes and pedestrians.

9.3 Parking facilities.

Design parking areas that do not interfere with the pedestrian access to buildings along street frontages.

9.4 Shade trees.

Encourage the planting of street trees that shade the sidewalk and off-street parking areas in accordance with the City’s Forestry Master Plan.

9.5 Lighting.

Require that all new streetlights along sidewalks and other pedestrian rights of way in commercial, multi-family, and mixed-use areas to be pedestrian-scaled and provide adequate visibility and security.

9.6 Public plazas.

Encourage new development to incorporate public plazas, seating, and gathering places.

9.7 Universal Design.

Incorporate Universal Design principles in the design of public right-of-way and public spaces to facilitate ease of movement for pedestrians of all ages and abilities, including flexible seating with arms, accessible signals, tactile paving, pedestrian safety islands, green infrastructure, consistent lighting, wide sidewalks and pathways, and defined spaces for gathering and modes of movement.

9.8 Minimize curb cuts.

Require new commercial, residential and mixed-use development, to the extent possible, to have common driveways and/or service lanes serving multiple units, to minimize the number of curb cuts along any block to improve pedestrian safety.

Goal LU-10: Preserve views of the mountains and ridgelines and unique entryways to Thousand Oaks.

10.1 Public view corridors.

Reaffirm and update adopted view sheds protection within the Ridgeline Study. Promote development practices that enhance and frame views of the mountains and ridgelines from view corridors along public rights of ways.
66 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

10.2 Ridgelines.

Prohibit new development on major ridgelines as identified in the Ridgeline Study within the City.

10.3 Gateways.

Promote gateway signage that serves as entrance points into the City of Thousand Oaks such as:
• Westlake Boulevard and Highway 101
• Olsen Road and State Route 23
• Wendy Drive and Highway 101
• Lynn Road and Hillcrest Drive
• Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Sustainable Buildings
Goal LU-11: Power existing and new buildings with clean energy.

11.1 Carbon-free construction.

Promote and encourage new construction that uses carbon-free energy.

11.2 Energy efficient new construction.

Promote and encourage energy-efficient new construction through implementation of CALGreen Tier 1 and Tier 2 measures and use of Passive Solar System design features.

11.3 Onsite solar in new construction.

Promote and encourage the installation to the maximum extent possible of on-site solar (or other distributed renewable energy) in new construction, including rooftop, carports and additional technologies as they evolve.

11.4 Transition existing buildings to carbon-free energy.

Promote and encourage the electrification of existing buildings with clean energy to reduce and eliminate fossil fuel use.

11.5 Existing building energy efficiency.

Encourage an increase in energy efficiency of existing buildings through upgrades including insulation, sealing, improved windows, roofs, water and air heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

11.6 Energy audits and disclosures.

Support and encourage energy audits and energy use disclosure at time of listing, sale, lease, rental or remodel of existing buildings.

11.7 Electrical Vehicle charging stations in new development.

Require EV ready receptacles sufficient to support users in new development.

11.8 Affordable energy efficiency upgrades.

Work with energy utility companies to promote energy efficiency upgrades and discounts to lower-income households in Thousand Oaks.

Land Use | 67
Healthy Communities
Goal LU-12: Promote healthy living for all residents of Thousand Oaks.

12.1 Access to healthy foods.

Promote access to healthy foods through opportunities such as, certified farmers’ markets and community gardens.

12.2 Tobacco and alcohol sales.

Prohibit the sale of tobacco and alcohol products near schools, parks, libraries, and community centers.

12.3 Healthy eating programs.

Partner with the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), the Alex Fiore Teen Center, Goebel Adult Community Center, and Thousand Oaks Library to implement healthy eating
education programs.

12.4 City event refreshments.

Encourage City-funded and sponsored events to offer healthy food choices.

12.5 Health promoting public programs.

Encourage partnerships with Ventura County Department of Public Health to develop and offer food education programs, healthy cooking classes, nutrition programs, and physical activity programs.

12.6 Gardening and composting programming.

Encourage partnerships with community organizations to provide educational programming for all ages that cover gardening and composting basics.

12.7 Smoke-free multi-family housing.

Adopt an ordinance to transition all multi-family buildings into smoke-free and vape-free housing.

12.8 Smoking product retailers.

Limit the sale of tobacco and other nicotine products in neighborhoods with a significant concentration of stores (e.g., multiple stores on the same block or intersection) and near childsensitive areas, such as schools, parks, and daycare facilities.

12.9 Discourage vehicle idling.

Discourage new drive-through operations and other uses that require and encourage active idling of vehicles.

12.10 Walk to school.

Partner with CVUSD to promote walking or cycling to school to improve health and fitness, reduce traffic congestion around schools, and reduce air pollution at schools from idling vehicles.

12.11 Food distribution.

Partner with local food recovery organizations, food retailers, restaurants and businesses to develop a robust food recovery program to support the distribution of unwanted or unsold food to those in need.

12.12 Parks and Open Space Areas.

Encourage the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of park and open space facilities that provide physical, mental, and social benefits for all ages.
68 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles Westlake Lake
Erbes Rd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd N Westlake Bl
W Lynn Rd
S Westlake Bl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan Rd
N Moorpark Rd
E Janss Rd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
Sunset H ills Bl
S Reino Rd
Avenida De Los Arboles
Hillcres t Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Hampshire Rd
O ld Conejo Rd
Via Las Brisas
W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
W Avenida De Los Arboles
Thousand Oaks Bl
Westlake Bl
W Wilbur Rd
Janss Rd
AgouraRd
Camino Dos Rios
Rancho Dos Vientos
Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
ErbesRd
Westlake Bl
Avenida
Pederson Rd
DeLas Flores
Gainsborough Rd
Potrero Rd
101
101
101 101
23 23
W. Hillcrest Dr
Adjacent Cities
Sub Areas
Rancho Conejo South
The Oaks Mall
Moorpark Road/
Janss Marketplace
Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Downtown Core
Westlake/East End
Village Centers
City Limits Freeways
City Sphere Major Roads
Base Map
Unincorporated
Counties Land
Rancho Conejo North
Area Specific Guidance
This section of the Goals and Policies is focused on specific areas of the community (see Figure 4.5 for the specific areas). A map depicting each area is presented with each area (see Figure 4.6 through Figure 4.12). The goals and policies for each are only to apply to the identified area.

Figure 4.5 Sub Areas
Land Use | 69
Downtown
Goal LU-13: Create a Downtown Core that is a vibrant and welcoming place that serves as the “heart of the City.”

13.1 Downtown.

Implement the vision and specific strategies in the Downtown Core Master Plan, Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan (SP-20), and Civic Arts Plaza Specific Plan (SP-11). The General Plan incorporates the primary components of these plans as follows:
• Amend the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan (SP-20) to create new active, pedestrian-oriented commercial and residential uses consistent with the General Plan land use designations. • Redesign Thousand Oaks Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly street with street amenities and landscaping.
• Implement gateways and wayfinding signage that mark the arrival into the Downtown.

13.2 Civic Arts Specific Plan.

Redesign the Civic Arts Plaza frontage, building and open space to provide intuitive entrances with pedestrian connectivity between the Kavli Theatre Plaza level and the new Town Square and redevelopment of the Westside Properties (Area C-1 Civic Arts Specific Plan). Implement the following policies:
• Integrate institutional, entertainment, commercial and civic uses on the Civic Arts Plaza and Westside Properties, as part of the Campus Master Plan.
• Retain existing healthy mature trees.
• Provide flexible performance and active public space. • Create quiet, contemplative spaces.
• Improve the visual and physical connections from the Kavli Theatre Plaza level to the Town Square and Thousand Oaks Boulevard to encourage theatre patrons to stay and experience downtown. • Reaffirm the development of civic gathering space within the Campus Master Plan.

13.3 Cultural events and programming.

Transform the Downtown Core into a hub for culture, arts, and events that draws visitors from around Thousand Oaks and the wider Conejo Valley, offering numerous events and programming for participants of all ages, interests, and abilities.

13.4 City-owned Westside property.

Develop the City-owned Westside Property with an outdoor paseo or new street that provides connectivity and opportunities for outdoor gathering, public art, and aesthetic landscaping.

13.5 Boutique hotel.

Encourage the development of a boutique hotel in the Downtown Core.

13.6 Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Transform Thousand Oaks Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly, active, and attractive space with wide continuous sidewalks, narrower vehicular travel lanes, safe pedestrian crossings, bicycle and micromobility support and facilities, trees and climate-appropriate landscaping.

13.7 Traffic calming.

Introduce traffic calming measures along Thousand Oaks Boulevard near the Downtown Core to slow down vehicles and encourage active transportation.

13.8 Retail and service market area.

Create a vibrant and captive market to support local businesses by promoting mixed-use with housing, retail and dining, hotels, and a diversity of housing types (in terms of size of units, affordability, and tenure) in and around the Downtown Core area.
70 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

13.9 Programmable outdoor space.

Integrate both indoor and outdoor programmable spaces to develop robust calendar of events to attract residents and visitors to Downtown Core year-round.

13.10 Parking district.

Pursue a “park once” concept for the Downtown that creates shared or centralized parking to allow visitors to drive to the area, “park once,” and then walk to multiple uses and activities without having to move their vehicles.

13.11 Prohibited uses.

Prohibit the establishment or expansion of the following uses within the Downtown Core, as they detract from creating a walkable and pedestrian-friendly corridor:
• Industrial, warehousing and large-scale manufacturing • Contractor’s yards and construction materials with outdoor storage • Used or new car sales (Note that the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall is not included in this area.)
• Auto-related businesses such as auto repair, tire sales, oil change, body shops and similar uses
• Auto storage facilities, indoor and outdoor
• Self-storage facilities
• Drive through establishments RESIDENTIAL
Neighborhood Medium 2 (>15 to 20 du/acre)
Neighborhood High (>20 to 30 du/acre)

MIXED-USE
Mixed-Use (>20 to 30 du/acre, 1.0 FAR)

COMMERCIAL
Commercial Neighborhood (0.5 FAR)

INSTITUTIONAL
Institutional
Parks, Golf Courses, and Open Space
Figure 4.6 Downtown
0 0.25 0.5 mi.

Thousand Oaks Blvd
Land Use | 71
Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Goal LU-14: Activate Thousand Oaks Boulevard as a walkable, mixed-use area with housing, retail, restaurants, office, and services.

14.1 Revitalize the Boulevard.

Support efforts to revitalize Thousand Oaks Boulevard as the main mixed-use boulevard in the City with a diverse mix of multi-family housing types, including multiplexes, courtyard housing and related commercial and retail uses.

14.2 Active ground floor building design.

Require active ground floor building design along all of Thousand Oaks Boulevard within the Downtown Core.

14.3 Prioritize pedestrians.

Prioritize pedestrian and active transportation along Thousand Oaks Boulevard by integrating wide sidewalks, separated bike lanes, and on-site bicycle parking in development projects, when feasible.

14.4 Parking solutions.

Support parking solutions that reduce surface parking lots along Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

14.5 Multi-family housing.

Encourage the development of multi-family housing (either as standalone residential buildings or as part of mixed-use projects) along Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

14.6 Parcel Assembly.

Support the consolidation of parcels that facilitate the development of housing and desirable uses.

14.7 Neighborhood goods and services.

Encourage the preservation or addition of retail and service uses that provide for the daily needs of residents, including markets, cafes, childcare, restaurants, healthcare, and other service-oriented uses.

14.8 Mix of uses on Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Encourage mixed-use development of various housing types, including townhouses, multiplexes, courtyard housing and related commercial that is oriented towards Thousand Oaks Boulevard and interior streets.

14.9 Prohibited uses.

Prohibit the establishment or expansion of the following uses within the Thousand Oaks Boulevard as they detract from creating a walkable and pedestrian-friendly corridor:
• Industrial, warehousing and large-scale manufacturing • Contractor’s yards and construction materials with outdoor storage • Used or new car sales (Note that the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall is not included in this area.)
• Auto-related businesses such as auto repair, tire sales, oil change, body shops and similar uses
• Auto storage facilities, indoor and outdoor
• Self-storage facilities
• Drive through establishments

14.10 Parks, Open Space Areas, & Community Gathering Spaces.

Work with CRPD to pursue opportunities to provide parks and other open space areas in closer proximity to planned housing and mixeduse projects. 72 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
0 0.25 0.5 1.0 mi. RESIDENTIAL
Neighborhood High (>20 to 30 du/acre)
Neighborhood Medium 1 (>10 to 15 du/acre)

MIXED-USE
Mixed-Use (>20 to 30 du/acre, 1.0 FAR)

COMMERCIAL
Commercial Neighborhood (0.5 FAR)
Commercial Town (1.0 FAR)

INSTITUTIONAL
Institutional
City Limits
Figure 4.7 Thousand Oaks Boulevard
E Hillcrest Dr
E Hillcrest Dr
Thousand Oaks Blvd
Thousand Oaks Blvd
Highway 101
Land Use | 73
The Oaks
Goal LU-15: Repurpose The Oaks mall into a mixed-use center combining housing, entertainment, visitor serving uses, retail, and other uses in a walkable neighborhood.

15.1 Site planning.

Require the preparation of a specific plan or master plan that envisions the future of the area prior to the approval of substantial new development or redevelopment.

15.2 New neighborhood.

Encourage the transformation of The Oaks mall from a single-use retail center to a high-density, mixed-use, cohesive neighborhood.

15.3 Broad range of uses.

Support a broad range of uses including multi-family housing, regional- and local-serving retail, office, hotels, entertainment and service-oriented uses. Prohibit the following new uses: warehouse, distribution, industrial, manufacturing, auto sales with large parking lots, new stand-alone big box retail, and auto repair uses.

15.4 Retail.

Maintain a diversity of retail uses so that the new neighborhood provides positive tax revenues for the City of Thousand Oaks and includes uses that provide goods and services for the residents of Thousand Oaks.

15.5 New walkable residential.

Encourage new residential development to be designed in a walkable format. Prohibit the construction of isolated and/or gated communities and connect new to existing development with paths.

15.6 Public gathering space.

Provide publicly accessible gathering spaces such as small parks and plazas to serve residents of new multi-family developments.

15.7 Street network.

As part of the redevelopment of The Oaks, require the creation of new walkable blocks with a public vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycle connection approximately every 600 feet.

15.8 Prioritize pedestrians and bicycles.

Prioritize pedestrian and active transportation along Hillcrest Drive and Lynn Road by integrating new sidewalks, separated bike lanes, and on-site bicycle parking when feasible.

15.9 Building heights.

Allow building heights of up to 75 feet as specified within a specific plan.

Figure 4.8 The Oaks

MIXED-USE
Mixed-Use (>20 to 30 du/acre, 1.0 FAR)
City Limits
0 0.25 0.5 mi.

Highway 101
W Hillcrest Dr
74 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Moorpark Road/Janss Marketplace
Goal LU-16: Repurpose Moorpark Road between Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Wilbur Road into a mixed-use district.

16.1 Site planning.

Require the preparation of a specific plan or master plan effort for the mixed-use and commercial properties along Moorpark Road and W.

Hillcrest Drive and Thousand Oaks Boulevard that comprehensively envisions the future of the area prior to the approval of substantial new development or redevelopment.

16.2 Building heights.

Allow building heights of up to 75 feet as specified within a specific plan or zoning height overlay.

16.3 Moorpark Road.

Undertake streetscape improvements to slow traffic speeds and create a pedestrian-friendly environment on Moorpark Road between Thousand Oaks Boulevard and just north of Wilbur Road.

16.4 Building setbacks.

Amend the zoning regulations to reduce setbacks and parking requirements for buildings along Moorpark Road in order to create a walkable urban streetscape.

16.5 Janss Marketplace.

Repurpose the Janss Marketplace to offer a mix of multi-family residential, hotel, entertainment, visitor serving, and commercial uses that result in a destination for residents of Thousand Oaks and the larger region.
0 0.25 0.5 1.0 mi.

Figure 4.9 Moorpark Road/Janss Marketplace

RESIDENTIAL
Neighborhood High (>20 to 30 du/acre)

MIXED-USE
Mixed-Use (>20 to 30 du/acre, 1.0 FAR)

COMMERCIAL
Commercial Neighborhood (0.5 FAR)
Commercial Town (1.0 FAR)

INSTITUTIONAL
Institutional
W Hillcrest Dr
Thousand Oaks Blvd
Land Use | 75
Rancho Conejo North and South
Goal LU-17: Reinforce the Rancho Conejo North area as an innovation campus and research park that offers supportive commercial, and hospitality uses.

17.1 Biotech and technology hub.

Support the continued expansion of the biotech and technologies industries.

17.2 Variety of office types.

Support the development of business incubator space, wet labs, research and development space, modern offices, and co-working spaces as desired by the market.

17.3 Warehouse and distribution.

Prohibit the construction of new buildings that primarily provide large scale warehouse and distribution services.

17.4 Redevelopment of buildings.

Support the redevelopment of older industrial and commercial uses into higher intensity office, and research and development buildings.

17.5 Building heights.

Allow buildings of up to 75 feet in the Industrial Flex land use designation.

17.6 Street network.

As redevelopment occurs, encourage the construction of new roadways and upgrade existing roadways to include improved pedestrian and bicycle amenities to create a more fine-grained transportation network.

17.7 Amgen coordination.

Coordinate with Amgen to maintain their headquarters and campus.

Goal LU-18: Diversify land uses along Highway 101 Corridor in Rancho Conejo South

18.1 Mixed-use center.

Encourage the development of a mixed-use development area with housing, office, service uses and retail in the area generally bounded by Teller Road, West Hillcrest Drive, and Rancho Conejo Boulevard to serve employees of office and research and development uses.

18.2 Hotel and hospitality uses.

Support the addition of hotel and conference amenities that support employment uses along the Highway 101 corridor.

18.3 Mixed-use community on Hillcrest Drive.

Develop a mixed-use community on Hillcrest Drive that supports workforce housing for the Rancho Conejo industrial area and the following:
• Improve connectivity to adjacent transportation modes, including ParkN-Ride facilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities. • Provide transitional uses, design features, and setbacks from the existing neighborhood to the east.
76 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

18.4 Borchard property.

Require the preparation of a specific plan or master plan for the vacant site located southwest of the intersection of Borchard Road and Highway 101 with the following:
• A mixed-use district with a diversity of housing types, retail, and community uses.
• On-site dedication and construction of a park.
• Residential or other compatible uses adjacent to the existing neighborhood. In particular, compatible uses should also face Alice Drive and Strauss Drive.
• Provide street connections to Alice Drive, Denise Street, and Michael Drive. Coordination with the Ventura County Watershed Protection District will be required.
• Bicycle path improvements and connections along the Arroyo Conejo Creek between the existing neighborhood and Borchard Road. • Mitigation for areas within the floodplain of Arroyo Creek. • Transitions to adjacent single-family residential neighborhoods.

This could include setbacks, landscape buffers, and transitions or variations in building height and massing.
• A maximum of 3-story buildings (or 35 feet in height) within 200 feet of existing single-family neighborhoods.

Land Use | 77
Figure 4.10 Rancho Conejo North and South

RESIDENTIAL
Neighborhood High (>20 to 30 du/acre)
Neighborhood Low Medium (>6 to 10 du/acre)

MIXED-USE
Mixed-Use (>20 to 30 du/acre, 1.0 FAR)

COMMERCIAL
Commercial Neighborhood (0.5 FAR)
Commercial Town (1.0 FAR)
Commercial Regional (2.0 FAR)

INDUSTRIAL
Industrial Low (1.0 FAR)
Industrial Flex (2.0 FAR)

INSTITUTIONAL
Institutional
Parks, Golf Courses, and Open Space
City Limits
0 0.25 0.5 1.0 mi.

Highway 101
Rancho Conejo Blvd
W Hillcrest Dr
78 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Westlake and East End
Goal LU-19: Enhance the Westlake and East End employment districts as a cohesive mix of employment, commercial, and hospitality uses.

19.1 Commercial intersection.

Support the continued commercial uses in the East End and Westlake area, particularly The Promenade at Westlake and Westlake Plaza.

19.2 Intensify employment uses.

Support intensification of industrial and employment uses southeast of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Lakeview Canyon Road, including attracting new and expanding biotech and tech businesses.

19.3 Variety of office types.

Encourage development of business incubator space, research and development space, offices, and co-working spaces as desired by the market in the employment and industrial areas both north and south of Highway 101 in the Westlake and East End areas.
0 0.25 0.5 1.0 mi.

Figure 4.11 Westlake and East End

MIXED-USE
Mixed-Use (>20 to 30 du/acre, 1.0 FAR)

COMMERCIAL
Commercial Neighborhood (0.5 FAR)
Commercial Town (1.0 FAR)
Commercial Regional (2.0 FAR)

INDUSTRIAL
Industrial Low (1.0 FAR)
Industrial Flex (2.0 FAR)

INSTITUTIONAL
Institutional
City Limits
Sphere of Influence
Highway 101
S Westlake Blvd
Land Use | 79
Mixed-Use Village Centers
Goal LU-20: Develop thriving, walkable Village Centers that support the daily needs of residents within the vicinity.

20.1 Retail and services.

Require that at least 50% of the existing retail square footage be incorporated when a site is redeveloped in order to ensure that retail and services remain within walking distance of residential neighborhoods.

20.2 Multi-family housing.

Encourage the addition of multi-family housing at the Mixed-Use Village Centers at the Moorpark Road and Janss Road intersection, and Erbes Road and Avenida de Los Arboles intersection.

20.3 Gathering spaces.

Introduce new public gathering places in Village Centers such as plazas or courtyards.

20.4 Bicycle and pedestrian connections.

Improve pedestrian and bicycle connections between Village Centers and neighborhoods within approximately one mile of the Village Center. Improved connections could include new pedestrian connections through cul-de-sacs, upgraded pedestrian crossings, the additional of bicycle facilities such as bike paths or separated bike lanes and bicycle parking.

Figure 4.12 Mixed-Use Village Centers

MIXED-USE
Mixed-Use (>20 to 30 du/acre, 1.0 FAR)
0 0.25 0.5 1.0 mi.

State Route 23
E Avenida De Los Arboles
Erbes Rd
N Westlake Blvd
W Janss Rd
80 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 5
Mobility
Mobility | 81
Statutory Requirements
California law requires that this Element includes existing and proposed major thoroughfares, existing and proposed transportation routes, terminals, and other local public utilities and facilities, all correlated directly with the Land Use Element. The law also stipulates that the City must plan for a balanced multimodal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways for safe and convenient travel. A balanced network means a system that provides for all users of all ages and abilities including bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, pedestrians, user of public transportation and seniors. The following statutory requirements have guided the network recommendations and goals and policies outline in this Element.

Overview of Chapter
The Mobility Element of the General Plan describes the transportation system in the City and provides goals and policies for Thousand Oaks to continue to improve access and connectivity for residents, businesses, and visitors. Through this Mobility Element, the City endeavors to create and maintain a multimodal transportation system that is safe for travelers of all ages and abilities regardless of mode. The transportation system should be safe, equitable, affordable, efficient, and accessible to all people in Thousand Oaks while improving outcomes for community health and providing flexibility to accommodate future growth.

Topics covered in this Element include:
• Statutory Requirements
• Implementation Plans
• Transportation System
• Functional Classification System
• Pedestrian Network
• Bicycle Network
• Transit Network
• Key Issues and Opportunities
• Goals and Policies
82 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Complete Streets
The California Complete Streets Act of 2008 or AB 1358 (Government Code §65040.2 and §65302) was signed into law on September 30, 2008. Beginning January 1, 2011, AB 1358 required circulation elements to address the transportation system from a multimodal perspective. The Complete Streets Act also requires circulation elements to consider the multiple users of the transportation system, including children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Complete Streets are designed for everyone. Their function prioritizes safety, comfort and access to destinations, especially for people and disadvantaged communities that have not been served by traditional transportation methods. Complete Streets promote multimodal means to make a street network that improves access and safety for people walking, biking, driving, riding transit, and moving actively with assistive devices to shops, jobs, services and schools within the community.

To accomplish this, the City will consider the following components when implementing Complete Streets:
• Improve safety for users
• Consider designs for users of all ages and abilities
• Consider innovative street and intersection designs whenever possible • Prioritize modes based on General Plan policies
• Implement Complete Streets during the planning process, development engineering, Capital Improvement Plan and maintenance activities.

Global Warming Solutions
Act of 2016
Signed into law on September 8, 2016, the Global Warming Solutions Act or SB 32 (Health & Safety Code §38566) established a comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change. This bill requires the California Air Resources (CARB) to develop regulations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 40% below the 1990 levels by 2030. On January 1, 2017, the greenhouse gas rules and market mechanisms, adopted by CARB, took effect, and became legally enforceable.

Electric vehicles help meet the State’s climate reduction goals Mobility | 83
Sustainable Communities and
Climate Protection Act
The Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act or Senate Bill 375 (Government Code §29532) supports climate goals by helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions through coordinated transportation, housing, and land use planning. Under the Act, incentives are provided to cities and developers to reduce the number and length of automobile commuting trips, which will help meet the statewide targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions set by AB 32. SB 375 requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization to add a broader vision for growth, called a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), to its transportation plan. The SCS must lay out a plan to meet the region’s transportation, housing, economic, and environmental needs in a way that enables the area to lower greenhouse gas emission. The SCS should integrate transportation, land use, and housing policies to plan for achieving the emission targets for their region. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and SCS were adopted in 2016.

The City of Thousand Oaks will incorporate the following components of SB 375 into the General Plan:
• Support transit-oriented development
• Support infill housing development and redevelopment
• Support mixed-use development that improves community walkability • Promote land use patterns that encourage the use of alternatives to single-occupant automobile use
• Apply Transportation System Management (TSM) and complete streets practices to arterials through enhanced service, frequency, convenience, and choices.

Vehicle Miles Traveled
In 2021, Senate Bill (SB) 743 (Government Code §66006) Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) policy replaced the previous congestion-related Level of Service (LOS) method as a metric for assessing transportation impacts of land use and transportation projects. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), all local agencies must evaluate environmental impacts from transportation based on VMT.

The VMT method measures the total distance traveled by vehicles driving to, from, and within the City attributed to a proposed project.

This way of evaluating transportation impacts supports the reduction of GHG emissions, development of multimodal transportation networks, and diversification of land uses.

Mixed use developments help reduce VMT
84 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Implementation Plans
The following implementation plans are already underway and will assist the City in improving the overall quality of multimodal circulation and safety.

Active Transportation Plan
The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) was adopted in 2019 to provide Thousand Oaks with planning guidance for non-motorized travel infrastructure improvements that make multimodal transportation safer and more enjoyable. The ATP seeks to educate and to promote active transportation to increase bicycling and walking throughout the city to reduce VMT and GHG emissions.

Local Road Safety Plan
The Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP), adopted in 2021 by City Council, analyzes collision data, assesses infrastructure deficiencies through an inventory of roadway system elements, and identifies roadway safety solutions on a citywide basis. The analysis evaluates where and why collisions occur and helps guide roadway design by informing which safety or enforcement countermeasures are appropriate for all modes of travel. The plan provides an evaluation where and why vehicular, bicyclist and pedestrian-related collisions occur and helps guide roadway design by informing which safety or enforcement countermeasures are appropriate for all modes of travel.

Road Design and
Construction Standards
The City Road Design and Construction Standards were adopted on May 15, 2018, by the City Council. The standards include specifications on design and construction, road cross sections, road design, storm drains, pedestrian access ramps, driveway design, traffic design, and other miscellaneous elements of roadways, such as bus turnouts and lighting.

These design standards, in combination with Complete Streets criteria, have the potential to improve bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, including pedestrian access ramps, crosswalk markings, lane drops, green bike lane striping, bus turnout, street lighting, intersection lighting layout, tree planting, and bus stop requirements.

Cover of the City’s Active Transportation Plan
Mobility | 85
Background
Thousand Oaks is served by a system of streets and paths that enable connections within the City and to the regional transportation system.

They are classified by their function with different characteristics and accommodations for modes of travel and access to adjacent land use.

The system supports multiple modes of travel and contains network elements that support vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit travel.

The Functional Classification System of roadways (described below) serves as the City’s policy guidance for the development of multimodal streets and balances all network elements.

Functional Classification System
Functional street classification systems categorize a jurisdiction’s streets into a hierarchy organized by function and community context, which considers all users, not just automobiles. The functional classification system is consistent with the California Road System which is composed of:

Principal Arterials
Principal Arterials are primary roads that serve the major centers of activity, the highest volume corridors, and the longest trips.

Minor Arterials
Minor Arterials are secondary roads that interconnect and augment the principal arterial system.

Collector Streets
Collector Streets provide circulation and connect residential, commercial and industrial areas to arterial roadways.

Local Streets
Local Streets are generally residential roads which permit direct access to abutting land.

Multi-Use Trails
Multi-Use Trails are not part of the state classification system, but are bike paths and trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use which may be located along roadways or off-road.

The City’s Road Design and Construction Standards include specifications on design and construction, roadway cross sections, road design, storm drains, driveway design, traffic design, and other miscellaneous elements of roadways, such as bus turnouts. These design guidelines include the provision for bicycle and pedestrian network elements, including pedestrian access ramps, crosswalk markings, lane drops, green bike lane striping, bus turnout, street lighting, intersection lighting layout, tree planting, and bus stop requirements.

The functional classification system described below is represented in Table 5.1 and mapped in Figure 5.1.
86 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
ErbesRd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd
W Hillcrest Dr
W Lynn Rd
N Westlake Bl
S Westlake Bl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan Rd
N Moorpark Rd
E JanssRd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
Sunset HillsBl
S Reino Rd
E Avenida DeLos Arboles
E H illcrest Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Ol dConejo Rd
Hampshire Rd
N Reino Rd
W Olsen Rd
Via LasBrisas
W Potrero Rd
TriunfoCanyon Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
Thousand Oaks Bl
W Avenida DeLos Arboles
Westlake Bl
W Wilbur Rd
W Janss Rd
Agoura Rd
Camino DosRios
Rancho Dos Vientos
S Moorpar k Rd
S Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
Camarillo
Simi Valley
Westlake Village
£¤ Agoura Hills 101
£¤101
£¤101
£¤101
23 UV
23 UV
0 0.5 1 2 Miles °
Raimi + Associates 2019, Nelson\Nygaard 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles Parks and Open Space Adjacent Cities
City Sphere Unincorporated Counties Land
Freeway/Expressway City Limits
Principal Arterial
Secondary/Minor Arterial
Collector
Local
Future Secondary/
Minor Arterial
Future Collector
Future Local
Figure 5.1 Roadway Classifications
Mobility | 87
Freeways
Freeways provide regional access to and from Thousand Oaks via State highways. Two freeways pass through Thousand Oaks:
• Highway 101 provides access to Los Angeles and greater Los Angeles County to the east, and to Camarillo and greater Ventura County to the west.
• State Route 23 provides access to Moorpark and Simi Valley to the north and to communities in the Santa Monica mountains and Malibu to the south.

The freeway system is the through truck route system for the City.

Though the State highway right-of-way is managed by Caltrans, the City may identify opportunities to improve facilities along the freeway onand off-ramps.

Principal Arterials
Principal Arterials are primary roads that serve the major centers of activity, the highest volume corridors, and the longest trips. Principal arterials have a standard curb-to-curb width of 102 feet and overall right-of-way width of 118 feet. The expected minimum distance between intersections is ¼ mile. Though these roads have the capacity to accommodate six lanes, some, such as Lynn Road, are designed as four or five lanes, using the excess right-of-way for features such as center medians, buffered bicycle lanes, center turn lanes, or dedicated lanes for freeway access. Principal Arterials generally do not have on-street parking.

Principal Arterials have sidewalks that are connected at intersections through signalized and marked crosswalks. Bicycle lanes should be physically separated from vehicle lanes by a buffer due to high vehicle design speed. Transit services operate along Principal Arterials where bus stop amenities and speed and reliability elements should be used to improve transit service. Pedestrian and bicycle network elements provide first-last mile connectivity to transit stops.

Minor Arterials
Minor Arterials are secondary roads that connect neighborhoods and community destinations to wider streets that connect to freeways. The Minor Arterials have a standard right-of-way width of 64 to 78 feet curb-to-curb and 84 to 94 feet total. Median openings or intersections should be more than 500 feet from an adjacent intersection. Sidewalks and medians are a common feature of most four-lane roads. Segments of these roads have been converted to three-lane roads, with one lane in each direction and a center-turn-lane, as seen on Janss Road west of Moorpark Road and Hillcrest Drive west of State Route 23. Minor Arterials generally do not have on-street parking.

Minor Arterials have sidewalks that are connected at intersections through signalized and marked crosswalks. Bicycle lanes should be physically separated from vehicle lanes by a buffer due to high vehicle design speed. Transit services operate along Minor Arterials where bus stop amenities and speed and reliability elements should be used to improve transit service. Pedestrian and bicycle network elements provide first-last mile connectivity to transit stops.
88 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Collector Streets
Collector Streets provide circulation and connect residential, commercial, and industrial areas to arterial roadways. They have a standard right-ofway width of 40 feet curb-to-curb and 60 feet total which may widened to 54 feet curb-to-curb and 66 feet total in industrial or commercial areas. Collector Streets may have on-street parking. Collector Streets have sidewalks that are connected at intersections with marked crosswalks. Bicycle lanes can be unbuffered and sharrows can be installed along Collector Streets. Transit services operate along Collector Streets where stop amenities and speed and reliability elements should be used to improve transit service. Pedestrian and bicycle network elements provide first-last mile connectivity to transit stops.

Local Streets
Local Streets are generally residential roads which permit direct access to abutting land and accommodate lower volume local traffic traveling at lower speeds. Local Streets have a standard right-of-way width of 36 feet curb-to-curb and 56 feet total which narrows to 32 feet curbto-curb and 52 feet total in cul-de-sacs. Local Street width may vary in rural and hillside areas. Local Streets generally have on-street parking.

Local Streets have sidewalks that are connected at intersections with marked and unmarked crosswalks. Bicycle lanes can be unbuffered and sharrows (shared lane markings) can be installed along Local Streets. Pedestrian and bicycle network elements provide first-last mile connectivity to transit stops.

Example of a Collector Street in the City
Mobility | 89
Table 5.1 Functional Classification
Street Type Characteristics Design Elements Modal Priority Networks Principal
Arterial • Primary roads that serve the major centers
of activity, the highest volume corridors and
the longest trips
• Vehicle design speed of 55 MPH
• Typical ROW of 118’, 14’ Median
• 44’ of travel lanes/bicycle lanes in each direction
• Dedicated turn pockets
• Buffered bike lanes, paths and sidewalks, buffers
where possible
• Marked and signalized crosswalks
• Generally, no on-street parking
• Vehicles: Primarily serves vehicles with focus on through traffic and vehicle capacity, high volume/high speed traffic and freeway access
• Pedestrians: Sidewalks, pedestrian network enhancements in commercial and school areas. Signalized pedestrian
crossings
• Bicycles: Develop physically separated lanes and paths • Transit: Corridors with stop amenities and speed and
reliability elements, and first/last-mile elements
Minor
Arterial • Secondary roads which interconnect and
augment the principal arterial system
• Vehicle design speed of 55 MPH to 40 MPH
• Typical vehicle ROW of 94’, 14’ Median optional
• 32’ of travel lanes/bicycle lanes in each direction
• Buffered bike lanes, paths and sidewalks, buffers
where possible
• Marked and signalized crosswalks
• Generally, no on-street parking
• Vehicles: Primarily serves vehicles with focus on through traffic and vehicle capacity, high volume/high speed traffic • Pedestrians: Sidewalks, pedestrian network enhancements in commercial and school areas. Signalized pedestrian
crossings
• Bicycles: Develop physically separated lanes and paths • Transit: Corridors with stop amenities and speed and
reliability elements, and first/last-mile elements
Collector
Streets • Connects all modes of travel between
neighborhoods and activity centers
• Vehicle design speed of 30 MPH
• Wider configuration in industrial and
commercial areas
• ROW of 60’ to 66’, No center median
• 20’ to 27’ of travel lanes/bicycle lanes in each
direction
• May have unbuffered bike lanes, sharrows, paths
and sidewalks
• May include on-street parking
• Vehicles: For lower-speed access to arterial network, traffic calming treatments can be used
• Pedestrians: Sidewalks, pedestrian network enhancements in commercial and school areas. Signalized pedestrian
crossings
• Bicycles: Unbuffered bicycle lanes and paths
• Transit: First/last-mile connectivity
Local
Streets • Generally residential neighborhood streets
• Vehicle design speed of 25 MPH
• Alternative Cul-de-Sac and Hillside
development configurations
• Typical vehicle ROW of 40’ to 56’
• Unbuffered bicycle lanes or sharrows
• Can have unmarked and marked crossings
• Generally, on-street parking
• Vehicles: Slow automobile travel and site access
• Pedestrians: Sidewalks, pedestrian network enhancements, especially to access commercial and school areas
• Bicycles: Unbuffered bicycle lanes and sharrows
• Transit: First/last-mile connectivity
Multiuse
Paths • Roadside, off-street or trail paths for
non-motorized travel and recreation
• ROW of 8’ or more
• May be paved or unpaved
• Roadside paths buffered from street
• Vehicles: No motorized vehicles permitted
• Pedestrians, Bicycles and Equestrians: Accommodated
90 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Multiuse Paths
The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) is a joint powers agency between the City of Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). It coordinates land use planning and policy decisions, and facilitates open space acquisition, management, and conservation according to the goals identified in the City’s General Plan Open Space and Conservation Elements. COSCA maintains over 150 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use.

While many of the trails are through open space areas in the City and are primarily intended for recreation, there are trails within the built areas of the City which can provide connectivity to the Conejo Creek Bike Path and roadside paths along sections of:
• Lynn Road
• Rancho Dos Vientos
• Borchard Road
• Via Ricardo
• Reino Road
• Lakeview Canyon Road
• Conejo School Road
Traffic Calming Treatments
The management of vehicle speed is important to systemically improve safety in neighborhoods and reduce traffic stress on roadways. Traffic calming involves changes in street alignment, installation of barriers, and other physical measures to reduce traffic speeds and/or cut-through motor vehicle traffic volumes. The intent of traffic calming is to alter driver behavior and to improve street safety, livability, and other public purposes. Examples of traffic calming treatments are roundabouts/ traffic circles; speed humps/speed cushions; curb extensions; warning signs; speed tables/raised crosswalks; radar feedback signs; chicanes; traffic diverters; and on-street edge friction of on-street parking, bicycle lanes, street trees and shrubs.

Conejo Creek Bicycle Path in Thousand Oaks
Mobility | 91
Pedestrian Network
The local pedestrian network is a sidewalk system along the roadway network, greenbelts, and trails with sidewalk crossings at intersections.

The City’s Road Design and Construction Standards require sidewalks for all roadway cross sections with a five-foot minimum sidewalk with no buffer area (monolithic) and four-foot minimum sidewalk if a buffer is present (detached). All sidewalks should have a four-foot minimum for clear space which is free of obstructions from street furniture and utilities. Thousand Oaks streets have a relatively complete sidewalk network and the City prioritizes construction of sidewalks, based on the ATP, where there are unbuilt sections of sidewalks along roadways.

The extensive network of sidewalks connects neighborhoods and nonresidential areas; however, there are opportunities to improve comfort and reduce pedestrian exposure to potential conflicts with vehicular traffic by expanding beyond the minimum requirements, especially on streets with commercial uses and higher activity levels.

Intersection Crossings
The mobility and safety of pedestrians requires the prioritization of non-motorized modes at intersections. While many intersections are signalized and have marked crosswalks, there are some segments with long blocks without convenient marked crossing points. Providing additional crossing treatments, enhancing pedestrian visibility, and reducing the total crossing distances will help to alert motorists of pedestrian crossings between intersections.

Pedestrian Network Enhancements
Strategies to enhance the pedestrian network include enhanced crosswalk markings, curb extensions, pedestrian (symbol) warning signs, refuge islands, mid-block crossings, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), overhead street lighting, senior zones, and transit stop amenities.

Pedestrian network enhancements encourage walking and provide usable space for all ages. Collaborative implementation of parklets, community gardens, street furnishings, public art, and pocket parks provide amenities within the community framework.

Enhancements to the pedestrian environment are specifically important along safe routes to school and in mixed-use, commercial neighborhood, and commercial town land use districts to connect residential areas to schools, grocery stores, and employment centers within walking distance (1/2 miles).

Mid-block crossings and pedestrian refuges make walking safer and more comfortable for pedestrians 92 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Example of a Multi-Use Path
Bicycle Network
The local bicycle network in Thousand Oaks is composed of a combination of facilities on roadways, sidewalks, and off-street paths.

A defined bikeway network describes the hierarchy of bicycle-specific infrastructure. The recommended bicycle network from the ATP is shown in Figure 5.2. Many of the proposed improvements are Class II bicycle lanes sited on principal arterials such as Thousand Oaks Boulevard and secondary/minor arterials such as Hillcrest Drive.

Class I: Multi-Use Paths
Class I multi-use paths (frequently referred to as “bicycle paths”) are physically separated from motor vehicle travel routes, with exclusive rights-of-way for non-motorized users like bicyclists and pedestrians.

Class II: Bicycle Lanes
Bicycle lanes are one-way, dedicated right-of-way bicycle facilitates that carry bicycle traffic in the same direction as the adjacent motor vehicle traffic. They are typically located along the right side of the street, between the adjacent travel lane and curb, road edge, or parking lane. Bicycle lanes can be buffered to provide additional space between the bicycle lane and traffic lane, parking lane, or both, to provide a more protected and comfortable space for people riding bicycles than a conventional bicycle lane. The buffering also encourages bicycle riders to avoid riding too close to parked vehicles, keeping them out of the “door zone” where there is the potential danger of drivers or passengers suddenly opening doors into the bicyclists’ path.

Mobility | 93
Class III: Bicycle Route
A bicycle route is a suggested bicycle path of travel marked by signs designating a preferred path between destinations. Class III bicycle routes rely on a shared right-of-way and are recommended for lowvolume and low-speed streets (facilities with dedicated right-of-way are recommended on streets with higher levels of traffic stress). “Sharrow” shared lane markings are commonly used where parking is adjacent to the travel lane. It is common practice to center them within the typical vehicular travel route in the rightmost travel lane to ensure adequate separation between bicycles and parked vehicles. Sharrows may be installed over a green background to enhance visibility.

Class IV: Separated Bikeways (Cycle Tracks)
Separated bikeways are dedicated right-of-way bicycle-specific routes that combine the user experience of a multi-use path with the on-street infrastructure of a conventional bicycle lane. Separated bikeways are physically separated from motor vehicle traffic and designed to be distinct from any adjoining sidewalk. The variety of physical protection measures can include vertical delineators, raised curbs, parkway strips, reflective bollards, or parked vehicles. Separated bikeways can be either one-way or two-way, depending on the street network, available right-of-way, and adjacent land use, but the safety of two-way separated bikeways must be carefully evaluated, especially if they cross motor vehicle routes. This is because few motor vehicle drivers are accustomed to two-way separated bikeways, and they may tend to only look to the left when deciding whether it is safe to proceed across the separated bikeways.

Enhanced Bicycle Treatments
Several bike network gaps occur at major intersections, where high traffic volume and higher-speed traffic prevails, and safety concerns are greater. The ATP identifies key physical and visual strategies used to communicate the presence of potential conflict zones between bicyclists and vehicles.

Enhancements such as bike boxes provide a designated painted area on the traffic lane at a signalized intersection that provides bicyclists a safe and visible way to wait ahead of queuing traffic during the red signal phase. This positioning helps encourage bicyclists traveling straight through not to wait against the curb for the signal change.

Signage and wayfinding, colored bicycle lanes, green intersection conflict zone striping, protected intersections, two-stage turn queue box, bicycle signals, and bicycle detection protects people riding bicycles on the roadway system.

Example of a Cycle Track
94 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
°
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles, UrbanFootprint.

Unincorporated Counties Land
City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Adjacent Cities
¤£101
¤£101
¤£101
¤£101
23 UVErbes Rd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd
W Hillcrest Dr
W Lynn Rd
N Westlake Bl
S Westlake Bl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan R d
N Moorpark Rd
E Janss Rd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
S Reino Rd
E Avenida De Los Arboles
E H illcrest Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Sunset Hil ls Bl
Hampshire Rd
Old C onejo Rd
Via Las Brisas
W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
Thousand Oaks Bl
Westlake Bl
W Janss Rd
W Wilbur Rd
Agoura Rd
Rancho Dos Vientos
S Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
Westlake Lake
Class 1: Bicycle Path
Class 2: Bicycle Lane
Class 3: Bicycle Route
Bike Shoulder
Proposed Class 2
Proposed Bikeway Improvements Existing Bikeways
Proposed Class 3
Proposed Class 4
Figure 5.2 Thousand Oaks Active Transportation Plan Proposed Bikeway Network Mobility | 95
Transit Network
Thousand Oaks is served by multiple transit operators along its roadway network and at the City Transportation Center. Transit services provide reliable and efficient travel to social services, healthcare facilities, and key job centers. The existing transit routes operating in the City are shown in Figure 5.3. Corridors recommended for future transit priority improvements, which may include rider amenities, speed and reliability enhancements, and connection points with other modes, include:

Transit Rider Amenities
Transit stop amenities play a key role in the success of a public transit by contributing toward rider safety and comfort and thereby have a major role in attracting ridership. Passenger information amenities include digital signage, posted information, and real-time vehicle tracking technology to display the next bus arrival time either at stops or on smartphones. Bus stop amenities are capital items such as shelters, benches, and lighting. Thousand Oaks Transit has three different types of bus stops: stops with sign poles, stops with benches, and stops with bus shelters.

Transit Speed and Reliability Elements
Speed and reliability enhancements include transit signal priority, queue jump lanes, peak hour transit only lanes, bus turnouts, and bus bulb curb extensions to reduce the travel time for transit services and make travel by transit more time-competitive with auto travel. The City can consider utilizing these strategies to improve transit service quality and increase ridership.

First and Last Mile Connectivity
First and Last Mile connectivity evaluates how to effectively link people to and from transit stops to their origins and destinations, specifically addressing the proverbial last mile at each end of their journey.

Understanding that public transportation rarely stops directly in front of a passenger’s origin or destination is important to ensure transit users have the required non-motorized infrastructure to help encourage them to get to and from their transit stop by walking or bicycling, or using a wheelchair, skateboard, or scooter.
• Thousand Oaks Boulevard
• Rancho Conejo Boulevard
• Borchard Road
• Lynn Road
• Reino Road
• Hillcrest Drive
• Olsen Road
• Avenida de Los Arboles
• Avenida del Las Flores
• Janss Road
• Moorpark Road
• Westlake Boulevard
• Agoura Road
• Wilbur Road
Thousand Oaks Transit vehicle, which serves City residents 96 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Camarillo
Simi Valley
Westlake Village
Agoura Hills
0 0.5 1 2 Miles °
Raimi + Associates 2019, Nelson\Nygaard 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles Parks and Open Space Adjacent Cities
Unincorporated Counties Land City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Existing Transit Routes City Limits
23 UV
23 UV
£¤101
£¤101
£¤101
£¤101
ErbesRd
E Olsen Rd
BorchardRd
W Hillcrest Dr
W LynnRd
N Westlake Bl
S WestlakeBl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan Rd
N Moorpark Rd
E JanssRd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
Sunset HillsBl
S Reino Rd
E Avenida De Los Arboles
E H illcrest Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Ol dConejo Rd
Hampshire Rd
N Reino Rd
W Olsen Rd
Via Las Brisas
W Potrero Rd
Triunfo Canyon Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
Thousand Oaks Bl
W Avenida De Los Arboles
Westlake Bl
W Wilbur Rd
W Janss Rd
Agoura Rd
Camino DosRios
Rancho Dos Vientos
S Moorpar kRd
S Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
Figure 5.3 Transit Routes
Mobility | 97
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key issues and opportunities facing the City, relative to mobility topics. This concise list was developed by combining public input and existing data to address issues facing the City now as well as those foreseen in the future, and the opportunities for positive change.

Connectivity
Thousand Oaks’ Street network was developed as an auto-oriented system that relies on wide, high-speed, high-vehicle volume arterials to provide connectivity across the City. Although dead-ends and cul-de-sacs in the local street network minimize cut-through traffic in residential areas, they create challenges for multimodal connectivity as people walking, biking, and riding transit must be accommodated on higher speed and volume arterials. Repurposing “extra” roadway width along many corridors which have excess roadway capacity and the ongoing road re-surfacing project, along with evaluating the possibility of finding new pedestrian and bicycle cut throughs provides opportunities for the City to reallocate right-of-way and enhance accommodations for all modes of travel.

Access
Existing land use patterns make it difficult to meet transportation needs without a car. Most trips in the City are local trips and the City’s auto-oriented layout makes it challenging for people to walk, bike, or take transit for travel using arterial and collector streets. Commercial uses are primarily limited to the Highway 101 corridor, Thousand Oaks Boulevard, and Moorpark Road which may increase localized congestion. Many residential neighborhoods are more than a 25-minute walk to the nearest retail, so expanding multimodal mobility and transit options to commercial centers is key to making it possible to complete local trips without driving.

Roadway Classification
The roadway network is currently classified based on the number of vehicle lanes, which reflects an auto-oriented approach. Defining multimodal elements for the roadway network is key to promoting future transportation priorities as it defines expectations about roadway design and its relationship to land use.

Walkable Neighborhoods
The City maintains an extensive network of sidewalks; however, limited marked crosswalks, wide streets, and high traffic volume diminish the comfort of walking in some areas. The City has a relatively low density of intersections, which means that there is an opportunity to further enhance crossing locations for people walking. Most residential neighborhoods are within a 10-minute walk to parks or open space making the pedestrian network critical for accessing physical activity and recreation. By implementing Complete Street treatments like highvisibility crosswalk markings and pedestrian symbol warning signage at intersections, the City can further enhance walkability.

Example of enhanced bicycle safety improvement
98 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Bicycle Facilities
The City maintains a well-developed bicycle network, but there are opportunities to improve comfort and reduce exposure to conflicts with automobiles. The City has experienced a slightly higher frequency of bicycle collisions relative to the rest of Ventura County and similarsized cities in California. Most of Thousand Oaks’ bicycle facilities have a high level of traffic stress, meaning people riding on these roads are exposed to high speed and high-volume vehicle traffic. As a result, they favor the most confident and experienced cyclists, who are comfortable riding on most high volume/speed roads in the City. Welcoming and safe bicycle facilities that minimize exposure to fast vehicle traffic and provide mobility choices for all ages and abilities, would appeal to more people and reduce bicycle collisions. Expanding the citywide network of separated bike lanes, dedicated connections across or under Highway 101 and State Route 23, and a network that helps individuals navigate around challenging topography should be prioritized.

Transit Service
Key destinations within the City and neighboring communities are well served by fixed-route bus service provided by Thousand Oaks Transit.

In the future, the City can attract new ridership and improve experience for existing riders by coordinating with Thousand Oaks Transit and other providers to implement speed and reliability measures, enhanced stop amenities, and improved first/last-mile access to transit options, as well as potentially increased service along Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Regional Travel
The City daily VMT for workers employed in Thousand Oaks is considerably higher than home-based trips for residents of the City, and above the countywide average. This means that employees are traveling long distances to reach their jobs in Thousand Oaks. There is an opportunity to further engage with transit agencies and local employers to support enhanced regional services, connections to existing transit, commuter trip reduction programs such as van- and car-pools, and other Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs which reduce driving in single-occupancy vehicles.

Managing Growth
By focusing future transportation investments on supporting multimodal access to mixed-use development and the priority development areas identified in the land use plan, the City can better connect residents to retail and public amenities. As the City grows, adding new residents and users to the local transportation network, the City can leverage emerging technologies and policies to reduce the vehicle trips generated through a combination of active transportation networks, new mobility options, and programs that incentivize mode shift.

Mobility | 99
Access and Connectivity
Goal M-1: Create and maintain a transportation system that is safe for travelers of all ages and abilities regardless of mode.

1.1 Safety.

Use the LRSP to ensure a systemic safety approach to proactively mitigate conflict and address gaps in the system.

1.2 Roadway design.

Design and maintain the public right-of-way through a complete streets approach that facilitates safe, comfortable, and efficient travel for all travelers on the roadway.

1.3 Intersection design.

Prioritize mobility and safety for non-motorized modes in all intersection designs.

1.4 Active transportation.

Reaffirm and implement the ATP, designed to provide guidance for non-motorized travel, infrastructure improvements that make multimodal transportation safer, provides connectivity, and safety thresholds for roadways that balance motorized and nonmotorized transportation.

1.5 Safe routes to school.

Continue to partner with local schools, the Conejo Valley Unified School District, and the Thousand Oaks Police Department to identify and implement infrastructure improvements and non-infrastructure programs that improve school safety and increase the number of students walking and bicycling to school.

Goal M-2: Create and maintain a public transit system that is safe, equitable, affordable, efficient, and accessible to all people in Thousand Oaks.

2.1 Mobility barriers.

Prioritize investments that reduce first/last-mile barriers to transit stops and encourage alternative transportation options for activities of daily living.

2.2 Access to services.

Provide safe and comfortable connections for walking and biking from residential areas to schools, parks, grocery stores, employment centers, transit stops, and essential services citywide.

2.3 Transit service coverage.

Work with Thousand Oaks Transit and regional transit providers to provide reliable and quality transit services to social services, healthcare facilities, and major employment areas.

2.4 Transit service frequency.

Increase the frequency of service along existing transit routes.

Goals and Policies
The following section includes goals and policies for the Mobility Element. Mobility implementation actions are located in Chapter 13:

Implementation.
100 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

2.5 Transit experience.

Improve the delivery of transit service through speed and reliability measures, enhanced rider amenities and information.

2.6 Equitable mobility.

Address the needs and perspectives of people of color, those who speak limited English, are cost-burdened, senior citizens, and the disabled in the design and development of new mobility services and technologies.

2.7 Regional programs.

Support regional congestion management and air quality programs.

Community Health
Goal M-3: Create and maintain a transportation system that improves community health.

3.1 Active travel facilities.

Prioritize active transportation investments that provide a means for physical activity, and improve access to Thousand Oaks’ parks, trails, equestrian facilities, open space, and recreational areas.

3.2 Neighborhood streets.

Create neighborhood streets that unify neighborhoods, reduce vehicle speeds, reduce barriers for people walking, biking, and riding transit, and provide connectivity to arterials. Extend stubbed-end streets through future developments, where appropriate, to provide necessary circulation within a developing area and for adequate internal circulation within and between neighborhoods.

3.3 Truck routing.

Identify, designate, and enforce truck routes to minimize the impact of truck traffic on residential neighborhoods.

3.4 Physical activity.

Design multimodal facilities to a standard that will increase physical activity.

3.5 Mixed-use development.

Require development of mixed-use to include multimodal
improvements, such as convenient bicycle parking and storage facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, and vehicle share programs for reduced parking.

3.6 Trip reduction.

Implement pedestrian-oriented land uses that reduce vehicle miles traveled through providing community supportive services such as healthy food, childcare, and access to other daily services.

3.7 Clean fuels and vehicles.

Continue to encourage the adoption of low and zero emission fuel sources, new mobility technologies, and supporting infrastructure.

Managed Infrastructure Improvements
Goal M-4: Create a transportation system that will accommodate future growth that provides for all modes.

4.1 Roadway classification.

Classify streets based on their modal purpose and land use context.

4.2 Regional access.

Highway 101 and State Route 23 should continue to provide the primary link for regional trips and truck traffic to other communities.

4.3 Congestion management.

Proactively manage traffic operations and parking demand at major destinations and job centers.

4.4 Design standards.

Update design standards for streets, curbs, driveways/accessways, and sidewalks to account for existing and emerging mobility trends and changes in demand over time.

Mobility | 101

4.5 Development standards.

Use development review guidelines that define transportation analysis and site design requirements to address multimodal access needs, connections to the surrounding street and mobility network, and right-size the roadway to the context of future development and its surroundings.

4.6 Micro-mobility support.

Expand mobility for first and last-mile transportation needs in addition to providing access to local university students.

4.7 Parking management.

Implement a comprehensive parking management strategy
that supports economic growth and vitality, and environmental sustainability, and ensures that the available parking supply is utilized at levels that meet ongoing needs.

4.8 Regional travel.

Partner with Caltrans and transit operators to manage regional access and travel on Highway 101 and State Route 23 including multimodal (bicycle) access west of the Conejo Grade.

4.9 Regional collaboration.

Collaborate with VCTC, SCAG, and Caltrans to obtain planning grants and update the Capital Improvement Plan, LRSP, Active Transportation Plan or other transportation planning efforts.

Goal M-5: Create and maintain a transportation system that fosters vibrant commercial centers and economic resiliency.

5.1 Public rights of way.

Construct wider sidewalks on streets in a manner that improves public safety and pedestrian access to commercial areas.

5.2 Flexible parking requirements.

Allow creative and flexible approaches to parking, including maximizing use of existing public supply and sharing between uses to create a “park once environment” and facilitate the revitalization of underutilized land.

5.3 Bicycle parking.

Expand the availability of secure and convenient bicycle parking at key destinations.

5.4 Multimodal improvements.

Multimodal improvements should focus on enhancing access to Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Moorpark Road, and other major arterials.

5.5 Transit equity.

Consider measures that enable fare affordability, including free and/or reduced fares for people without access, such as special needs, seniors and low-income families.

Sustainability
Goal M-6: Create and maintain a transportation system that reduces impacts to the environment while leveraging sustainability innovations.

6.1 Decrease vehicle trips.

Prioritize transportation and development investments and strategies that reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips.

6.2 Decrease vehicle miles traveled.

Prioritize pedestrian, bicycle and other micro-mobility transportation means, and transit enhancements. Encourage infill, mixed-use, and other land use development that locates resources and services near residents’ homes.
102 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

6.3 Emissions reduction.

Support and encourage the adoption of low- and zero-emission vehicles, clean vehicle technologies, charging infrastructure and services to reduce GHG emissions from vehicles.

6.4 Transportation Demand Management (TDM).

Promote and incentivize the use of TDM strategies for employers and expand options for emission reductions from commuting through means such as vehicle sharing, alternative fuel vehicle support, and telecommuting.

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104 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 6
Parks and Open Space
Parks and Open Space | 105
Overview of Chapter
Parks and open spaces provide vital health and social benefits to the residents of Thousand Oaks. They provide space for exercise, socialization, and relaxation, enhance the visual appearance of the City, and make the City an enticing place to live and work. The parks and open space network also supports Thousand Oaks’ unique identity by defining the urban edges of the community and protecting important views and vistas for residents. A well-connected park, trail, and open space system can also help bridge geographic divides and create opportunities for more interaction among Thousand Oaks residents. Parks and open space also contribute to local environmental health by improving air quality, providing cool and shaded areas, and enhancing biodiversity.

The Parks and Open Space Element supports the Thousand Oaks vision to protect natural open spaces, provide convenient access to well-maintained parks, and maintain the community’s character and enviable quality of life. This Element identifies goals and policies to preserve open space resources as well as to provide diverse opportunities for recreation throughout the City. The City actively partners with the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) and Conejo Open Space and Conservation Agency (COSCA) to ensure parks, trails, and open spaces are well-maintained and located equitably throughout the community. This Element should be implemented through detailed master plans and strategic plans prepared by CRPD and COSCA. The following topics are included in this chapter:
• Statutory Requirements
• The Open Space System
• Parks and Recreation System
• Key Issues and Opportunities
• Goals and Policies
Statutory Requirements
The Open Space Element meets the State of California requirements for an open space element as defined in Sections 65302 and 65563 of the Government Code. State law requires all general plans to contain an open space element, which must contain goals, policies, and actions for the comprehensive and long-range preservation and conservation of open space land, including undeveloped lands and outdoor recreation areas. 106 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Background
This section provides an overview of existing parks, trails, and open space conditions in Thousand Oaks. The description includes a detailed inventory of the City’s existing facilities as well as information on the benefits of open spaces and trails for Thousand Oaks residents.

Open Space
Open space means any area designated by the City to preserve the City’s natural resources and open space character. Such lands include scenic ridgelines and steeply sloping hillside terrain, arroyos and barrancas, lakes, creeks, riparian vegetation, floodplains, ecologically diverse native plant and animal communities that include rare and endangered species, critical habitat linkages, and movement corridors that are necessary for the local and regional linkages and movement corridors important to the dispersal of wildlife populations, farming and grazing, historic and archaeological resources, and passive recreation areas.

The hillsides and open spaces form a “ring of green” and enhance the City’s identity and character Parks and Open Space | 107
Benefits of Open Space
Open space areas serve a variety of critical functions in maintaining the balance of natural and built environments, including serving as habitat for wildlife, preventing soil erosion, maintaining air quality, controlling water runoff, serving as the subject for art and educational study, and providing opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and bird watching. Open space also plays an invaluable role in community development by delineating the urban edge where development ends and natural land begins, thus preventing the sprawl of urbanization.

Environmental Benefits
Preserving open space benefits and supports wildlife resources through habitat protection and restoration. Loss or alteration of habitat contributes to the loss of species diversity, and this can cause other ecological disruptions that impact other species. Open space preservation also serves as a critical function to provide wildlife movement corridors. Movement corridors are habitat linkages utilized by wildlife species to gain access to preferred foraging, water sources, nesting, and breeding areas. In the Conejo Valley, wildlife movement corridors also function as critical access routes around developed areas to undeveloped habitats.

Additionally, plant and vegetative resources should be carefully conserved because of their importance for wildlife habitat, watershed protection, climate moderation, erosion control, and their scenic beauty.

Open space affords permanent protection to biologically diverse native plant communities including rare and endangered species. Vegetation prevents erosion and flooding which, in turn, enhances both the quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water resources.

Open space preservation benefits wetlands and the riparian lands which border them as some of the most biologically productive habitats.

They provide important breeding grounds for waterfowl and are an essential water source for wildlife. In addition to valuable habitat, these lands protect water quality by reducing runoff, allowing groundwater recharge, and helping control flooding.

Health and Recreational Benefits
Open spaces in combination with park facilities provide numerous public health benefits for residents of the City. For example, parks allow for group activities and organized sports that provide physical, mental, and social benefits for all ages, especially physical education for the youth.

Whereas natural dirt trails provide opportunities for people to engage in physical activity, such as through hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Open spaces also allow residents to seek quiet solitude in the beauty of nature, which research has shown reduces stress, anxiety, and other mental health illnesses. Thus, by making it easier for residents to access open spaces, the City is helping to reduce the rate of obesity, mental health illnesses, and other preventable chronic diseases.

Wildlife thrives in the habitat surrounding Thousand Oaks 108 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
The open space system contributes to improved air quality and mitigates weather impacts locally. Trees and other plant life can filter air pollution, especially harmful particulate matter, and reflect some of the sun’s radiation. By improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect at a local level, open spaces help to reduce the incidence of asthma attacks, heat strokes, and other health conditions exacerbated by poor environmental quality.

Cultural Resource Benefits
Open space in Thousand Oaks preserves archaeological and historic resources including significant prehistoric inland Chumash archaeological sites and historic structures. Safeguarding such resources links the community with its history, addresses community concerns over urban growth, and ensures the City is examining the interplay between nature and culture.

Many significant paleontological resources are preserved in fossilbearing rocks within the open space system. These fossil remains of plants and animals provide an important record of previous life forms from past geologic ages and aid in our understanding of how the Conejo Valley has changed over time.

Replica of a Chumash ‘ap (house) in the reconstructed Chumash village Trails traversing the open spaces provide health and recreational benefits for residents and visitors Parks and Open Space | 109
The Open Space System
The open space system delineated by the General Plan includes natural open space lands, parks for both active and passive recreation, and golf courses, and a system of equestrian, hiking, and bicycle trails linking sections of the City with each other, and with regional trail systems.

Open space land is critically important to preserve and enhance the Conejo Valley’s unique beauty and spaciousness. The great majority of natural open space land has been, and will continue to be, set aside within development projects in compliance with local land use policies and regulations and acquired through purchase or donation by property owners.

This open space system is intended to be a contiguous “ring” concept, providing a greenbelt around the perimeter of the City, surrounding areas of development rather than just areas of open space within developments, and extending into the community, preserving lower slopes and meadow areas as buffers from adjacent developments, adjoining parks and school sites. In addition to contiguous large open spaces, linkages between open space encompass a system of trails and corridors that allow for the movement of wildlife and people within the ring of open space. This open space network encourages land use patterns which accommodate necessary development while protecting environmental quality and curbing urban sprawl. The open space lands acquired to date have nearly completed the original goal of a ring of open space around the Conejo Valley.

Natural Open Space
Thousand Oaks’ permanent natural open space has grown steadily since the 1970s. The majority of this land is owned by COSCA. COSCA was created in 1977 by a joint powers agreement (JPA) between the City of Thousand Oaks and CRPD to coordinate land use planning and policy decisions, and facilitate open space acquisition, management, and conservation according to the goals identified in the City’s General Plan.

Its primary responsibility is to manage open space to preserve its natural characteristics while providing opportunities for passive recreational enjoyment.

COSCA is governed by a 5-member Board of Directors made up of two City Council members, two District Board Members, and one member of the general public. In 2009, the COSCA Board of Directors adopted Ordinance No. 01-2009 to establish rules and regulations governing public use of COSCA open space. COSCA’s open space management is also guided by its Management Policies and Guidelines, the Conejo Canyons Management Plan, and the COSCA Strategic Plan.

Open Space Inventory
The Conejo Valley open space system includes approximately 15,215 acres of open space in the City’s Planning Area, with 67% owned by COSCA; 5% owned by the City of Thousand Oaks; 10% owned by CRPD; 10% owned by other public agencies including the National Parks Service (NPS), the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), Ventura County, and the State of California; and 8% under private ownership. Table 6.1 provides an inventory of open space in the City, which is also mapped in Figure 6.1 along with the Conejo Valley open space system.

One of the many trails in Thousand Oaks’ natural open spaces 110 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Table 6.1 Thousand Oaks Open Space
# Open Space Area Acres
1 Alta Vista 43
2 Arroyo Conejo 328
3 Conejo Canyons 1,628
4 Conejo Ridge 404
5 Deer Ridge 188
6 Dos Vientos 1,230
7 Fireworks Hill 33
8 Glider Hill 57
9 Hope Nature Preserve 348
10 Knoll 21
11 La Jolla 15
12 Labisco Hill 24
13 Lake Eleanor 516
14 Lang Ranch 863
15 Los Padres 187
16 Los Robles 357
17 Los Vientos 28
18 Lynmere 107
19 McCrea 174
20 Mt. Clef Ridge 212
21 North Ranch 2,595
22 Oakbrook Regional Park 425
23 Old Conejo 38
24 Old Meadows 48
25 Potrero Ridge 210
26 Rancho Potrero 326
27 Santa Monica Mountains, NRA 964
28 Skyline 59
29 South Ranch 662
30 Southshore Hills 13
31 Summit House 34
# Open Space Area Acres
32 Sunset Hills 410
33 Tarantula Hill 47
34 Vallecito 67
35 Ventu Park 141
36 Vista Del Mar 9
37 Walnut 9
38 Wildwood Regional Park 1,732
39 Woodridge 622
40 Zuniga Ridge 1
Total 15,215
Source: Conejo Recreation & Park District. 2019.

Trail in Thousand Oaks overlooking greenfields and rolling hills Parks and Open Space | 111
Janss Rd
Kanan Rd
Hillcrest Dr
Lynn Rd Westlake Bl
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S R e in o R d
O ld C o n e jo R d
T riu n fo C a n y o n R d
L a G ra n a d a D r
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles, National Wetlands Inventory, 2023 City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Trails
Open Space Type
City
COSCA
County
State
CRPD
MRCA
NPS
Private Permanent
Private Temporary
Potential Purchase Areas
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 6.1 Open Space Type and Trails Inventory
112 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Hiking and Riding Trails
Thousand Oaks is known for having dozens of publicly accessible hiking trails, many with scenic views. There are about 170 miles of public multiuse trails within the Planning Area. Most trails are managed by COSCA and connect with trails managed by the NPS, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Santa Rosa Valley Trails Inc., and MRCA. Trails also often run through CRPD parks and facility sites. As shown in Figure 6.1, most open space areas feature extensive trail connections, and in many cases, direct connections to residential neighborhoods.

Areas with Important Open Space Resources
The trails and open spaces described in the previous sections are owned by public agencies or owned by private entities subject to City-imposed restrictions. In addition to these areas, there are other parcels of land not currently considered open space but that contain important open space resources which may be considered for future inclusion into the City’s open space system. The City and COSCA have identified parcels located near the ring of open space along the perimeter of the City as priority areas for potential purchase. In total, there are about 1,200 acres of land identified for potential future acquisition and preservation as open space (See Figure 6.1).

Equestrians frequent the open spaces in Thousand Oaks
Parks and Open Space | 113
Parks and Recreation System
Park and recreational services in the City are provided by CRPD, a special district formed with the purpose of providing recreation and park services for the Conejo Valley, including Thousand Oaks, Lynn Ranch, Rolling Oaks, Lake Sherwood, and unincorporated Ventura County. The CRPD service area is approximately 65 square miles, and generally, corresponds with the border of the Planning Area, though some residents living in the unincorporated Sphere of Influence (SOI) along Potrero Road are not served by CRPD. CRPD provides opportunities for active recreation (e.g., athletic fields and courts) and passive recreation (e.g. walking paths).

CRPD is governed by a 5-member Board of Directors. CRPD’s park management is guided by the Conejo Recreation and Park District Master Plan and Strategic Plan. CRPD also coordinates with several other agencies to provide services and conserve natural resources.

Among these agencies are the City of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University (CLU), the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), the NPS. A joint use agreement with CVUSD enables CRPD to use some school facilities, when not used by the school district or its permittees.

Park Standards
Park standards determine how many parkland acres should be developed based on population levels, location of parks, and the amount of existing parkland. CRPD follows the current National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) park standard of 10 acres per 1,000 people.

Community parks, playfields, and neighborhood parks account for 5 acres of the 10 acres per 1,000 people and district-wide parks account for 5 acres of the 10 acres per 1,000 residents. Acreages for open spaces and regional parks are not included within the established ratio.

CRPD splits the City into six Community Park Planning Zones. Each planning zone is further divided into unique Neighborhood Planning Areas with acreage requirements for community parks, playfields, and neighborhood parks. Overall, park acreage requirements are mostly met. However, as the community population grows, and residential development grows denser in specific locations, availability and quantity of developable park sites are key to providing park services to all current and future residents.

Healing Garden at Conejo Creek North Park Play structures in Thousand Oaks Community Park 114 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Park Inventory
CRPD currently owns, operates, and/or maintains more than 50 developed sites consisting of neighborhood parks, playfields, community parks, district-wide parks, and special facilities. Parks mapped in Figure

6.2 and listed in Table 6.2. CRPD categorizes parks as follows:

Neighborhood Parks
Neighborhood parks serve residents generally within a 1-mile radius of the park. These parks typically provide both active and passive recreation opportunities such as playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts, picnic areas, outdoor fitness areas, and walking paths and trails and can be up to 10 acres in size.

Playfields
Playfields generally serve residents who live within 0.75- to 1- mile from the park. They are oriented to athletic uses, including soccer, baseball and softball, tennis, and basketball. Playfields are usually 10 to 20 acres in size and may have lighting to accommodate evening activity.

Community Parks
Community parks serve residents who live within 1- to 2-miles from the park. Community parks have lights for evening use and include athletic fields and courts, picnic facilities, and a community center building.

Community parks are typically between 20 and 50 acres in size.

District-wide Parks
District-wide parks serve residents in the entire CRPD service area.

District-wide parks include special features like wooded areas, water features, dog parks, equestrian, community gardens, and sports field.

District-wide parks are typically between 50 and 250 acres. They generally serve people beyond the district boundary within a 30- mile radius.

Regional Parks
Regional parks often feature natural areas, museums, educational facilities, campgrounds, trails. They are usually greater than 250 acres and serve the entire region.

Open Space Area
Open space area refers to areas where most of the park is undeveloped and contains vegetation, topography, and features in their natural and undisturbed states.

Special Facilities
Special facilities include unique recreational areas, such as equestrian facilities and botanic gardens, which may be included as part of any park within the CRPD.

Open areas and play structure in one of the many parks owned by CRPD in Thousand Oaks Parks and Open Space | 115
Table 6.2 Parks in Thousand Oaks (Numbering Corresponds to Figure 6.2) # Neighborhood Park Acres
1 Banyan Park 7.4
2 Beyer Park 4.0
3 Canada Park 4.0
4 Cypress Park 5.0
5 Dos Vientos Neighborhood Park 5.2
6 El Parque de la Paz 4.8
7 Estella Park 1.9
8 Evenstar Park 4.0
9 Glenwood Park 5.2
10 Hickory Park 4.6
11 Kimber Park 8.3
12 Lang Ranch Neighborhood Park 7.0
13 Lynn Oaks Park 4.0
14 Newbury Gateway Park 2.3
15 North Ranch Neighborhood Park 12.0
16 Northwood Park 8.5
17 Oakbrook Neighborhood Park 13.5
18 Old Meadows Park 6.2
19 Paige Lane Neighborhood Park 14.1
20 Russell Park 7.3
21 Southshore Hills Park 4.5
22 Spring Meadow Park 7.2
23 Stagecoach Inn Park 4.9
24 Suburbia Park 2.0
25 Sunset Hills Park 5.8
26 Sycamore Neighborhood Park 4.5
27 Walnut Grove Park 6.5
28 Waverly Park 8.8
29 Wendy Park 4.3
30 Wildwood Neighborhood Park 5.8
Total 183.6
# Playfield Acres
31 Del Prado Playfield 26.0
32 Fiore Playfield 7.1
33 North Ranch Playfield 12.0
34 Pepper Tree Playfield 21.7
35 Rancho Conejo Playfield 12.7
36 Wildflower Playfield 19.0
Total 98.5
# Community Park Acres
37 Borchard Community Park 28.7
38 Conejo Community Park 17.1
39 Dos Vientos Community Park 27.8
40 Sapwi Trails Community Park 122.7
41 Thousand Oaks Community Park 35.8
42 Triunfo Community Park 23.4
Total 255.5
# District-Wide / Regional Park Acres
43 Conejo Creek Complex (North,
West, South)
126
44 Oakbrook Regional Park 431.4
45 Wildwood Regional Park 1,824.5
Total 2,381.9
# Special Facility Acres
46 Chumash Museum 11.3*
47 Community Garden 2.0*
48 Conejo Creek Dog Park 3.5*
49 Conejo Creek Equestrian Park 39.5*
50 Conejo Valley Botanic Garden 41.4
51 Crowley House 0.5
52 Goebel Adult Community Center 6.5
53 Hillcrest Center for the Arts 4.0
54 McCrea Ranch 17.1
55 Stagecoach Inn Museum 5.0
56 Thousand Oaks Teen Center 3.8
57 Walnut Grove Equestrian Center 4.5
58 Rancho Potrero Community
Equestrian Center

20.0 59 Community Pool at CLU 0.6
60 Thousand Oaks High School Pool 0.5
61 Newbury Park High School Pool 0.5
Total 104.4
Source: Conejo Recreation & Park District. 2023.
*Acreage not included in calculation due to being included in other park types.

These facilities are not shown explicitly on the parks inventory map. 116 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Proposed and Planned Parks
CRPD has four undeveloped park sites and one future expansion planned, shown in Figure 6.2 and Table 6.3. The undeveloped sites are Conejo Creek Northwest (7.5 acres), Del Norte Park (3.6 acres), Knoll Park (20.8 acres), Rolling Oaks Park (5.5 acres) and the future expansion at Lynn Oaks Park (4.8 acres). Together they total 42.6 acres. CRPD has not announced plans to develop these remaining parks.

Table 6.3 Planned Parks in Thousand Oaks (Numbering Corresponds to Figure 6.2) # Planned & Proposed Parks Acres
62 Conejo Creek Northwest Park 7.5
63 Del Norte Park 3.6
64 Knoll Park 20.8
65 Rolling Oaks Park 5.5
66 Lynn Oaks Expansion 4.8
Total 42.6
Source: Conejo Recreation & Park District. 2023.

Multiple new parks are planned throughout the City
Parks and Open Space | 117
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
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Old C onejo Rd
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N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
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Thousand Oaks Bl
Westlake Bl
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Westlake Lake
Neighborhood Park Special Facility
Playfield
Community Park
District-wide /
Regional Park
Undeveloped Park
Figure 6.2 Parks Inventory
118 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles, UrbanFootprint.

Unincorporated Counties Land
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23 UVErbes Rd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd
W Hillcrest Dr
W Lynn Rd
N Westlake Bl
S Westlake Bl
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E Kanan R d
N Moorpark Rd
E Janss Rd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
S Reino Rd
E Avenida De Los Arboles
E H illcrest Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Sunset Hil ls Bl
Hampshire Rd
Old C onejo Rd
Via Las Brisas
W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
Thousand Oaks Bl
Westlake Bl
W Janss Rd
W Wilbur Rd
Agoura Rd
Rancho Dos Vientos
S Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
Westlake Lake
0 - 5 Minutes
Parks and Open Space
5 - 10 Minutes
10 - 15 Minutes
15 - 20 Minutes
Over 20 Minutes
Figure 6.3 Park and Open Space Access from Residential Neighborhoods Parks and Open Space | 119
Off-leash dog parks are located throughout the community Park Funding
CRPD collects Park Impact (Quimby Act) Fees and Development Impact Fees (DIFs) from developers when new residential units are created to acquire, rehabilitate, and develop parks. Quimby fees must be expended to serve areas near where they are collected. Residential developers who are not subject to the Quimby Act (i.e., are not developing subdivisions) must contribute DIFs. DIFs may be spent anywhere in the City, if the expenditure bears a reasonable relationship to the future inhabitants of the future property. Additionally, CRPD has three maintenance assessment districts. Park maintenance and operation is paid for by CRPD.

Park and Open Space Access
Accessing parks and open space from home or work is important to accommodating the needs of the community. Citywide, nearly every residential neighborhood can access a park or open space area within a 10-minute walk. As shown in Figure 6.3, areas of light blue have a 10-minutes or less walk time, while darker blue areas increase walk time. Very few dark blue areas are distributed throughout the City.

However, some residents living in parts of Newbury Park, Westlake Village, and west of State Route 23 near Janss Road have less convenient access to parks and open space than other parts of the City. As new residential development occurs near Thousand Oaks Boulevard, The Oaks Mall, and South Moorpark Road, additional park and open space access should be provided. New development should reflect the need for passive and active recreation to serve new residential uses, especially in areas with less parks and open space access.
120 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies key issues and opportunities facing the City of Thousand Oaks, relative to parks and open spaces. This concise list was developed in combination of the public engagement phase and existing data to address issues facing the City now, and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change. The topics inform the overall direction identified in the goals, policies, and actions listed below.

New Park Opportunities
CRPD has four undeveloped park sites and one future expansion plan that total 42.6 acres. These undeveloped park sites are opportunities to provide additional recreational facilities, such as playgrounds, multi-use sport courts, and picnic areas.
“Ring of Green”
There are several opportunities for future acquisition of open space resources, especially along the City’s Planning Area boundaries.

Currently, COSCA is prioritizing acquisition of about 1,200 acres of open space land. These acquisitions will help to complete the “Ring of Green” around the city.

Updating Recreational Programming
As the City’s population grows increasingly older, there is a need to update facilities and expand programming geared for older adults. In addition, there is an unmet demand for multi-use space that can be used for classes, athletic fields, and specialized courts.

Protection of Open Spaces
As Thousand Oaks welcomes new visitors to its open spaces, there will be an increasing challenge of balancing visitor presence with the protection of natural resources. One of many open spaces and trails in the “ring of green” surrounding the City Parks and Open Space | 121
Park Standards
The General Plan anticipates most of the new housing development to be multifamily and on smaller parcels. It will be an increasing challenge for housing developers to achieve the current park standards of requiring onsite parks and a high ratio of parkland. Therefore, the City and its partners need to determine how best to provide parks for new residents.

Park Funding
Historically, funding for park acquisition and maintenance came from park development fees imposed on new residential construction. Since Thousand Oaks is now mostly built out residentially, this traditional funding source has diminished substantially and, thus, new dedicated sources of funding must be secured to enhance the park system.

Open Space Funding
Growing public use impacts on open space areas, and aging infrastructure such as fences, roads, signs, and drainage structures will require additional funding to manage in the long-term, along with regular management activities. Additional funding is also needed to acquire new open spaces and ensure sufficient agency staffing.

Recreation centers provide activities for residents of all ages Youth and adult sports leagues provide opportunities for physical activity and community building 122 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Open Space
Goal POS-1: Preserve open space lands for future generations of Thousand Oaks residents.

1.1 COSCA Strategic Plan.

Actively collaborate with CRPD and COSCA during their regular updates to the COSCA Strategic Plan to ensure the plan’s open space management objectives and implementation actions are consistent with the City’s Parks and Open Space Element.

1.2 Transfer ownership.

In order to preserve open space in perpetuity, coordinate with COSCA to transfer ownership of natural open space parcels owned by the City and CRPD to COSCA for consistent planning and management.

1.3 Privately-owned open space.

Ensure privately-owned open spaces are subject to appropriate conditions of approval, deed restrictions, or easements with the City or COSCA as a beneficiary.

1.4 Privately-owned golf courses.

In the event private golf courses that are designated as open space are no longer economically viable, a public referendum is required to determine any future non-open space allowed use.

1.5 Public agency ownership.

Continue the transfer of private open space lands to public agency ownership as conditioned during the entitlement process to provide consistent management, linkage with other components of the open space system, and appropriate recreational and educational opportunities.

Goal POS-2: Complete the connected ring of natural open space around the developed portions of Thousand Oaks.

2.1 Preserve public parks and open space.

Strategically acquire undeveloped parcels that contribute to completion of the ring of open space around developed areas.

2.2 Regional trail planning.

Participate in cooperative regional trail planning with public and private organizations, such as California State Parks, NPS, SMMC, County of Ventura, MRCA, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, other adjacent municipalities, CRPD, and COSCA to identify and develop new regional trail connections, including beyond the City’s Planning Area boundaries.

2.3 Greenbelt agreements.

Participate in cooperative regional planning efforts, such as greenbelt agreements, which reinforce and extend the ring of open space, which may include low intensity rural agricultural land use, beyond the Planning Area boundaries.

Goals and Policies
The following section includes goals and policies for the use of open space resources, including parks. The responsibility for carrying out the program falls with City staff in carrying out activities related to development project review, capital program planning interaction with CRPD, County, State, and Federal agencies, and through participation with COSCA. Parks and open space implementation actions are located in Chapter 13: Implementation.

Parks and Open Space | 123

2.4 Funding opportunities.

Seek grants and other special funding sources for prioritized trail easements and habitat restoration or enhancement projects.

2.5 Restoration of new open spaces.

In areas to be dedicated as natural open space, remove ground disturbances, such as unauthorized roads and trails not part of the trail system, and remove debris and improvements foreign to the natural environment.

2.6 Regional advocacy.

Support regional planning efforts which promote infill development within cities, avoid sprawling development, and preserve large open area buffers and wildlife corridors between cities.

2.7 Ring of open space in planning documents.

Regularly review and ensure that local and regional planning documents appropriately describe and depict the ring of open space.

Goal POS-3: Manage and regulate open spaces to protect the natural environment.

3.1 Public service facilities.

Locate and design emergency facilities, or other necessary public service facilities such as trail heads, access roads and parking lots and restrooms, to minimize impacts to open space areas.

3.2 Roads in open spaces.

Limit the development of roads, either unimproved or improved, within or traversing natural open space areas. Any proposed road easements potentially affecting open space lands shall be carefully reviewed to avoid or minimize impact on open space resources.

Management of existing access roads shall seek to minimize impacts on adjacent natural areas.

3.3 Restricted hunting.

Prohibit all forms of hunting or trapping, except hunting conducted under the auspices of a public agency for public safety purposes and live trapping which is necessary for purposes of scientific study conducted by, or under the auspices of, a public agency and which does not result in injury or death to the animal. Prohibit use of anticoagulant baits, which are known to be harmful to non-target species.

3.4 Stream water quality in open space areas.

Promote efforts to protect water quality of streams located within open space areas from the adverse effects associated with unpermitted recreational use and stormwater runoff.

3.5 Agency partnerships.

Work cooperatively with utility companies, water agencies, and the Ventura County Watershed Protection District to ensure that facilities subject to their jurisdiction are planned and designed in a manner which provides effective public service and protects the natural environment.

3.6 Natural drainage courses in open space areas.

Discourage use of concrete or other flood control improvements in natural drainage courses within open space areas, unless no reasonable alternatives can be found that would maintain natural hydrological and ecological functions.

3.7 Groundwater recharge in open space areas.

Allow groundwater recharge areas if they are beneficial to regional water conservation and groundwater replenishment efforts and not detrimental to the function and resources of the open space system.

3.8 Fuel modification zones.

Protect open space vegetation by restricting new development that expands fuel modification zones onto designated open space properties. 124 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Goal POS-4: Design trails and open spaces to encourage outdoor recreation and education while protecting natural resources.

4.1 Diversity of trail experiences.

Provide a range of scenic experiences and degrees of difficulty on trails and regulate trail use as necessary in order to maintain and protect both the natural environment and trail improvements.

4.2 Visitor facilities.

Locate visitor facilities such as signs and kiosks, principally at trailheads to limit impact on natural resources and maintain the natural appeal of trails.

4.3 Natural materials.

Design trail facilities to blend unobtrusively with the natural setting by using natural building materials, native plant materials, and earthtone colors to the greatest extent possible in all fencing, trailheads, kiosks, and other open space improvements.

4.4 Outdoor programming.

Promote outdoor recreation activities and programming within open spaces that avoid adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources.

4.5 Educational materials.

Emphasize the importance of natural resource protection as well as trail etiquette and visitor rules in educational materials related to recreational use of open space.

4.6 Fencing and barriers.

Install fencing and barrier materials where appropriate to direct public access to specific entry points, control off-road vehicle access, and provide public safety and resource protection. Preclude individual residential lots from direct access to open space.

Goal POS-5: Manage open spaces to reduce risk of natural hazards and promote the safety of the public.

5.1 Natural hazards.

Flood plains, areas of unstable slopes, and fuel modification zones should remain in an undeveloped state for the purposes of maintaining public safety.

5.2 Fuel modification zones.

Ensure the ongoing implementation of defensible space maintenance by the property owners, as required by the Ventura County Fire Protection District.

5.3 Fire protection access.

Continue to accommodate fire protection access, including helipads and fire roads, within natural open space areas in a manner which provides effective protection to the public and minimizes disturbance to natural resources.

5.4 New developments.

Plan new developments to avoid direct and secondary impacts on valuable open space resources, including visual impacts from the trail system, appropriate access control, location, and maintenance of fuel modification areas.

Parks and Open Space | 125
Parks
Goal POS-6: Create and maintain beautiful and accessible parks and recreational facilities that meet the needs of all residents of Thousand Oaks.

6.1 Preserve public parks and open space.

Restrict future development in areas designated for public parks and open space on land owned by the City or other public agencies. Development or maintenance of supportive structures and recreation facilities within these designations is permitted, as allowed by each agency.

6.2 Enhance existing facilities.

Enhance and update facilities and amenities at existing public parks to meet the recreational needs and interests of residents of all ages.

6.3 Environmental stewardship.

Incorporate low impact and sustainable building practices in the revitalization and development of parks, trails, open spaces, and recreation facilities.

6.4 Public safety.

Consider the safety of park uses with the design of new and expanded park facilities.

6.5 Equitable park access.

Ensure that new parks and recreational facilities are placed equitably throughout the city to maximize access to parks for all residents.

6.6 Accessible parks.

Park design should consider usability by and safety for children, seniors, and those with mobility, sight, hearing or other special needs.

6.7 Community and regional parks.

Encourage the development of community or regional parks, to address expanded demand for organized sports activities and community functions.

6.8 Neighborhood parks.

Support enhancing existing neighborhood parks and developing future neighborhood park sites.

6.9 Joint use.

Pursue and expand joint use of public lands that are available and suitable for recreational purposes, including school district properties, as well as flood control district, water district, and other utility properties.

Goal POS-7: Provide diverse and affordable recreational programs and services for all Thousand Oaks residents, regardless of age, activity level, physical ability, or income level.

7.1 Expansive programming.

Offer diversified programs and services that meet the recreational needs of community members.

7.2 Active recreational programs.

Encourage recreational programs that provide active and healthpromoting opportunities for residents of all ages.

7.3 Culturally relevant programming.

Encourage culturally relevant programming at various recreation facilities to serve the City’s population.

7.4 Older adult programming.

Expand recreational programs, such as socialization classes and adult daycare, that meet the needs of older adults of all ages and abilities.

7.5 Fee discounts.

Consider fee discounts for low-income families, such as families with children who participate in the National School Lunch Program, so that all residents have access to the City’s recreational programming. 126 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

7.6 Partnerships with private entities.

Explore opportunities to cooperate with private, for-profit recreation, and leisure businesses to expand and enhance recreational programming.

7.7 Educational amenities.

Promote public awareness and use of the significant educational facilities owned by CRPD, such as the Oakbrook Chumash Indian Museum, the Stagecoach Inn Museum, and the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden.

Goal POS-8: Expand and fund parks to keep pace with the City’s long-term growth.

8.1 New parks.

Work with CRPD to achieve a goal of 10 acres of parks, accessible open space and recreational facilities for every 1,000 residents in the City as follows:
• A goal of 5 acres of community parks, playfields, and neighborhood parks per 1,000 residents.
• A goal of 5 acres of district-wide parks, including accessible open spaces, per 1,000 residents.

8.2 Parks fees.

Maintain and amend as needed, ordinances imposing impact fees and Quimby Act fees on new development.

8.3 On-site parks.

Require development projects of greater than 10 acres in size to provide parks on-site.

8.4 Funding sources.

In partnership with CRPD, explore new potential funding sources to enhance programming, property acquisition, park improvements, operations and maintenance, and capital facility replacements.

8.5 Parks long-term planning.

Collaborate with CRPD on their 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan, 30-Year maintenance plan, and long-term master plan.

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128 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 7
Conservation
Conservation | 129
Overview of Chapter
Conservation of local resources has been a key asset for the City since its incorporation in 1964. While many natural resources have already been permanently protected as a part of Thousand Oak’s extensive natural open space system, others fall under the jurisdiction of other public agencies, or are located on privately owned land. The purpose of this Element is to describe the general characteristics of natural, cultural, and historic resources and identify appropriate goals and policies to protect these resources while guiding future development in a sensitive manner. Balancing community needs with resource protection will facilitate long-term conservation and protection of vital resources for future generations.

The following topics are included in this chapter:
• Statutory Requirements
• Conservation Setting
• Scenic Resources and Landforms
• Community Forest
• Biological Resources
• Air Quality
• Cultural Resources
• Historic Resources
• Key Issues and Opportunities
• Goals and Policies
Old growth oak trees within Thousand Oaks
Statutory Requirements
State law requires that the General Plan include a chapter on Conservation that addresses the identification, conservation, development, and use of natural resources including water and its hydraulic force, forests, soils, rivers and other waters, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources (Government Code 65302(d)). This chapter was prepared to meet the legal requirements of a Conservation Element and identifies water courses, flood corridors, riparian habitats, and land that may accommodate floodwater for purposes of groundwater recharge and stormwater management.

Water supply and conservation and surface water and groundwater quality are addressed in the Community Facilities and Services Element. 130 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Background
Thousand Oaks lies in the Conejo Valley, which encompasses topographically diverse landscapes of mountains, hills, valleys, and canyons that support a variety of natural vegetation types and many sensitive plant and animal species. The City has a rich cultural heritage and is home to numerous archaeological and historic sites. Together, these resources enhance the community’s character and substantially contribute to the overall quality of the environment.

Protection and management of these resources is done collaboratively through various local agencies, but a large portion of the responsibility belongs to the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA).

COSCA was created in 1977 by a joint power agreement (JPA) between the City of Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). It owns or manages approximately 12,700 acres of the 15,250 total acres of protected open space in Thousand Oaks. COSCA contributes to land use planning and policy decisions, actively acquires open space land, and implements consistent land management which assists in meeting goals identified in the General Plan. COSCA’s actions are also guided by its Management Policies and Guidelines (2000), the Conejo Canyons Management Plan (Management Plan) (2010), and the COSCA Strategic Plan (2013).

Policies aimed at protection of natural resources and adaptation to climate change are also found in the Parks and Open Space Element and the Safety Element. Policies aimed at mitigating flood hazards are included in the Safety Element. Other City and local agency policy documents address energy, water and ecosystem sustainability-related policies.

The conservation of natural resources has been a cornerstone of the City’s policies since incorporation Conservation | 131
Scenic Resources and Landforms
Due to the community’s high regard for open space and the City’s natural setting, development in Thousand Oaks generally does not dominate views in the City. Rather, major natural landscape features are generally more prevalent. The City’s appearance is that of a community nestled within a ring of open space, distinguished by its oak trees, and the prominence of knolls, ridges and hills which contribute to the community character.

The City protects and maintains its scenic resources through comprehensive planning that includes specific site planning guidelines and development policies that effectively serve to minimize any potentially adverse visual impacts and help retain the appearance of the community. Local policies encourage the location of buildings on relatively flat land between knolls or on moderate slopes, blending with the natural surroundings, while avoiding the placement of structures on ridge lines, conspicuous hilltops or steep hillsides where silhouetting or extensive grading would be necessary.

The City has a comprehensive set of local ordinances that serve to limit the height of manufactured cut and fill slopes, encourage the clustering of development in areas with shallow sloping hillside terrain and minimize significant modifications to prominent ridgelines and other important landform features. In keeping with these adopted policies and regulations, the natural landform features in the community have been classified by their inherent suitability for development (see Table 7.1).

Table 7.1 Landform Classification
Land Form Classification
Flat Land Flat land is defined as land with a natural slope less than 10%. It is suited to many types of land uses ranging
from the most intensive urban uses to recreation and
agriculture.

Moderately Sloping Hillsides Moderately sloping hillsides are defined as land with natural slope between 10% and less than 25%. They are
suited to less intensive land development patterns than those appropriate to flat land
Steeply Sloping Hillsides Land 25% and over natural slope is classified as steeply sloping. Open space, certain recreation facilities such as trail systems, and very low-density residential
development are most appropriate for steep hillside
terrain.

Views in Thousand Oaks are dominated by undeveloped hillsides 132 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Community Forest
The community forest, with its native oak trees, is Thousand Oaks’ largest, most visible, and arguably most important natural resource.

Both environmentally and aesthetically, the forest makes the City a better place to live.

Trees provide a variety of benefits to the community. For example, trees:
• Impart a distinctive character and identity to the City and its various neighborhoods.
• Help increase and stabilize property values.
• Enhance people’s sense of connection to nature and history, encouraging a sense of civic pride and involvement.
• Provide shade and help cool “urban heat islands”, reducing energy costs and consumption.
• Absorb carbon dioxide, counteracting the global “greenhouse effect” while producing oxygen and filtering airborne particulates, helping to reduce air pollution.
• Help reduce soil erosion and surface runoff, leading to improved water quality in local streams.
• Provide benefits to the built and natural environment by modifying wind patterns and providing habitat for birds and other wildlife.

The community of Thousand Oaks values trees as an essential element of the City’s character. Planting and caring for public trees are performed by the City’s Public Works Department as directed by the City’s Forestry Master Plan. Trees are further promoted and protected as part of the development process by the Community Development Department.

New development entitlements include approved landscape plans and a commitment to maintain this landscaping. Other public agencies, such as CRPD, COSCA, Cal Trans, and Conejo Valley Unified School District have responsibility for trees in other areas of the City.

Oak and Landmark Trees
Oak trees native to Thousand Oaks are Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Scrub Oak (Quercus berberidifolia), and Palmer’s Oaks (Quercus palmeri). Prior to the development of the City, oaks and grasslands were widespread in the Conejo Valley. As the City grew, many of these oaks were removed. In order to avoid further loss of oaks, the City has adopted ordinances to protect oak and other landmark tree species. These are discussed below.

Oak Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance
The Oak Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance requires that the owner of any property that contains oak trees must maintain all trees in a state of good health, as outlined by the Oak Tree Preservation and Protection Guidelines. A Protected Tree Permit is required for any person to cut, remove, or relocate any species of oak tree, whether native or not, on any public or private property in the City.

Landmark Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance
The Landmark Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance requires the preservation of healthy landmark trees. Trees protected under the ordinance include the following species: California sycamore, California bay laurel, California black walnut and the California holly (Toyon). A Protected Tree Permit must be issued by the City for any person to cut, remove or relocate any landmark tree on any public or private property in the City.

Conservation | 133
Biological Resources
Thousand Oaks is rich with native biological resources, especially in the northwest portion of the City. Much of this area, identified as a community treasure since the mid-1970s, is protected within the Conejo Canyons, Arroyo Conejo, and Wildwood open space areas. These contain many of the dominant vegetation types found in Southern California’s coastal Mediterranean region: coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands and riparian woodlands. The presence of these open spaces makes Thousand Oaks home to healthy populations of rare and endangered plants and animals as well as a regionally significant wildlife corridor.

Native Plant Communities
Thousand Oaks has a Mediterranean climate characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. Plants in this climate have adapted to grow in the winter and early spring, when water is available, and become mostly dormant in the long dry summers, when water availability is limited. The varied topography and soil types of Thousand Oaks have enabled a mix of native plant communities to survive in the region. Figure 7.1 shows the main habitat types in the City. In general, Thousand Oaks contains six native plant communities, which are representative of the larger Santa Monica Mountains region.

These include grasslands, chaparral, California sage scrub, southern oak woodland/oak savannah, riparian/coast live oak woodland, and freshwater marsh.

Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species
Thousand Oaks provides habitat for several federal and State protected plant and animal species in addition to the native plant communities discussed above. Thousand Oaks contains critical habitat for at least three known endangered species: Coastal California Gnatcatcher, Lyon’s pentachaeta, and Braunton’s milk vetch. These critical habitat areas are generally located in the open spaces that ring the City. The majority of human-wildlife conflict incidents occur around the edges of protected areas and sometimes sensitive species can bear the cost. Even so, protected species have been recorded throughout the City.

Native flowers grow in the City’s Mediterranean climate 134 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Janss Rd
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles, Vegetation data updated by the City, 2023 City Limits
City Sphere
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Chaparral
California Sage Scrub
Grassland and Barren
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Valley Oak Woodland
Agriculture
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Urban
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 7.1 Vegetation Communities
Conservation | 135
Lake Sherwood
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; National Wetlands Inventory, 2023 City Limits
City Sphere
Regional Wildlife Corridors
Major Roads
Freeways
Parks and Open Space
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 7.2 Wildlife Corridors
136 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Wildlife Migration Corridors
Many local wildlife species, including mountain lions, bobcats, gray foxes, coyotes, and mule deer, depend on access to large areas of connected habitats for feeding and dispersal. Urban development patterns have the potential to fragment habitats and limit the ranges of wildlife. Wildlife corridors represent the last remaining access areas that connect fragmented patches of habitat. Maintaining and enhancing existing habitat linkages is essential to ensuring the preservation of regional natural resources, biodiversity, and sensitive species.

The Santa Monica-Sierra Madre Wildlife Corridor, located along the northern fringes of Thousand Oaks, is one of the few remaining coastal connections in the South Coast Ecoregion. It is designed to protect landscape linkages for 20 focal species that are sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation. Figure 7.2 shows the Santa Monica-Sierra Madre Wildlife Corridor region in relation to Thousand Oaks. COSCA open space protects portions of this wildlife corridor and provides adjacent habitats for migrating wildlife. Native plants enhance the wildlife corridors Wildlife corridors enable rabbits and other species to thrive Conservation | 137
Water Resources
Watershed
Thousand Oaks is predominantly situated in the 343-square mile Calleguas Creek watershed, though a portion of the City—generally east of North Westlake Boulevard and southeast of Potrero Road—drains to the Malibu Creek watershed. Figure 7.3 shows watersheds and surface water bodies in Thousand Oaks.

Thousand Oaks contains two manmade lakes: Westlake Lake (bisecting the Cities of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village), which is privately owned, and Lake Eleanor, which is owned by COSCA. Just outside of the Thousand Oaks Sphere of Influence are Lake Sherwood, Las Virgenes Reservoir, and Bard Reservoir. Westlake Lake and Lake Sherwood allow for private recreation, while Lake Eleanor, Las Virgenes Reservoir and Bard Reservoir are not recreational facilities. Westlake Lake and most of Lake Sherwood are surrounded by residential development. Lake Eleanor, Bard Reservoir and Las Virgenes Reservoir have a mix of open water, freshwater marsh, and riparian habitat, which provide natural habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Conejo Creek/Arroyo Conejo Creek and Lang Creek, flow through Thousand Oaks in the Calleguas Creek watershed. Calleguas Creek is a primarily perennial, effluent-dominated stream, with flows fed by treated wastewater discharges, agricultural and urban runoff, and rising groundwater. From the watershed headwaters in eastern Simi Valley, Calleguas Creek flows approximately 30 miles west to Mugu Lagoon before draining to the Pacific Ocean. Creeks in the Malibu Creek watershed in the southeastern portion of the city include Potrero Valley Creek, Lake Eleanor Creek, and Westlake Creek.

Conejo Creek flows through the City
138 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; National Wetlands Inventory, 2023 City Limits
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Figure 7.3 Surface Waters & Watersheds
Conservation | 139
Calleguas
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Watershed
Malibu Creek
Watershed
Big Sycamore
Canyon-Frontal
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles, National Wetlands Inventory, 2023 City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
NWI Wetlands
Parks and Open Space
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 7.4 Wetlands
140 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Riparian Areas and Wetlands
The word “riparian” means streamside and refers to the vegetation that grows along the edges of freshwater bodies such as streams, ponds, and lakes. Riparian zones are typically characterized by moisture-dependent vegetation such as willows, cottonwoods, and mule fat. Typically, riparian woodland is comprised of an overstory of large trees and an understory of shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Other types of riparian habitats may consist entirely of herbaceous perennials such as sedges and rushes and lack trees and shrubs.

In Thousand Oaks, larger perennial streams such as the Conejo Creek and the North and South Forks of Arroyo Conejo Creek support good examples of riparian woodland. Smaller tributaries in the City, such as Lang Creek, Potrero Valley Creek, Skelton Creek, Lake Eleanor Creek, and Westlake Creek contain running water only part of the year and are considered intermittent streams. However, even these intermittent streams retain substantial soil moisture and may support riparian vegetation.

Thousand Oaks contains several United States Fish and Wildlife Service recognized wetlands, which are registered in the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). These wetlands provide habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants; and provide value in the form of groundwater recharge and stormwater retention. NWI wetlands in Thousand Oaks and the surrounding region consist primarily of streams and lakes and are shown in Figure 7.4.

Air Quality
Thousand Oaks is in the South Central Coast Air Basin (Basin), which includes all of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) is required to monitor air pollutant levels in the Basin to ensure National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) are met. If the standards are met, the Basin is classified as being in “attainment.” If the standards are not met, the Basin is classified as being in “nonattainment,” and the VCAPCD is required to develop strategies to meet the standards. Thousand Oaks is in a basin identified as being in nonattainment for ozone (O3) for both NAAQS and CAAQS, and for particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10) CAAQS.1
In Thousand Oaks, O3 standards were
exceeded 7 times and PM10 standards were exceeded 6 times in 2020.6 In February 2017, the VCAPCD adopted the 2016 Ventura County Air Quality Master Plan (AQMP), which provides a strategy for the attainment of federal O3 standards.3
Nonattainment for O3 is common
in California, however, and Thousand Oaks air quality is superior to more urban communities.

The primary sources of air pollution in Thousand Oaks are passenger cars, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses, motorcycles, and other vehicles operating on highways, freeways, and local roads. Other sources include agricultural and construction machinery, and lawn and garden equipment. The City does not have major stationary sources of air pollution, such as heavy industry or energy-generating facilities.

5. National Ambient Air Quality Standards.” https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/national-ambient-air-qualitystandards; “California Ambient Air Quality Standards.” https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/california-ambientair-quality-standards (accessed September 2020).

6. https://www.arb.ca.gov/adam/topfour/topfour1.php.

7. Final 2016 Ventura County Air Quality Management Plan. http://vcapcd.org/pubs/Planning/AQMP/2016/Final/ Final-2016-Ventura-County-AQMP.pdf.

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Criteria Pollutants and Toxic Air Contaminants
Six criteria air pollutants are regulated by the federal Clean Air Act and California Clean Air Act and form the primary basis for regulating air quality. Both the state and federal governments have adopted ambient air quality standards for these criteria pollutants (see “Air Quality Standards” below), which include zone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and lead (Pb).4,5,6,7,8,9 O3 is a secondary pollutant because it is created by atmospheric chemical and photochemical reactions between reactive organic compounds (ROC)and nitrogen oxides (NOX).14 The other pollutants are emitted directly into the atmosphere.

Toxic air contaminants (TACs) are a diverse group of air pollutants that may cause or contribute to an increase in deaths or serious illness, or that may pose a present or potential hazard to human health. TACs include both organic and inorganic chemical substances that may be emitted from a variety of common sources. Ambient air quality standards have not been established for TACs, but certain TACs are regulated based on their potential health effects. Health effects associated with exposure to TACs can include cancer, respiratory irritation, nervous system problems, and birth defects. Some health problems occur very soon after a person inhales a TAC. These immediate effects may be minor, such as watery eyes, or may be serious, such as life-threatening lung damage. Other health problems, such as cancer, may not appear until many months or years after a person’s first exposure to the TAC. A TAC of particular concern in California is diesel particulate matter (PM), which is associated with diesel exhaust and which the California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates is responsible for about 70% of that state’s estimated known cancer risk attributable to TACs air pollution sources.

Sensitive Receptors
Sensitive receptors are facilities that house or attract children, the elderly, people with illnesses, or others who are especially sensitive to the effects of air pollution or noise. Hospitals, schools, convalescent facilities, residential areas and parks are examples of sensitive receptors.

Residential areas are considered sensitive to poor air quality as occupants are often at home for extended periods.

Standards are designed to protect that segment of the public most susceptible to respiratory distress, such as children under 14; older adults over 65; persons engaged in strenuous work or exercise; and people with cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases. Sensitive receptors should not be located near any major air pollution sources.

8. Ozone is produced by a photochemical reaction (triggered by sunlight) between NOX and ROC. NOX is formed during the combustion of fuels, while ROCs are formed during combustion and evaporation of organic solvents.

9. CO is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, is automobile traffic. Elevated concentrations, therefore, are usually only found near areas of high traffic volumes. Other sources include fuel combustion equipment.

10. NO2 is a by-product of fuel combustion, with the primary source being motor vehicles and industrial boilers and furnaces. The principal form of nitrogen oxide produced by combustion is nitric oxide (NO), but NO reacts rapidly to form NO2, creating the mixture of NO and NO2 commonly called NOX. Nitrogen dioxide is an acute irritant.

11. SO2 is a colorless, pungent, irritating gas formed primarily by the combustion of sulfur-containing fossil fuels.

12. Lead (Pb) is a metal found naturally in the environment, as well as in manufacturing products. Lead occurs in the atmosphere as particulate matter. The major sources of Pb emissions historically have been mobile and industrial sources.

13. The particulates that are of particular concern are PM10 (small particulate matter that measures no more than 10 microns in diameter) and PM2.5 (fine particulate that measures no more than 2.5 microns in diameter).

14. Organic compound precursors of ozone are routinely described by a number of variations of three terms:
hydrocarbons (HC), organic gases (OG), and organic compounds (OC). These terms are often modified by adjectives such as total, reactive, or volatile, and result in a rather confusing array of acronyms: HC, THC (total hydrocarbons), RHC (reactive hydrocarbons), TOG (total organic gases), ROG (reactive organic gases), TOC (total organic compounds), ROC (reactive organic compounds), and VOC (volatile organic compounds). While most of these differ in some significant way from a chemical perspective, two groups are important from an air quality perspective: non-photochemically reactive in the lower atmosphere, or photochemically reactive in the lower atmosphere (HC, RHC, ROG, ROC, and VOC). The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District uses the term ROC to denote organic precursors.
142 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Cultural Resources
Archaeological and Native American Resources
The cultural history of the City and the surrounding Conejo Valley can be divided in to three major eras: Native-American, Spanish-Mexican, and Anglo-American. Remnants from these unique eras exist in the region as a diverse range of tribal, archaeological, and architectural resources. The Conejo Valley served as an integral part of the larger Chumash territory that extended from the coast and Channel Islands to include Santa Barbara, most of Ventura, parts of San Luis Obispo, Kern and Los Angeles Counties. The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the influx of Spanish-Mexican culture, with the establishment of a large Spanish land grant “Rancho el Conejo,” while the modern AngloAmerican era began in the late 19th century with the break-up and sale of the Spanish Land Grants.

Traces of this inhabitance remain in the form of archaeological and tribal resources. As urbanization in Thousand Oaks has increased, more cultural resources have been identified as site surveys have been conducted. A cluster of 11 archaeological sites constitutes the Oakbrook Regional Park Archaeological Area and Chumash Interpretive Center.

Existing state laws, including Senate Bill 18 and Assembly Bill 52 ensure that cultural resources are considered in community planning and that impacts to resources are mitigated through acceptable means.15,16 Senate Bill 18 protects tribal cultural resources by requiring that cities and counties conduct consultations with California Native American tribes prior to adoption or amendment of a General Plan. Assembly Bill 52 established procedures and requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act for the purposes of avoiding or minimizing impacts to tribal cultural resources.

Paleontological Resources
Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life as shown by fossil remains.

Fossils are mineralized or petrified impressions of plants and animals from past geologic ages. Virtually all the fossils in the City are contained in sedimentary rocks due to the depositional nature of their origin.

These rocks consist of shales, sandstones, siltstones and conglomerate, and date from ancient times when the area was submerged under shallow seas or when swampy terrestrial environments were more frequent. In these kinds of environments hard parts of once living organisms can fall into the substrate and become covered by sediment, gradually becoming mineralized and eventually forming a fossil. The principal sedimentary bedrocks in the City include the Miocene age Topanga and Monterey formations in the eastern and southern areas of the City and the Sespe, Llajas, Santa Susana and Chatsworth formations of Oligocene to Cretaceous age found near the northeast part of the City.

15. Public Resources Code §5097.9 and S5097.995

16. Public Resources Code §5097.94, §21073, §21074, §21080.3.1, §21080.3.2, §21082.3, §21083.09, §21084.2, and §21084.3
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Historic Resources
Americans began arriving in California in the 1840s, but the Conejo Valley remained largely undeveloped until the 1870s. A depression in the cattle business in the 1860s, which is partially attributed to drought, led to the subdivision and sale of large private land ownerships in California to pioneers arriving from the eastern United States. The Conejo Valley was subdivided in the 1870s, which marks the beginning of permanent modern settlement in what is now Thousand Oaks.

The first post office in the Conejo Valley was established in 1875 by James Newbury. During these early settlement days, the Conejo Valley served as both a rest stop for travelers passing through between Los Angeles and Ventura, as well as the location of large ranching operations that became the basic economic activity of the Valley. This way of life continued until the late 1930s, when the community of Thousand Oaks began developing.

By 1961, the town contained two shopping centers, an industrial park, schools, places of worship and California Lutheran University. The community voted to incorporate the town of nearly 20,000 in 1964, with the name Thousand Oaks, in honor of the area’s abundant oak trees.

The history of Thousand Oaks is preserved in several historical landmarks and points of interest. The City Council has the authority to determine whether a proposed historic landmark is suitable for designation based on recommendations from the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board. Locations of the City’s existing historical landmarks and points of interest as designated by the City Council are shown in Figure 7.5 and include the following:
• Stagecoach Inn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a State Historical Landmark in December of 1975.

The original structure was built in 1876 but was destroyed by fire in the early 1970s. The Inn is a Monterey style structure of northern California redwood with a wrap-around porch and balcony. The original structure served as a school, post office, steak house, church, gift shop, and movie set.
• Sycamore Tree is an unusually large and old specimen of a California Sycamore and was over 150 years old when it was designated as a landmark in 1978. The Chumash are said to have bent the lower branches to mark the location of underground water.
• Pederson House and Water Tower is a typical turn-of-the-century farmhouse and water tower built in 1913-1914 for Lars and Karn Pederson, members of the Norwegian Colony that settled the northern end of the Conejo Valley in 1890.

Jungleland, home to Hollywood’s animal stars, was once located on the site of the current Civic Arts Plaza 144 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
• Hunt Olive Tree is the only surviving tree of an orchard planted by R.

O. Hunt on the Salto Ranch, which he established in 1876. The tree was moved to its present site in 1993 and is in excellent condition. • Oakbrook Regional Park Archaeological Area and Chumash Interpretive Center is a 428-acre park that contains 11 archaeological sites within a few yards of one another along the streambed of a narrow oak-wooded canyon, with bedrock mortars and shelters containing Chumash pictographs. At the park is a small interpretive museum and hiking trails. The Woolsey Fire of 2018 severely damaged the park, including damage to the museum building and a complete loss of the Chumash replica village, stairs, and bridges for nature hike tours. • Dos Vientos Ranch Buildings were built in 1930 on the Dos Vientos Ranch, which was a portion of the 30,593-acre Rancho Guadalasca Mexican land grant made to Isabel Yorba in 1836. Joseph Lewis, a business partner of Adolfo Camarillo, farmed 8,000 acres of the Ranch, and established the lima bean industry in Ventura County. • Crowley House was built in 1910 for newlyweds Frank and Mae Casey Crowley on the Newbury Ranch. The house earned the nickname “Mother of Thousand Oaks” because in the early 1920s it served as a real estate office for the first housing development in the Conejo Valley. • Hillcrest Center was designated as a historic landmark on April 8, 1997, by the Thousand Oaks Cultural Heritage Board (CHB Resolution No. 1). It is the site of Thousand Oaks’ first city hall. • Joel McCrea Ranch is a former cattle ranch comprised of approximately 220 acres of gently sloping chaparral covered hillsides forming a long, narrow valley at the eastern end of the Santa Rosa Valley. • Former Timber School House and Auditorium, constructed in 1924 and 1948, was designed in the Mission Revival architectural style by Roy C. Wilson, the first licensed architect in Ventura County. • Goebel’s Lion Farm Site (aka Jungleland) established in 1927 as a site to import, breed, and maintain exotic animals for rental to movie studios, including the famous MGM lion. The compound was later demolished in the mid-1970s and the site is now occupied by the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Cultural and historic resources preserved for future generations Conservation | 145
Stagecoach
Inn (originally
built in 1876)
Sycamore
Tree
Pederson House
and Water Tower
(built in 1913-14)
Hunt Olive
Tree
Oakbrook Regional Park
Archaeological Area
Dos Vientos
Ranch Buildings
Site (built 1937)
Crowley House
(built in 1910)
Janss House
(built in 1931)
Banning
Dam (built
in 1889)
401 Hillcrest Drive
Civic Center Facades
(built in 1973)
Joel McCrea Ranch
(established
in 1933)
Goebel's Lion Farm
Site (aka Jungleland
built c. 1920s)
Timber School
(schoolhouse built in
1924, auditorium 1948)
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Lynn Rd Westlake Bl
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Ventu Park Rd
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Oaks
Bl
W e n d y D r
Lindero Canyon Rd
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City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
°
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles City Limits
City Sphere
!( Historic Landmarks
Major Roads
Freeways
Parks and Open Space
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 7.5 Historic and Cultural Resources
146 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key issues and opportunities facing the City, relative to conservation topics. This concise list was developed through public engagement and with existing data to address issues facing the city now, and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change. The topics below inform the overall direction identified in the goals and policies listed in the following section.

Robust Conservation Planning
Thousand Oaks has a range of policies and programs aimed at protecting the City’s scenic resources, which has been a priority for the city since its incorporation. The City will continue to maintain and expand its expansive open space network in coordination with COSCA.

Expansive Community Forest
The City has an expansive community forest and a robust program to manage and expand the forest on public and private properties.

Maintaining and expanding the community forest will be a priority for the City to preserve community character, protect property values, sequester carbon dioxide, and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Biological Resource Protection
The City’s open space network supports a variety of plant and wildlife species, including species that are rare, threatened, or endangered. In collaboration with COSCA and other resource agencies, the City will continue to protect wildlife, their native habitats, and regional migration corridors. Open space will be managed with a primary goal of natural resource protection.

Conservation planning protects the City’s unique natural resources Conservation | 147
Achieving Air Quality Standards
Although air quality in Thousand Oaks is generally good, the City periodically fails to meet state and federal ozone standards. Climate change will present new challenges in meeting these standards. In addition, the introduction of residential development along commercial corridors may increase the potential for exposure to carbon monoxide. The City will continue to work with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) to achieve air quality standards. The City will carefully plan new residential developments to minimize exposure to air pollution.

Threats from Climate-Driven Changes
The effects of climate change on Thousand Oaks may include increased heat exposure, more serious flood events, and increased periods of drought. The latter may increase the potential for, and severity of, local wildfire events. Additionally, climate change may impact the composition of plant communities and their ability to support local wildlife. Addressing these potential threats will be a priority for the community and will be addressed through efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent wildfire ignitions, restore native plant communities, protect vulnerable populations, and adapt to climatological changes in a manner that minimizes disruption to residents and businesses.

Cultural Resource Protection
Thousand Oaks is home to important historic and Native American resources. The City will continue to preserve already designated resources, identify new resources, and protect resources through application of federal, state, and local requirements. Coordination with local Native American tribes as required by in State law will be a critical component of the review of new development with the potential to affect Native American resources.

Trails provide residents and visitors with access to conserved open spaces 148 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Scenic Resources and Landforms
Goal C-1: Conserve Thousand Oaks’ physical setting and natural scenic resources.

1.1 Scenic resources.

Protect and preserve public viewsheds of the mountains and hillsides along roadways, open space, and other key locations.

1.2 Preservation of natural land features.

Preserve significant natural features including ridges, rock outcroppings, natural drainage courses, wetland and riparian areas, steep topography, important or landmark trees, and views.

1.3 Update standards and guidelines.

Update and consolidate existing Design Guidelines to include standards for hillside development and the preservation of special scenic resources that prohibit development that impact ridgelines, steep slopes and other natural land features.

1.4 City gateways.

Ensure that development proposed in defined gateway areas conforms to the City’s planning policies and guidelines for City Gateways.

1.5 Freeway corridors.

Ensure that development occurring in the view corridors of the Highway 101 and State Route 23 conforms to the Freeway Corridor Design Guidelines.

Goal C-2: Minimize and mitigate the visual effects of new urban development on hillsides.

2.1 Hillside areas.

Employ site and architectural design techniques to blend development into the hillside terrain.

2.2 Slope development.

Limit development on steep slopes and ridgelines.

2.3 Grading.

Update standards for the height of manufactured slopes and limitations on grading in areas of 25% or greater natural grade.

Community Forest
Goal C-3: Maintain and expand a healthy community forest in Thousand Oaks.

3.1 Street tree plantings.

Ensure the use of street tree plantings of appropriate species, scale and spacing in all new developments, in accordance with City tree standards.

3.2 Tree diversity.

Maintain a diversity of species and ages of trees throughout the City in order to avoid potentially unhealthy monocultures.

Goals and Policies
This section includes goals and policies for the Conservation Element. Policies address integrated infrastructure, clean air, enhanced ecosystems, and open space that provide multiple climate and sustainability functions. Related implementation actions can be found in Chapter 13: Implementation.

Conservation | 149

3.3 Tree planting.

Actively plant or replant trees in existing neighborhoods where trees are sparse or lacking.

3.4 Tree replanting.

Enhance the community forest to a level of 25% canopy coverage by planting climate-appropriate street trees, including the City’s legacy oak trees, in public spaces and corridors as described in the Forestry Master Plan.

Goal C-4: Protect oak and landmark trees to maintain Thousand Oak’s unique environmental character.

4.1 Protected tree preservation.

Continue to implement the City’s Oak Tree and Landmark Tree Ordinances per the municipal code and the Oak Tree Preservation and Protection Guidelines.

Goal C-5: Properly manage, conserve, and protect native plant communities.

5.1 Prohibit destructive practices.

Prohibit practices such as off-road vehicle use, hunting, and trapping that are incompatible with the long-term survival and viability of resident and migratory wildlife populations.

5.2 Critical habitat protection.

As feasible, protect, restore, and enhance critical wildlife habitat resources such as movement corridors, chaparral and coastal sage scrub plant communities, surface water impoundments, streams, and springs in order to maintain the biodiversity, biological productivity, and ecological integrity of natural open space areas.

5.3 Critical habitat restoration.

Support local and regional conservation projects that will have beneficial effects on vegetation and wildlife, including the restoration and enhancement of critical habitat resources that have been degraded or disturbed.

5.4 Native landscaping and plant viability.

Utilize native, pollinator-friendly plants appropriate to the soil type and environmental conditions of the site.

5.5 Landscape design.

Encourage new development to incorporate native or regionally adaptive vegetation into landscape plans and prohibit the use of species known to be invasive according to the California Invasive Plant Inventory.

5.6 Nesting sites and foraging areas.

Foster a holistic habitat that provides nesting sites and foraging areas for native pollinators.

5.7 Discontinue anticoagulants and rodenticides.

Continue to educate the public on ecosystem impacts of using anticoagulant rodenticides and prohibit the use of anticoagulants and rodenticides within the City.

5.8 Public education.

Produce materials to educate the public regarding the importance of local plant and animal species and best practices for encountering these species along trails or in other recreational spaces. 150 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Goal C-6: Protect sensitive, rare, threatened, or endangered species.

6.1 Avoidance of species disturbance.

Prioritize protection of rare and endangered species through avoidance as a first priority, utilizing other forms of mitigation only if avoidance is infeasible.

6.2 Natural space.

Preserve complete ecosystems as natural open space in order to avoid the loss of sensitive plant and animal species.

6.3 Legislation.

Support legislation that encourages and facilitates the protection of endangered, threatened, sensitive and rare species as well as their habitats and movement corridors.

6.4 Reintroduction programs.

Support regional and state programs that facilitate the reintroduction of endangered, threatened, sensitive and rare species.

Goal C-7: Connect wildlife habitat and wildlife populations.

7.1 Wildlife movement corridors.

Design urban land uses adjoining natural open space in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of wildlife and avoids or minimizes adverse impacts to wildlife movement corridors.

7.2 Habitat linkages.

Support efforts by other government agencies or non-profit organizations to acquire additional land to complete vital habitat linkages and provide access by wildlife to these resources.

7.3 Urban-wildlife education.

Educate the public on local wildlife species and their habits and provide recommendations to reduce human–wildlife conflicts.

Goal C-8: Preserve natural streams.

8.1 Stream and creek protection.

Maintain streams and creeks in as natural a state as possible and protect from the adverse effects of development.

8.2 Restoration enhancement.

Restore and enhance degraded sections of streams and creeks as opportunities arise and financial resources become available.

8.3 Regional rehabilitation.

Support regional rehabilitation efforts for the Calleguas and Malibu Creek Watersheds.

8.4 Flood control.

Use of concrete for flood control improvements in natural drainage courses should occur only when no reasonable alternatives can be found that would maintain natural hydrological and ecological functions.

8.5 Recreational opportunities.

Incorporate recreational amenities as part of restoration improvements, such as bike paths and walking paths, when compatible with riparian corridors, wetlands, and adjacent areas.

8.6 Development review.

Review all development projects on properties that include or are adjacent to streams to ensure stream protection.

8.7 Ventura County Watershed Protection District permit.

Ensure compliance with Ventura County Watershed Protection District permitting requirements for any development proposed over, under, adjacent to, or within the boundaries of a Watershed Protection District jurisdictional red line channel.

Conservation | 151
Goal C-9: Minimize disturbance of wetlands and riparian habitat.

9.1 Wetlands and riparian habitat.

Preserve wetlands and riparian habitat by maintaining existing wetland and riparian buffers as open space to protect the community’s water quality, biodiversity, and aesthetic value.

9.2 Wetland and riparian restoration.

Encourage the restoration and enhancement of degraded wetland and riparian habitats in order to conserve and protect native plant and animal species, increase biological diversity and productivity, and maintain permanent access for wildlife to surrounding open space.

Air Quality
Goal C-10: Achieve and maintain air quality that protects public health, safety, and welfare for those who live or work in the City and for visitors.

10.1 Ambient air quality.

Air quality should meet State and Federal standards, whichever are more protective, for human health.

10.2 Alternative transportation.

City actions shall seek to reduce dependency on gasoline- or diesel-powered motor vehicles by encouraging the use of alternative transportation modes and energy sources (e.g., transit, walking, bicycling) thereby reducing vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled.

10.3 Non-mobile pollution sources.

Reduce air pollution from non-mobile sources, such as landscape equipment, manufacturing, power generation, and construction activity by transitioning to the use of electric equipment or low emission alternatives.

10.4 Air pollution exposure mitigation.

Minimize exposure to harmful levels of air pollution of residents and employees by reducing toxic air contaminants.

10.5 Vulnerable communities.

Avoid locating residences, schools, retirement homes, hospitals, etc. and vulnerable communities near major sources of air pollution, when feasible.

10.6 Health Risk Assessments for Sensitive Receptors.

Require new development within 500 feet of freeways and roadways with over 100,000 vehicle trips per day that include residential uses or other sensitive receptors prepare a health risk assessment (HRA) to identify potential health risk impacts. Based on the results of the HRA, the City shall require mitigation measures as necessary, to reduce potential exposure to toxic air contaminants.

Cultural and Historic Resources
Goal C-11: Protect historical and culturally significant resources, which contribute to the community’s sense of identity.

11.1 Cultural resource identification and recognition.

Identify and, as appropriate, recognize significant cultural resources by identifying significant cultural resources with landmark designation plaques, directional signage, self-guided tours, programs, and events.

11.2 Cultural resource preservation.

Require that new development preserve or mitigate impacts to significant historic, archaeological, and paleontological resources.

11.3 Archeological site protection.

The preferred method for protecting any previously recorded archeological site shall be by deed restriction as permanent “open space”, in order to prevent any future development or use that might otherwise adversely impact these resources.
152 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

11.4 Native American consultation.

Conduct Native American consultation consistent with most recent regulations when new development is proposed in culturally sensitive areas.

11.5 Historic resource management.

Maintain, rehabilitate, and reuse significant historic resources, as feasible.

11.6 Archaeological site confidentiality.

Maintain a list of the locations of previously recorded archaeological sites confidential unless the release of such information to the public is specifically authorized by local Native American organizations or other entities with jurisdiction over such sites.

11.7 Resource stakeholder engagement.

Decisions pertaining to the disposition of archaeological, paleontological, historical, and cultural resources shall be made in concert with recognized public agencies, groups or individuals having jurisdiction, expertise, or interest in these matters, including but not limited to the State Office of Historic Preservation, Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board, and local Native American organizations, and affected property owners.

11.8 Public and private involvement.

Collaborate with private and public entities whose goals are to protect and preserve historic resources and important cultural resources.

Conservation | 153
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154 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 8
Community Facilities
+ Services
Community Facilities + Services | 155
Overview of Chapter
This chapter of the General Plan describes the condition, accessibility, and level of service of the City’s facilities and public services. It also includes goals, policies, and actions to support existing and future community needs, improve public service delivery, and ensure the City’s infrastructure keeps pace with projected long-term growth. Since some community services and facilities are provided by other public agencies (such as the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Ventura County Fire Protection District, Conejo Recreation and Park District [CRPD] and Conejo Valley Unified School District), interagency coordination is a key component of policies in this chapter.

Topics covered in this Element include:
• Statutory Requirements
• Public Buildings
• Public Services
• Infrastructure
• Public Safety
• Key Issues and Opportunities
• Goals and Policies
Statutory Requirements
Thousand Oaks is committed to providing high-quality facilities, amenities, and services for its current and future residents. Although this Element is not required by State law, its inclusion in the General Plan reflects the City’s belief that community facilities and community services are essential to the City’s progress and overall quality of life.

Where possible, this chapter complies with or strives to exceed County and State requirements for topics such as sustainable stormwater management practices, solid waste diversion, water-efficient landscaping, and emergency evacuation.

High quality facilities and services improve the quality of life for residents 156 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Background
Thousand Oaks provides a range of high-quality community facilities and services to serve its population. These assets contribute to the City’s strong sense of community identity and make it a safe, attractive place to live in, work, and visit. Figure 8.1 shows the locations of all facilities and services in the City.

Community Facilities
The City owns and operates public buildings that provide cultural, educational, recreational, administrative, and other services to the community. Several facilities, including the Grant R. Brimhall Library and the Newbury Park Library, Alex Fiore Teen Center, and the Goebel Adult Community Center have meeting rooms available for public rental.

Many facilities are located near each other including the Civic Arts Plaza, which includes City Hall and other resources, which are clustered near Highway 101 on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Similarly, the Alex Fiore Teen Center, the Goebel Adult Center, and the Grant R. Brimhall Library are located on the same campus.

The Civic Arts Plaza, which includes City Hall, is one of the City’s iconic buildings Community Facilities + Services | 157
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Oaks
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Library
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City of
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°
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Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles City Limits
City Sphere
Freeways
Major Roads
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Parks and Open Space
Unincorporated Counties Land
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Figure 8.1 Facilities and Services
158 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
The City’s administrative and cultural functions are headquartered at the Civic Arts Plaza. The 24-acre complex contains government offices, an 1,800-seat theatre, a 450-seat theatre/City Council chambers, a parking structure, and a public park. The Civic Arts Plaza’s theatres serve as a regional draw for patrons of the arts. Together, these amenities serve as a civic centerpiece for the City. The Downtown Core Master Plan (2018) proposes improvements to the Civic Arts Plaza including a town square designed for events, by redesigning roadways and building frontages to improve connectivity to and within the complex, and developing an enhanced retail, restaurant, and entertainment destination.

CRPD owns and operates community centers that offer meeting rooms, classrooms and facilities for indoor and outdoor recreational programs.

The amenities and ownership of each public building can be found in Table 8.1, and their locations illustrated in Figure 8.2.

Table 8.1 Community Facilities
# Facility Ownership Amenities
1 Alex Fiore Teen Center City, operated by
CRPD
Game room, gym, computer lab,
classrooms
2 Borchard Community
Center
CRPD Basketball court, meeting rooms,
classrooms
3 Thousand Oaks
Transportation Center
City Transit center
4 Thousand Oaks Civic
Arts Plaza
City City Hall, theatre operations
5 Community Art Gallery City Art gallery (adjacent to Newbury Park Branch Library)
6 Conejo Community
Center and Outdoor Unit
CRPD Outdoor recreation programming
7 Dos Vientos Community
Center
CRPD Preschool, classrooms
8 Goebel Adult
Community Center
City, operated by
CRPD
Meeting rooms, kitchen, putting
green, game rooms, stage
9 Grant R. Brimhall
Library
City Library, children’s services,
meeting rooms
10 Hill Canyon Treatment
Plant
City Wastewater treatment plant
11 Hillcrest Center City Art center, outdoor recreation programming and administration
12 Los Robles Greens Golf
Course
City Golf course, indoor and outdoor
events facilities, club house
13 Municipal Service
Center
City Administration and Maintenance
Services for City Infrastructure
14 Household Hazardous
Waste Facility
City Hazardous waste drop-off center
15 CVUSD Preschool City, operated
by Conejo Valley
Neighborhood for
Learning
Childcare/preschool
16 Newbury Park Library City Library, meeting rooms
17 Thousand Oaks
Community Center
CRPD Meeting rooms, gym, racquetball
courts, classrooms
Source: City of Thousand Oaks. 2023.

Community Facilities + Services | 159
Westlake Lake
Erbes Rd
E Olsen Rd
Borchard Rd
W Hillcrest Dr
N Westlake Bl
W Lynn Rd
S Westlake Bl
N Lynn Rd
E Kanan Rd
N Moorpark Rd
E Janss Rd
E Thousand Oaks Bl
Sunset H ills Bl
S Reino Rd
Avenida De Los Arboles
Hillcres t Dr
La Granada Dr
Rancho Conejo Bl
Wendy Dr
Hampshire Rd
O ld Conejo Rd
Via Las Brisas
W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
W Potrero Rd
Potrero Rd
Moorpark Rd
Lindero Canyon Rd
E Potrero Rd
W Avenida De Los Arboles
Thousand Oaks Bl
Westlake Bl
W Wilbur Rd
Janss Rd
Agoura Rd
Camino Dos Rios
Rancho Dos Vientos
Ventu Park Rd
Lynn Rd
ErbesRd
Westlake Bl
Avenida
Pederson Rd
DeLas Flores
Gainsborough Rd
Potrero Rd
101
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101
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Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
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Camarillo
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles Unincorporated Counties Land
City Limits
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Major Roads
Freeways
Public Facilities Parks and Open Space Adjacent Cities
7 2
16 14
13 10
11 12 3 4
15 6
17 1
9 8
5 Figure 8.2 Community Buildings
160 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Public Services
High quality cultural and educational services, libraries, and healthcare facilities that provide important community programming and amenities are located within Thousand Oaks.

Libraries
The City operates the Grant R. Brimhall Library and the Newbury Park Library. Together, the libraries have over 513,000 items in their collections and provide borrowing services, public computers with internet access, and rentable meeting spaces. The Newbury Park Library houses the Thousand Oaks Community Art Gallery, which showcases work of professional and emerging artists. In 2006, the Grant R.

Brimhall Library building was expanded from 62,000 square feet to 84,000 square feet to accommodate an improved Children’s Services area, quiet study rooms, and additional seating and shelving.17 Libraries are frequently used for after school programming, education and literacy programs for adults and youth, and community meetings. Both facilities will continue to require updates and modernization through the General Plan horizon to meet community needs.

17. https://www.toaks.org/departments/library.

The Grant R. Brimhall Library is a gathering place for residents of all ages The modern library provides books, study spaces and meeting rooms Community Facilities + Services | 161
Schools and Higher Education
Thousand Oaks is served by the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), which operates 27 public schools across the City and proximate unincorporated areas including 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 1 K-8 school, 3 high schools, 2 alternative educational facilities, and 1 adult educational facility. Figure 8.3 shows the locations of the schools. Several CVUSD schools are named as Distinguished California Schools and National Blue-Ribbon Schools.18 Thousand Oaks also houses 14 private schools serving students in grades TK-12.

Consistent with statewide and nationwide trends reflecting lower birth rates and changing demographics, CVUSD enrollment has decreased, with district-wide enrollment declining by about 3,500 students since the 2005-2006 school year. A 2017 study prepared by Cooperative Strategies projects that enrollment will continue to decline by another 2,000 students by the 2026-2027 school year. Declining enrollment is not a recent trend; CVUSD has closed six elementary schools since 1984. CVUSD runs preschool and childcare programs out of former elementary schools.

Thousand Oaks is home to Ventura County’s first four-year university, California Lutheran University (CLU), which was founded in 1956 and occupies a 225-acre campus in the northern part of the City.

As of the 2022-2023 school year, about 3,600 undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled at CLU. The university’s most popular undergraduate programs are biological sciences, communications, psychology, and business administration.

18. https://www.toaks.org/residents/community-services/schools-458.

Healthcare
The City houses one of the region’s largest private hospitals, Los Robles Regional Medical Center, which recently opened a three-year residency program. The facility has the only Level II Trauma Center in Eastern Ventura County and the only emergency room in Ventura County with an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics rating. With more than 600 board certified physicians representing over 50 specialties, Los Robles provides a wide range of medical services, including a 24-hour emergency department, certified comprehensive stroke center, intensive care and critical care, maternity care, medical and surgical departments, comprehensive cancer center, heart and cardiovascular center, same day surgery, and rehabilitation center.

Public schools in Thousand Oaks are funded by the Conejo Valley School District 162 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
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Wendy Dr
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Old C onejo Rd
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W Olsen Rd
N Reino Rd
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W Potrero Rd
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Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
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Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2019 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles Unincorporated Counties Land
City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Adjacent Cities
!( Private School
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Figure 8.3 Schools
Community Facilities + Services | 163
Public Safety
One of the City’s most important responsibilities of local government is to provide and coordinate services needed to support and protect the community. These services include police, fire protection, and emergency response. While public safety services are currently provided to residents at an adequate level, the City must plan for the continued availability of these high-quality public services and consider the potential expenses and other impacts of providing these services. The following sections provide an overview of the City’s police, fire, and emergency response services.

Police Services
Police protection in Thousand Oaks is provided on a service contract basis by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office for all services, including administration, patrol, and investigation services. In fiscal year 2021- 2022, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office allocated 108 police positions to the City, including 93 sworn officers. Based on February 2018 staffing levels and the City’s estimated 2016 population of 129,500, the City’s Municipal Services Review estimates that one sworn officer is provided for every 1,392 residents. To maintain the current staffing-to-population ratio in the future, one additional sworn officer will be required for each additional 1,392 residents. For the maximum projected population of 144,700 in 2045, a total of 104 officers would be required.27 Police response times can vary significantly, depending on the location of patrol cars at the time of a call. The response time goal is 10 minutes for emergency calls and 20 minutes for non-emergency calls. According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the average response time in 2021 was 7.44 minutes for Priority 1 (Emergency) calls and 20.70 minutes for non-emergency response times. During 2021, the Priority 1 (Emergency) calls were met 79.8% of the time and the non-emergency response times were met 71.1% of the time.28
Fire Protection
Fire emergency response services in Thousand Oaks are provided by the Ventura County Fire Protection District (VCFPD), which also services unincorporated County areas and the cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Simi Valley. VCFPD is responsible for all fire response dispatch in the County. According to a mutual aid agreement between the cities and the VCFPD, the closest available personnel respond to emergency calls for service, regardless of whether the service need is in the responding agency’s jurisdiction.29
The VCFPD maintains a Fire Hazard Reduction Program that works with property owners, local jurisdictions, and other District programs to reduce negative impacts to life, property and infrastructure from destructive fires in the Wildland Urban Interface areas.30 When additional support is needed, fire departments from Los Angeles County are also engaged.

Nine fire stations serve the City and surrounding unincorporated area.

The City anticipates the construction of one additional fire station to serve the Thousand Oaks area. VCFPD’s response time goal is 8.5 minutes 90% of the time in suburban areas and 12 minutes 2021 and 2022 was 8.5 minutes 91% of the time in suburban areas and 12 minutes 84% of the time in rural areas in 2021 and 2022.31

27. Ventura Local Agency Formation Commission. 2018. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Service Review.

Additionally, population numbers for 2016 and 2045 are based on Adopted Connect SoCal (RTP/SCS) 2020 -2045 Technical Appendix Demographic and Growth Forecast.

28. Ibid.

29. Ventura Local Agency Formation Commission. 2018. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Service Review.

30. Ventura County Fire Department. Fire Hazard Reduction Program (FHRP). N.D. Available at: https://vcfd.org/ fire-prevention/fire-hazard-reduction-program-fhrp.

31. Ventura Local Agency Formation Commission. 2018. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Service Review. 164 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Emergency Response
Emergency preparedness and response ensures the City can protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public before, during, and after natural and human-induced emergencies, including fires, earthquakes, flooding, and mass shootings. The City has an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that provides emergency guidelines for responding to incidents, focusing on potential large-scale disasters that often require mutual aid from various agencies. The EOP directs the City to use the State’s Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to ensure standard operating procedures and effective coordination across all levels of government during an emergency. The City maintains an Emergency Operation Center to manage local and countywide incidents at City Hall.32 The Public Works Department as first responders for incidents, coordinates traffic control and road closures, monitoring water infrastructure vulnerability, and manages local evacuation shelters.

Effective emergency management includes clearly defined roles, community outreach, well defined evacuation procedures and effective hazard mitigation planning. In addition to the EOP, the City and County of Ventura has an approved Ventura County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) in place, which describes plans and projects for reducing the risks of natural hazards on people, property, and the environment. The HMP was adopted by the City in August 2022. With the passage of Assembly Bill 747 and Senate Bill 99 in 2019 and Assembly Bill 1409 in 2021, the General Plan Safety Element must address evacuation routes throughout the City and identify residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. Refer to the Safety Element for more information on the City’s evacuation planning and hazard mitigation efforts.

32. Thousand Oaks, City of. 2014. General Plan, Safety Element. March 2014. Available at: https://www.toaks.org/ home/showdocument?id=344 .

Emergency preparedness and response is critical to protecting the City Community Facilities + Services | 165
Infrastructure
Potable Water
Water is delivered to local retailers by the Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas), which operates as a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan). Metropolitan treats and delivers imported water from the State Water Project to Calleguas, which in turn distributes on a wholesale basis to its retail water purveyors.19 In Thousand Oaks, retailers include the City of Thousand Oaks, California-American Water Company, California Water Service Company, and Camrosa Water District.19 Table 8.2 summarizes water service providers in the city and proportion of the community served by each.

Approximately three-quarters of Ventura County residents (roughly 645,000 people) currently rely on Calleguas for all or part of their water.

Calleguas’ 2020 Urban Water Management Plan indicates that the 2020 demand for Calleguas water of 91,940 acre-feet per year (AFY) is expected to grow slightly to 92,689 AFY by 2045. Calleguas anticipates having sufficient supplies through 2045 to meet this demand under average and dry conditions.20 Significant reductions in the allocation from the State Water Project, such as those that occurred in 2022, require the imposition of water restrictions to significantly reduce demand. Like other water agencies, as part of its Urban Water Management Plan, the City has a Water Shortage Contingency Plan in place which identifies measures to be taken in the event of a water shortage.

19. Calleguas Municipal Water District. 2020. Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP).

20. All from Calleguas Municipal Water District, Final 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, adopted June 2021.

21. Ventura County Stormwater Quality Management Program (VCSQMP). 2010 Technical Guidance Manual for Stormwater Control Measures.

22. VCSQMP. 2018. Annual Report.

Stormwater Quality
Land development in Thousand Oaks and the rest of Ventura County has resulted in an increase in impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, which do not allow filtration of water. This has increased the amount of runoff and pollutants entering stormwater conveyance systems. Ventura County and the incorporated cities each have their own stormwater conveyance system, which transports untreated stormwater directly to receiving waters, including local channels, rivers, and the ocean. This stormwater can potentially contain pollutants that adversely affect surface water quality, so its quality is carefully monitored for compliance with permitting requirements.21 The City provides stormwater and control services to comply with the Ventura Countywide Municipal Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The NPDES Permit Program, authorized by the Clean Water Act, controls water pollution by regulating sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. By collaborating with other jurisdictions through the Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program (VCSQMP), permittees under the Ventura Countywide Municipal Stormwater NPDES ensure that information and workloads are shared, economies of scale are achieved, and the VCSQMP is realized efficiently and effectively. Members of the VCSQMP include the County of Ventura and the incorporated cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.22 Table 8.2 Water Service Providers
Water Service Provider Proportion of City Served
California-American Water Company 48%
City of Thousand Oaks 36%
California Water Service Company 16%
Camrosa Water District <1%
166 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Among the efforts by the City to control stormwater pollution is the requirement for a Storm Water Pollution Control Plan (SWPCP) for construction projects that require clearing, grading or excavation.

The purpose of the SWPCP is to identify potential pollution sources and to design the use and placement of Best Management Practices to effectively prohibit the entry of pollutants from construction sites into the storm drain system.23
Surface Water Quality
Thousand Oaks is under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) (Region 4). The RWQCB sets water quality objectives and monitors surface water quality through the implementation of the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region (Basin Plan). The Basin Plan designates beneficial uses for surface waters in the region and associated water quality objectives to fulfill such uses. The beneficial uses of Westlake Lake, Lake Eleanor, Potrero Valley Creek, and Lake Eleanor Creek include warm freshwater habitat, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Maintaining and/or achieving specific water quality standards for these uses is important to ensure their functionality. Water quality impairments are different types of water quality pollutant standards, where if they are not met, can prevent water bodies from achieving their uses.

Groundwater Quality
Groundwater is not currently a source of potable water for Thousand Oaks but is a tentative planned supply for the medium term. The City owns two groundwater production wells: the Hillcrest Drive and Los Robles Golf Course (LRGC) wells. Both wells tap into the Conejo Valley Groundwater Basin (CVGB or Basin) in different locations; however, local groundwater quality poses a constraint on their use.

Groundwater quality in the Thousand Oaks area is generally characterized by high concentrations of salts and total dissolved solids (TDS) and will require treatment for drinking or for irrigation. This will require additional infrastructure, not just for treatment but also for removal and disposal of resulting brine. In some portions of the local groundwater basins, TDS concentrations as high as 2,800 milligrams per liter (mg/L) have been reported (DWR 2004c). In addition to TDS, groundwater basins in the vicinity of Thousand Oaks have been subject to elevated concentrations of sulfates, nitrate, and dissolved iron. Additionally, a trichloroethylene (TCE) plume associated with the former TFX Aviation site, an approximately 13-acre property along Old Conejo Road, has impaired groundwater in the western portion of the Conejo basin. The site has since been redeveloped, and remediation activities, including groundwater extraction and treatment, are ongoing as of 2023.

23. Thousand Oaks, City of. N.D. Requirements for a Stormwater Pollution Control Plan. Public Works Department. https://www.toaks.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=2526
Community Facilities + Services | 167
Solid Waste
As of January 2022, solid waste collection service throughout Thousand Oaks is managed through an exclusive franchise agreement with Athens Services. Athens Services provides weekly recycling, organics, and trash collection services for residents and up to six times a week for commercial waste. Thousand Oaks encourages recycling of solid waste through various ordinances and programs.

The City operates a Hazardous Waste Material Reuse Center which takes usable household products collected at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility and makes them available to the public free of charge. The Material Reuse Program not only encourages the reuse of materials, but also reduces the City’s costs for hazardous material disposal.

Other diversion programs include construction and demolition, where projects must divert a minimum of 65% of their waste from landfill disposal through recycling and reuse (Municipal Code (Title 6, Chapter 3)).

The recycling of organic waste (food and yard waste) is a relatively new requirement due to Senate Bill 1383, which establishes targets to achieve a 50% reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from 2014 levels by 2020 and a 75% reduction by 2025 (CalRecycle 2019). Athens Services provides both residential and commercial organic waste collection service throughout the City which includes traditional green waste associated with landscaping and food waste and food-soiled paper. Senate Bill 1383 also requires a 20% reduction in disposed edible food and the redirection of edible food that would be disposed of to people in need.24 The City is responsible for coordinating a program to ensure that food waste generators (grocery stores, foodrelated businesses, restaurants) donate their surplus edible food to a food recovery organization.

Senate Bill 1016 (2008) established a reporting mechanism to achieve the 50% waste reduction per capita disposal rate goal for jurisdictions, normalized by both the number of residents and the number of employees in the jurisdiction.25 For many years, the City has averaged between 67 and 70% diversion, well above the State target.26

24. CalRecycle. April 16, 2019. Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP): Organic Waste Methane Emissions Reductions (General Information). https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/climate/slcp. Accessed February 1, 2021.

25. The 50% per capita disposal rate target is half of the average per capita waste generated by a jurisdiction from 2003-2006.

26. California Department of Resource Recovery and Recycling (CalRecycle). 2019. Local Government Center Jurisdiction Review Reports: Thousand Oaks. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/AnnualReporting/ ReviewReports
The Hazardous Waste Materials Reuse Center provides recycling services for residents and businesses. 168 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Energy
Electricity in Thousand Oaks is provided by Clean Power Alliance (CPA) and Southern California Edison (SCE), and natural gas by Southern California Gas Company (SCG). In December 2017, City Council voted to join CPA (then Los Angeles Community Choice Energy), and in October 2018 Council adopted a CPA plan providing 100% renewable carbonfree electricity as the default for all City residents and businesses.

All customers have the option to opt out of CPA and purchase their electricity through SCE. In 2019, Thousand Oaks’ residents and business owners began receiving electricity from CPA and delivered through Southern California Edison (SCE) transmission and distribution lines. Utilizing clean renewable power and reducing energy use are top priorities for the City. Prior to 2022, City facilities received 100% renewable electricity through a Direct Access provider but beginning in 2022 all facilities have transitioned to 100% renewable electricity through CPA. The City-owned 401/403 Hillcrest Drive properties host a 300-kW rooftop solar. A ground mounted 584-kW solar array was installed in 2007 at Hill Canyon Treatment Plant, and in 2022 a 359- kW solar carport was constructed at the Municipal Service Center. The City also utilizes renewable electricity at HCTP through co-generator(s) powered by biogas from wastewater digesters. In 2023, the City plans to expand its solar installations to other facilities.

In 2021, the City began the installation of battery energy storage to power microgrids at its facilities. These enable off-grid operation during power outages and emergencies and enable the power draw from the grid to be reduced or eliminated during periods of grid stress, brownouts, and peak demand thereby helping to stabilize the grid. As of early 2023, installations have been completed with three more in design/construction.

Thousand Oaks provides expedited processing for installation of small solar photovoltaic systems on one- and two- family dwellings in the City.

The City is also developing a Climate and Environmental Action Plan (CEAP), which contains actions to reduce community GHG emissions and meet the State’s goal of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 (Senate Bill 32).

Telecommunications
Telecommunications services, including wireless, Voice over Internet Providers (VoIP) and traditional landline phone services, are provided by private vendors. Wireless service is available through multiple providers who lease or operate four wireless cell facilities within Thousand Oaks as well as in surrounding areas. There are 20 internet service and five private mobile internet providers in Thousand Oaks, nine of which offer residential service. Public internet access is available at the Grant R. Brimhall and Newbury Park Libraries.

In response to FCC Rule 18-133, which requires jurisdiction to process permits for “small wireless facilities” in 90 days, Thousand Oaks City Council adopted an Urgency Ordinance in March 2019 to set a process for expedited processing of permits for “small wireless facilities.” The FCC rule was established to ensure the rapid implementation of new data technology, including 5G. By adopting the Urgency Ordinance, Thousand Oaks can establish aesthetic guidelines and preferential siting of proposed “small wireless facilities.”
Community Facilities + Services | 169
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key issues and opportunities facing Thousand Oaks relative to its community facilities and services. These were developed through public engagement with the use of existing data to address issues facing the City now, and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change. The topics inform the overall direction identified in the goals and policies in the following section and related implementation actions found in Chapter 13: Implementation.

Maintenance of Public Facilities
Thousand Oaks has several high-quality public facilities that attract and serve patrons from around the Conejo Valley. However, public facilities will need improvements. Many of the public facilities were developed in the early 1980s and 1990s and have since become outdated or nearing the end of typical useful life. Over time and as the community evolves, infrastructure and facility improvements are needed to maintain the expected level of service.

Utilities and Resource Conservation.

The City must work with utility and service providers to plan for the continued availability of affordable, high-quality services to the community. Current water and energy supplies are adequate to serve the community, though conservation of water and power is necessary to help ensure that supplies will be adequate into the future. Water conservation not only helps ensure water availability during drought, but also reduces energy consumption and expense associated with its delivery. Similarly, conservation of electricity and natural gas not only helps ensure availability and reliability of these services, but also reduces associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Future Water Supply and Stormwater Management
There is an opportunity to expand and diversify the City’s water supply through the Conejo Valley Groundwater Basin. The City’s 2018 Groundwater Study estimates that about 10% of the City’s potable water use could be offset with the use of the Los Robles Greens Golf Course (LRGC) groundwater well. The City is exploring options for groundwater resources, as well as water reuse including the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant effluent.

Surface Water and Groundwater Contamination
Although water quality in the City is generally good, certain water bodies have elevated concentrations of contaminants that can adversely affect wildlife, recreational opportunities, and water supply. Improving the quality of local water resources will be a priority to meet the City’s goals related to biological resource conservation and water supply, particularly as imported water supplies become scarcer.

Service Demands and Climate Resilience
The City needs to invest in facilities that can continue to meet service demands while adapting to climate change impacts.

Local School Enrollment
Thousand Oaks is known for its high-quality public schools. However, the City’s school enrollment has experienced a steady decline since the mid-2000s—mirroring the State’s overall decline in enrollment—which could result in school closures. In the past, former school facilities have been repurposed by the CVUSD as alternative schools or were leased.

There may be opportunities to repurpose former school buildings into community centers or housing in the future.

Public Safety Coordination
The public safety services of police, fire protection, and emergency response have taken on heightened importance because of natural disasters such as the Woolsey Fire. Simultaneous fire emergencies throughout the region emphasized the need to improve coordination of emergency planning with agencies, such as the Ventura County. 170 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Citywide Infrastructure
Goal CFS-1: Develop citywide infrastructure that supports existing and future development.

1.1 City infrastructure maintenance.

Manage and upgrade the City’s infrastructure to address future demands as funds allow.

1.2 Development impact fees.

Require new and existing development to pay its fair share of infrastructure and public service costs to support ongoing maintenance and operations.

1.3 Sustainable design.

Promote the design of infrastructure projects that use sustainable materials, reduce carbon emissions, and minimize energy, water and waste during construction.

1.4 Infrastructure as amenities.

Encourage designs that allow infrastructure to serve dual purposes (e.g., green infrastructure, flood control access roads and multi-use paths).

1.5 Resilient infrastructure.

Plan for and develop resilient infrastructure to minimize disruptions from climate-related impacts on residences and businesses (i.e., wildfire, Public Safety Power Shutoff events, flooding).

Goal CFS-2: Support access to high quality telecommunication services.

2.1 Telecommunication infrastructure.

Telecommunication infrastructure should not detract from community aesthetics.

2.2 Digital access for all.

Work with telecommunications providers to ensure that all Thousand Oaks residents and businesses have equal access to high quality and affordable internet and broadband services.

2.3 Undergrounding of utilities.

Place new and existing utilities underground to promote attractive development and reduce wildfire risk.

Goals and Policies
The following section includes goals and policies for the Community Facilities and Services Element. In addition, sustainability, climate resilience, public safety, emergency management, and resource conservation policies are found throughout the General Plan. Related implementation actions can be found in Chapter 13.

Community Facilities + Services | 171
Water Supply, Reclamation, and Conservation
Goal CFS-3: Ensure a sustainable water supply that supports existing and future community needs.

3.1 Water supply.

Continue to work with water providers to ensure the provision of water in quantities sufficient to satisfy current and projected demands while encouraging water conservation measures for existing and new development.

3.2 Emergency water supply.

Work with regional and local water providers to ensure that adequate water supplies and pressures are available during a fire, earthquake, or both.

3.3 Diversified water portfolio.

Utilize local groundwater and reclaimed water resources to reduce reliance on imported water from the State Water Project.

3.4 Funding.

Ensure that funding is available to maintain existing and future water facilities.

3.5 Water Master Plan.

Regularly update the City’s Water Master Plan to provide up-to-date projections of water demand and supplies and needed system improvements.

3.6 Backup water services.

Provide that alternative or emergency backup services for imported water services are earthquake resilient.

3.7 Local water resources.

Collaborate with local water agencies and distributors to develop infrastructure and mechanisms for expanding local water access and resources through improved connections to other sources, use of local groundwater, stormwater capture, and/or expanded treatment or reuse of wastewater.

Goal CFS-4: Encourage building and landscape design that conserves or recycles water.

4.1 Water conservation and reuse.

Promote and implement water conservation measures and reuse practices, including water-efficient fixtures, leak detection, water recycling, greywater systems, and rainwater harvesting.

4.2 Education and outreach.

Support and augment regional conservation programs to encourage reduced water use in homes and businesses. This includes educational, outreach and incentive programs that promote water conservation and water-efficient technologies to the public, homebuilders, business owners, and landscapes.

4.3 Landscaping standards.

Update the City’s landscape guidelines and standards for landscape and irrigation plans, which require the use of low-maintenance, native and drought-tolerant landscaping and low-flow water efficient irrigation in all public and private developments.

4.4 Landscaping water efficiency.

Meet or exceed Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) water efficiency standards.

4.5 Building water efficiency.

Minimize future water use by requiring all new development to meet Green Building Standards identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory entities.

4.6 Pervious paving.

Minimize the use of impervious materials wherever possible and utilize pervious wherever possible to promote and facilitate groundwater recharge.
172 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

4.7 Recycled water use.

Strive to reduce potable water use and use recycled water for landscaping on City-owned and operated properties, focusing initially on larger, water-intensive properties such as Los Robles Greens Golf Course and the Civic Arts Plaza.

4.8 Water-efficient landscaping and irrigation.

Utilize water-efficient climate-appropriate landscaping on all City and public properties including medians, parkways, and parks. Implement smart networked irrigation controllers and drip or other low flow irrigation systems.

Wastewater Treatment
Goal CFS-5: Provide sewage conveyance and treatment capacity to meet community needs.

5.1 Hill Canyon Treatment Plant improvements.

Perform regular master plan updates and continue to invest in upgrades and rehabilitation of Hill Canyon Treatment Plant to ensure continued efficient and safe treatment of the community’s wastewater.

5.2 Facility inspections.

Annually inspect wastewater conveyance facilities to identify needed repairs and/or upgrades.

5.3 Developer exactions.

Require developers to identify and implement wastewater upgrades needed to serve new development.

Solid Waste
Goal CFS-6: Provide solid waste services that meet the demands of residents and businesses.

6.1 Zero-waste municipal operations.

Strive for zero-waste certification for municipal facilities.

6.2 Solid waste diversion.

Strive to increase the community’s solid waste diversion from the landfill to 75% as measured by CalRecyle, through waste reduction, re-use, and recycling by 2030.

6.3 Food waste diversion.

Comply with or exceed requirements for organics and food waste diversion from the landfill through organics weekly collection service to all residents and businesses, and the development and support of an edible food recovery program.

6.4 Composting and recycling.

Increase education and awareness of all residents and businesses about composting and recycling.

6.5 Hazardous materials.

Provide convenient means for the community to properly dispose of hazardous waste.

6.6 Regional composting facilities.

Support development of regional organics processing, composting and waste diversion facilities.

6.7 Local facilities.

Minimize emission from solid waste services by using local facilities and clean fuel vehicles.

Community Facilities + Services | 173
Stormwater
Goal CFS-7: Provide stormwater drainage facilities with capacity during storm events.

7.1 Stormwater retention.

Meet or exceed Low Impact Development (LID) requirements for onsite retention of stormwater through best management practices (i.e., rain gardens, rain barrels, and retention basins).

7.2 Sustainable stormwater management.

Design new streets and retrofit existing streets to incorporate vegetation, soil, and engineered systems to reduce, slow, cleanse, and infiltrate stormwater runoff.

7.3 Development impact fees.

Require new development to fund fair-share costs associated with the provision of stormwater drainage systems.

7.4 Stormwater retention and debris basins.

Design and construct new stormwater retention and debris basins to minimize any potentially adverse impacts to landform features, aquatic resources, and associated native plant and animal communities.

Surface Water and Groundwater Quality
Goal CFS-8: Achieve and maintain applicable surface water and groundwater quality standards.

8.1 Water quality standards.

Achieve and maintain applicable water quality standards in local surface water and groundwater.

8.2 Reservoir water quality.

Maintain water quality in Lake Eleanor, Bard Reservoir, and Las Virgenes Reservoir by limiting development in proximity to these water bodies and ensuring that runoff from properties in proximity to these water bodies adheres to applicable standards.

8.3 Stormwater runoff compliance.

Ensure that all new development complies with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements for stormwater and runoff.

8.4 Education and outreach.

Use digital, print, and direct means to inform the public about water quality, public stormwater pollution and methods to prevent contaminants from entering the storm drain system. Communicate and utilize a reporting system for the public to report non-stormwater discharges to waterways.

8.5 Pollutant discharge.

Design necessary stormwater detention basins, recharge basins, water quality basins, or similar water capture facilities to protect water quality by capturing and/or treating water before it enters a watercourse.

8.6 Groundwater quality.

Support regional efforts to improve local groundwater quality.

Fire and Police Services
Goal CFS-9: Ensure fire protection for all residents and businesses in the City of Thousand Oaks.

9.1 Emergency and fire technology.

Invest in technological advances that enhance the City’s ability to deliver emergency and fire-rescue services more efficiently and cost-effectively.

9.2 Fire emergency protocols.

Develop specific protocols for addressing multiple simultaneous firerelated emergencies. 174 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

9.3 After-Action Report recommendations.

Implement the recommendations from After-Action Reports to further improve fire protection services.

9.4 Regional coordination.

Continue to coordinate with regional agencies, including CAL Fire, on fire protection and suppression.

9.5 Fire education.

Promote fire education by conducting fire safety and fire prevention programs for schools and other critical facilities.

Goal CFS-10: Provide police services for all residents and businesses in the City.

10.1 Contract with County Sheriff’s Office.

Continue to contract with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office on police protection services for the City.

10.2 Adequate police services.

Meet local demand for police protection service in all areas of the City by providing staff, facilities, and equipment to support existing residents and future growth in population and employment growth.

Specifically, maintain Ventura County Sheriff’s Office response time goal of 10 minutes for emergency calls and 20 minutes for nonemergency calls.

10.3 Police emergency protocols.

Work with the Sheriff Department to develop specific protocols for addressing multiple simultaneous police-related emergencies.

10.4 Address resource gaps.

Utilize the Sheriff’s Department Mobile Command Center to address resource availability gaps, especially during emergency situations.

10.5 Community relationships and outreach.

Continue to foster positive, peaceful, mutually supportive relationships between Thousand Oaks residents and the police.

Encourage increased community involvement and activities to foster stronger relationships between residents and the Sheriff.

10.6 Crime prevention features.

Coordinate with the Sheriff’s Department to address community crime issues and to ensure that new development incorporates crime prevention features.

Goal CFS-11: Ensure effective response to a range of emergencies, including multiple simultaneous emergencies.

11.1 Update of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.

Update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan periodically to incorporate emergency preparedness and evacuation procedures.

11.2 Disaster preparedness.

Adopt disaster preparedness and resilience strategies such as power backup at critical facilities, communication protocols and emergency evacuation planning and outreach.

11.3 Hazardous materials emergency response.

Work with the County to effectively respond to hazardous materials emergencies.

11.4 Telecommunication siting.

Work with telecommunication providers to ensure that siting of telecommunication facilities provides efficient, quality services to emergency response providers in the city.

11.5 Multi-hazard training.

Coordinate internally and externally to continue improving public safety response to multiple simultaneous hazards.

Also, see the Safety Element for policies related to protection from various hazards, including wildland fire, flooding, hazardous material events, terrorist acts.

Community Facilities + Services | 175
Public Buildings and Services
Goal CFS-12: Provide high quality, safe, well-maintained, and sustainable facilities, and services for City operations.

12.1 City facilities.

Equitably expand and improve the City’s facilities and buildings as needed to meet the community’s needs, based on regular monitoring and evaluation of their condition and the needs of the community, especially in disadvantaged and underserved communities.

12.2 Maintenance of community centers.

Coordinate with CRPD to maintain and enhance Thousand Oaks’ community centers, such as the Goebel Adult Community Center and Alex Fiore Teen Center, as resources for recreational and educational facilities for community members of all ages and abilities.

12.3 Community programming.

Maintain and expand, free community programming available year-round at Thousand Oaks community centers, libraries, and the Civic Arts Plaza.

12.4 After-school programs.

Partner with local schools, Thousand Oaks libraries, and community centers to offer safe, accessible after-school program options for youth.

12.5 Surplus public property for affordable housing.

Prioritize use of surplus public buildings and property for affordable housing.

12.6 Aging in place.

Work with local and regional agencies to support comprehensive social services so that people can remain living independently in their own homes.

12.7 Community outreach for social services.

Regularly inform the community about available local social services and County and State entitlement programs.

12.8 Regional coordination around social services.

Coordinate multi-jurisdictional efforts in providing human services and seek funding for social services programs from county, state, and federal sources.

Libraries
Goal CFS-13: Provide public library services that support residents of all ages and abilities.

13.1 Public library amenities and services.

Maintain and expand the existing library catalog, public programming, and facilities at the Grant R. Brimhall Library and Newbury Park Branch Library locations.

13.2 Library accessibility.

Ensure accessibility to Thousand Oaks libraries and community centers by maintaining ADA accessibility, complete sidewalks, onsite bicycle parking, and access by transit to support residents and visitors of all abilities and ages.

13.3 Additional branch locations.

Assess the need for additional branch library locations throughout Thousand Oaks and seek funding opportunities.

13.4 Funding for renovations and modernizations.

Seek funding for renovations and modernizations to both the Grant R.

Brimhall Library and the Newbury Park Branch Library.

13.5 Services and facilities evaluation.

Evaluate the need for improved or expanded library services and facilities for Thousand Oaks residents on a 5-year cycle. 176 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Healthcare
Goal CFS-14: Ensure access to quality health and mental healthcare and social services that support all stages of living in Thousand Oaks.

14.1 Community health services.

Promote the flexible use of community centers, libraries, and schools to provide important health services to Thousand Oaks residents, including pop-up vaccination or healthcare screenings.

14.2 Healthcare services.

Work with Los Robles Hospital and Ventura County Health Department to maintain and enhance as needed-healthcare services in Thousand Oaks.

14.3 Coordination with healthcare institutions.

Coordinate regularly with regional and local healthcare institutions to understand future facility, provider, and care needs that can better serve the community.

14.4 Hospital expansion.

Support the modernization and expansion of Los Robles Hospital to better serve patients, physicians, and staff.

14.5 Medical support infill.

Encourage other medical support uses on the commercial and institutional properties adjacent to Los Robles Hospital.

Schools and Education
Goal CFS-15: Diverse and affordable recreational programs and services for all Thousand Oaks residents, regardless of age, activity level, physical ability, or income level.

15.1 School enrollment.

Continue to work with Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) to monitor local K-12 enrollment and plan for impacts related to growth or decline.

15.2 School siting.

Work with CVUSD to identify potential school site needs to meet future demand.

15.3 School closures.

In the event of a school site closure, work with CVUSD or private schools to plan for future land uses – prioritizing affordable housing and public recreation and parks.

15.4 Educational programs and after-school care.

Work with CRPD, Thousand Oaks Libraries, and other service agencies to expand senior, adult, and youth education and after-school care offered at public facilities.

15.5 Childcare.

Coordinate with local agencies to encourage local high quality, affordable childcare options including in-home childcare, public and private childcare centers, and community centers that offer childcare programming, as feasible.

15.6 Colleges.

Partner with local public and private schools and colleges to maintain successful educational, vocational and workforce programs for all residents.

Community Facilities + Services | 177
Goal CFS-16: Support the ongoing operations and expansion of California Lutheran University (CLU) in Thousand Oaks.

16.1 Campus master plan.

Encourage Master Planning of the CLU campus to create a comprehensive vision for the campus as it evolves and expands over time.

16.2 Student enrollment impacts.

Coordinate with CLU administration to monitor enrollment and potential impacts to housing, transportation, entertainment, and retail needs.

16.3 CLU community needs.

Coordinate regularly with CLU administration to understand future facility, student, and faculty needs to better serve the community.

16.4 Traffic and noise impacts.

Work with CLU and neighboring property owners to reduce impacts of traffic and noise related to campus operations or construction.

16.5 Joint-use agreement.

Maintain the ongoing partnership with CLU that allows public access to the outdoor pool on the CLU campus.

16.6 Local business partnerships.

Encourage and actively facilitate partnerships between CLU and local businesses to integrate job opportunities and educational programming.

16.7 Satellite campuses.

Work with CLU to prioritize locating satellite campuses within the City of Thousand Oaks and, in particular, the Downtown Core.

16.8 Campus expansion.

Support expansion of campus facilities, services, and student housing that are compatible with the existing campus facilities and surrounding neighborhood.

16.9 Pedestrian and bicycle connections.

Encourage expansion of pedestrian and bicyclist amenities in and around the CLU campus and improve walkability.

16.10 Public recreation access.

Encourage ongoing partnerships between CLU and the City to allow public access to recreational facilities on campus.
178 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 9

ARTS AND CULTURE
Arts and Culture | 179
Overview of Chapter
Thousand Oaks offers a rich local arts community and has become a regional destination for arts, culture, and entertainment opportunities.

The City is home to an abundant and diverse collection of cultural assets including businesses, nonprofit organizations, venues, people, and cultural heritage places. Residents work as independent artists and performers, musicians, designers, tech workers, writers, among others. Current cultural participation by residents includes attending performances at the Civic Arts Plaza’s Bank of America Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) or other community theatre spaces, viewing exhibits at various galleries, small informal events at local restaurants, citywide events, and activities, as well as access to other outside events in neighboring cities.

The Thousand Oaks Grant Brimhall Library is one of the central points for cultural participation in the community and has significant arts and cultural offerings for a city the size of Thousand Oaks. Currently, many events are geared toward mature residents (over 40) or the very young (under 10). Thousand Oaks youth and young adults want opportunities to participate in cultural activities in the City. Teenagers and young adults are seeking activities such as speaker series, creative spaces to collaborate on projects, places to gather with other like-minded youth, music festivals, and more accessibility to arts activities.

This chapter of the General Plan describes the arts and culture system of Thousand Oaks and provides goals and policies to support and enhance the vibrant cultural environment and creative economy of the City.

Topics covered in this Element include:
• Statutory Requirements
• Cultural Assets
• Cultural Affairs
• Arts and Cultural Funding
• Key Issues and Opportunities
• Goals and Opportunities
Statutory Requirements
The State of California does not require that a City’s General Plan address arts and culture. However, the City views this as an essential topic for the community and, therefore, it is included as an optional element. There are no other State or Federal compliance or requirements specific to arts and culture to be treated in the General Plan.
180 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Background
This section provides background information on arts and culture within the City, including physical facilities and cultural programming.

Cultural Assets
Thousand Oaks is home to an abundance of cultural assets which play a critical role in elevating arts, culture, and the heritage of a place.

Ensuring arts and culture continue to be considered in City decisionmaking will strengthen the cultural sector. Listed below are descriptions of some of the City’s key cultural assets and issues or opportunities that related to the General Plan.

Civic Arts Plaza
Designed by nationally renowned architect Antoine Predock, and opened in 1994 at cost of $63.8 million, the Civic Arts Plaza is the crown jewel of Thousand Oaks. The building combines Postmodern and Modern architecture styles and is home to City Hall and The Bank of America Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) theatres. The City’s 2017 Downtown Core Master Plan sets forth a new concept to reimagine the Civic Arts Plaza campus and neighboring city-owned parcels into an active pedestrian environment that incorporates an outdoor amphitheater and other features to maximize use and enjoyment by residents and visitors.

Civic Arts Plaza (photo by Joe Virnig)
Arts and Culture | 181
Performing Arts Venues
The performing arts scene is defined primarily by the City’s Civic Arts Plaza’s and BAPAC which includes the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre, and the 394-seat Janet and Ray Scherr Forum theatre (which doubles as the Andrew P. Fox City Council Chambers and Planning Commission venue).33 The theatres offer a wide variety of live performances and events from national touring shows and concerts to local arts and cultural events. The box office processes more than 170,000 tickets and averages $8.5 million in ticket sales each year, and approximately 200,000 patrons and 25,000 school children attend 250 performances and events annually.34 The BAPAC is home to three resident companies:

Pacific Festival Ballet, New West Symphony, and 5-Star Theatricals.

The BAPAC operates as a rental venue, with approximately 70% of the current theatre activity coming from local renters.

In addition to BAPAC’s theatre venues, Thousand Oaks has an impressive additional nine theatres throughout the City. Two are large venues, with 1,000 seats or more, and the other eight are small- and mid-sized. There is a total of nearly 5,000 theatre seats in the City.

These venues are owned by the City, California Lutheran University, Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD), Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), and a private nonprofit. These purpose-built performing arts venues are supplemented by additional places used occasionally for performances, such as the libraries, parks, places of worship, and community rooms. There is a range of outdoor public festivals and celebrations produced each year in Thousand Oaks and there is a demonstrated need for and interest in developing a large-scale amphitheater and festival site in the City.

33. The term Civic Arts Plaza refers to the entire civic complex encompassing two theatres, City Hall, and associated municipal offices. The two theatres – the Fred Kavli Theatre and the Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre are referred to as the Bank of America Performing Arts Center (BAPAC).

34. https://toarts.org
Kavli Theatre
Musical performance at Kavli Theatre
Classical music concert at Kavli Theatre
182 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Organizations
A robust nonprofit arts community, with significant talent and resources, is present in Thousand Oaks. Performing arts are abundant and considered a pillar of the city’s arts identity. Local arts organizations appreciate the value BAPAC brings to the community. There are 37 tax exempt arts and cultural organizations – music, museums, theater, visual arts, dance, cultural heritage, and botanical gardens – providing a range of programming and cultural places. The oldest organization was founded in 1955 and there has been continuous development of new arts and cultural nonprofits in the community addressing different cultural programming.

Public Artworks
While the City does not currently
have a public art program, public
artwork has been mentioned in
City Council policy over the years.

There is a small temporary collection
of outdoor sculptures located at the
Civic Arts Plaza complex and at the
Grant Brimhall Library. In recent
years, there has also been a project
of public art sculptures, Conejo
Cottontails, which are standardized
but individually artist-decorated
rabbit figures, sponsored jointly by
two local nonprofits, Art Trek, and
the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley.

Art Galleries
There are relatively few galleries and visual arts venues in Thousand Oaks. Two galleries are operated by the City: the Thousand Oaks Community Art Gallery at the Newbury Park Library and the Fred Kavli Theatre Gallery. A third is located at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, operated by CRPD and the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley. These spaces often exhibit and serve area artists. They are complemented by the William Roland Gallery of Fine Art at California Lutheran University, and the Conejo Valley Museum at Janss Marketplace.

Example of an art exhibition in a Thousand Oaks art gallery Conejo Cottontail public artwork
Arts and Culture | 183
Cultural Heritage Sites
A diverse collection of 15 historic and cultural sites are found in Thousand Oaks, ranging from museums and historic homes to heritage trees. They span historical periods from Native American to recent 20th Century landmarks. Examples include the Chumash Indian Museum, McCrea Ranch, and the Stagecoach Inn Museum. All are available to the public (with various restrictions), and many are listed on national and/ or county registries of historic places.

Creative Economy
Thousand Oaks’ creative industries and occupations are a significant cultural asset to both individuals and community development. There is a strong presence of artists and other creative professionals in the City, with nearly 9,000 creative jobs reflecting a population of photographers, musicians, writers, designers, and others who live and/or work in Thousand Oaks.35 There are additional people, not included in the count of 9,000, who consider themselves avocational artists. Collectively, the creative economy presents an opportunity to expand and capitalize on the unique brand of Thousand Oaks as a community who values artistic expression and community culture.

35. Creative Vitality™ Suite is an industry standard data solution for measuring the for-profit and nonprofit arts, culture, and creative sectors provided by Western States Arts Federation (2018).

McCrea Ranch Cultural Heritage Site
184 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Thousand Oaks Alliance
for the Arts
The Thousand Oaks Alliance for the Arts (TOArts), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funds a portion of BAPAC theatre operations through a partnership with the City. Annually, TOArts presents approximately 50- 60 performances at the BAPAC, provides arts education programming and funding, and makes grants to community organizations utilizing the BAPAC venue.

Arts & Culture Roundtable
The Arts & Culture Roundtable has up to 15 at-large members and serves as a convening body to bring together representatives of local arts organizations, local working artists, and arts educators to discuss issues, challenges, and collaborative opportunities in the community. The Arts and Culture Roundtable advises City Council on artistic and cultural activity within the community.

City Arts Funding
The Civic Arts Plaza was originally authorized by the voters in 1987 along with a 1984 advisory initiative (Measure B) stating that City cannot subsidize theatre operations. The theatres – now referred to as BAPAC – operate as an enterprise fund which is to be self-supporting on revenues and private contributions, without reliance on City General Funds for operations.

The theatres generate the balance of needed operating revenues from ticket sales, user fees, and related theatre rental revenues. The theatre leadership has been able to arrive at a successful funding formula that eliminates the need for a general fund operating subsidy, and that the TOArts endowment is now sufficient to secure its annual operating commitment to the theatres.

With this rich cultural landscape as a foundation, cultural development policies and strategies for the Arts and Culture Element supports the arts and cultural life for Thousand Oaks residents.

Aerial view of the Civic Arts Plaza and City Hall
Arts and Culture | 185
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key opportunities for the City, relative to arts and culture. This list was developed in combination of the engagement phases and to address issues facing the City now, and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change. The topics inform the overall direction identified in the goals and policies listed in the following section, and within implementation actions listed in Chapter 13:

Implementation.

Cultural Equity
There is a significant opportunity to advance cultural equity through all the goals of this Arts and Culture Element. These include strengthening policy and funding for arts and culture; diversifying arts programs and attracting new audiences through culturally relevant performances; intentionally expanding arts opportunities to all neighborhoods and communities; and including artists and creatives with diverse backgrounds in delivery of activities and projects.

Arts and Economic Development
Attracting technology workers and young adults to Thousand Oaks has been a communitywide goal since its inclusion in the 2017 Thousand Oaks Economic Development Strategic Plan. Arts accessibility will enhance Thousand Oaks as a more attractive place to live, therefore strengthening the overall local economy. Creating vibrant places across the City and providing relevant programming for different community groups is a critical part of the overall economic development goals, and the arts and culture goals of the City.

The upcoming renovation and redevelopment of the Civic Arts Plaza will emphasize the space as a local asset for arts and cultural events, entertainment, and community gathering spaces. The expansion of diverse arts programming and spaces presents the opportunity to transform the relationship between BAPAC, City Hall and the community, and to create a cultural destination for residents and for visitors. There is opportunity to activate the campus through community business and nonprofit partnerships - creating exciting, diverse programming and placemaking, while supporting and growing the local creative economy.

Kavli Theatre
186 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Citywide Cultural Development
Expanding the role of the Thousand Oaks Cultural Affairs Department can be a catalyst for citywide cultural development and can address the inequities of accessibility to the arts for many communities. Developing partnerships with the community to create and help to deliver arts and cultural programming to all residents will significantly increase access and exposure to the arts.

Public Art
Public art is also a powerful tool to address community identity, equity and inclusion, and community dialogue. The City should consider expanding public art requirements throughout the City. It can increase cultural vitality/activity for the new Downtown Core as well as throughout Thousand Oaks neighborhoods and should be broadly defined to extend beyond sculpture to a range of permanent and temporary public art.

Youth Arts
Thousand Oaks is known for being family-friendly and for its exemplary education system. Cultural policies that advance arts education in the community and schools are another way to address inequities in the arts.

Arts learning serves many purposes: career pathways, youth safety, mental health, crisis and trauma management, academic achievement, tolerance, equity, inclusion, and more. Looking forward, a focus on youth in the community also cultivates the next generation of arts and creative practitioners and supporters who may one day work and live in Thousand Oaks.

Youth art activity at a community festival
Arts and Culture | 187
Community Cultural Collaborations and Partnerships
Thousand Oaks is a community known for its well-established practice of City collaborations with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, The Grant Brimhall Library, CRPD, California Lutheran University, and others. Formalizing cultural collaborations will provide significant opportunity to infuse cultural programming throughout the city.

An Arts and Business Roundtable convened by the Cultural Affairs Department is an opportunity for collaborative planning for the new Civic Arts Plaza and other arts initiatives.

Arts Funding
Thousand Oaks residents value arts and culture, as apparent through the many facilities, nonprofit organizations and coalitions, programs, and other activities. However, to harness and strengthen economic opportunities of arts and culture, improve arts education, and cultural equity, the community will need to invest additional resources in local arts funding. Since the City is at this juncture where it is considering new artistic and cultural functions, expanded funding must also be considered as a critical goal. Sources of funding, apart from the policy related to BAPAC and the self-sufficiency of its enterprise fund, will be required.

Outdoor performance in the Civic Arts Plaza
188 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Arts and Economic Development
Goal AC-1: Embrace arts and culture as a key partner to Thousand Oaks’ economic development.

1.1 Creative sector.

Continue to develop programs and support systems for Thousand Oaks’ creative sector, attracting new workers to the community and retaining current workers and businesses.

1.2 Creative spaces.

Prioritize the development of arts and creative spaces and gathering places within mixed use, commercial, retail, and civic developments.

1.3 Civic Arts Plaza Campus Master Plan.

Support and enhance the Civic Arts Plaza Campus Master Plan’s goals to develop arts and culture spaces and programming for the new Civic Arts Plaza.

1.4 Competitive advantage.

Take steps to incorporate the arts and cultural vibrancy and vitality of Thousand Oaks as a distinct competitive advantage for the City as a place to live, work, and recreate.

The Civic Arts Plaza and Cultural Affairs
Goal AC-2: Ensure the Civic Arts Plaza remains the vibrant cultural center of Thousand Oaks.

2.1 Arts programming.

Continue to focus on the high quality of the Civic Arts Plaza facilities and programs while expanding and enhancing offerings.

2.2 Finances.

Sustain the financial health of the Civic Arts Plaza operations and programming and explore new funding sources in addition to the TOArts policy related to BAPAC and the enterprise fund.

2.3 Resident organizations.

Ensure longevity for the resident organization program, providing continued incentives and benefits, such as reduced theater fees, donated office space, and marketing assistance.

2.4 Arts and business roundtable.

Develop an Arts and Business Roundtable to expand community partnerships, assist with programming of the new Civic Arts Plaza and other relevant topics for advancement of the arts for the City.

Goals and Policies
The following section includes goals and policies for the Arts and Culture Element. In addition, related goals and policies are integrated throughout the General Plan in the Land Use, Community Facilities and Services, and Governance Elements.

Arts and Culture | 189
Resident Cultural and Creative Experiences
Goal AC-3: Enhance and expand arts, cultural, and creative experiences throughout all areas of the community.

3.1 Public art.

Adopt a City Public Art Ordinance to develop a City public art program that creates permanent and temporary art works in locations and places throughout the City.

3.2 Citywide arts experiences.

Through the Cultural Affairs Department, expand the current arts and cultural programming to extend to venues and spaces throughout the city, including informal places and experiences.

3.3 Cultural facilities.

Take steps to identify partnerships and locations in Thousand Oaks for a large (10,000+ seat) venue for concerts, festivals, and other entertainment and cultural events.

Goal AC-4: Foster new generations of culturally literate and healthy residents.

4.1 Lifelong learning in the arts.

Working with local organizations and the schools, support access to lifelong learning in the arts for all residents of all ages in community settings.

4.2 Partnerships.

Further define and develop partnerships and collaborations among the CVUSD, California Lutheran University, the arts community, and other agencies in the provision of arts learning for youth.

4.3 Cultural relevancy.

Continue to develop and expand arts and cultural programming that appeals to diverse cultural interests, including young adults, families, youth, seniors, and other specific audience groups.

4.4 Program expansion.

Expand Cultural Affairs Department programming by developing partnerships, identifying satellite venues, and creating new programming for all communities and neighborhoods.

City Arts and Culture Leadership
Goal AC-5: Assure effective arts and cultural leadership for the Thousand Oaks community.

5.1 Creative sector leadership.

As part of the development of an Arts and Business Roundtable, convene and activate Thousand Oaks’ creative sector and facilitate their participation in civic leadership.

5.2 Community leadership.

Activate the Arts and Culture Roundtable with specific responsibilities as a community advisory body.

5.3 Shared leadership.

Continue and expand Thousand Oaks’ well-established practice of City collaborations with the Library, CRPD, California Lutheran University, CVUSD, and others to leverage these relationships for arts and cultural programming, information sharing and facilities.

Goal AC-6: Utilize arts and culture as a policy tool for other civic goals.

6.1 Equity, inclusion, access.

Utilize art to provide a unique opportunity for engagement and programming content strategies to develop relationships with the Thousand Oaks community.

6.2 Community health.

Utilize arts and cultural programming to support community health policies (teen suicides, crisis response), and social service initiatives. 190 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

6.3 Creatives in City government.

Develop artist-in-residence or an artist-in-residence on demand program within City government to provide creative perspectives and services in planning, design, communications, community engagement, and other functions.

6.4 Cross-departmental.

Convene City departments on a regular basis to explore crossdepartmental initiatives with Community Development, Public Works, Police, and Library Services.

Arts and Cultural Funding
Goal AC-7: Secure diverse and sustainable arts and cultural funding.

7.1 Expanded impact.

Allocate City funds to support arts and cultural programming and functions outside the Civic Arts Plaza and its enterprise fund.

7.2 TOArts.

Support the Thousand Oaks Alliance for the Arts (TOArts) to continue and expand its funding partnership with the Cultural Affairs Department in support of programming in places other than the Civic Arts Plaza.

7.3 Dedicated funding source.

Explore development of a dedicated revenue source for arts and culture.

Arts and Culture | 191
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192 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 10
Safety
Safety | 193
Overview of Chapter
The City of Thousand Oaks is committed to protecting the community from natural and human-induced hazards and building resilience to projected climate change risks. This Element describes these hazards and establishes goals and policies to protect people, property, and the natural environment.

The following topics are included in this chapter:
• Statutory Requirements
• Natural Hazards
• Human Induced Hazards
• Key Issues and Opportunities
• Goals and Policies
Statutory Requirements
State law requires that the General Plan include an element that addresses hazards such as fires, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, climate change, and other human-induced hazards (Government Code 65302(g)). This chapter meets the legal requirements for a Safety Element and includes policies intended to reduce the potential short and long-term risk of personal injury and damage to the city. Effects as a result of tsunami or peak water supply requirements do not apply to the city and are not addressed. The Safety Element is internally consistent with other topics, as required by State law, including: 1) Land Use; 2) Housing; 3) Open Space; 4) Conservation; and 5) Environmental Justice. Thousand Oaks has also conducted an Evacuation Assessment.
194 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Background
This section provides an overview of natural hazards, including faulting and seismic activity, landslides, liquefaction, and known geological hazards, flooding, dam failure, wildland and urban wildfires, and climate change. Human-induced hazards include hazardous materials, terrorism, and disease.

In addition to this Safety Element, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) Strategic Plan acts as a guiding document for natural and climate hazards’ resilience and adaptation. Ventura County and the City have adopted a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) that addresses existing and potential natural and human-made hazards in Thousand Oaks. The City Emergency Operations Plan addresses the City’s planned response to extraordinary emergency incidents associated with natural disasters, cyberattacks, and national security emergencies. Emergency management context, goals and policies are provided in the Community Facilities and Services Element (Chapter 8).

Solar panels help the City meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals Safety | 195
Natural Hazards
Thousand Oaks is located in the Conejo Valley of eastern Ventura County in an area with distinctive geomorphic features comprised of mountains, artificial lakes, and rolling hills with clearly defined access points to the City. The Valley is about nine miles long and seven miles wide and is situated at an elevation of about 800 feet above sea level.

The Conejo Valley is surrounded by Mountclef Ridge and the Simi Hills to the north and east, the Santa Monica Mountains to the south, and Conejo Mountain to the west. The developed portions of Thousand Oaks are located primarily on the Conejo Valley floor and on slopes of less than 25% gradient. The unique features of the Conejo Valley introduce a variety of natural hazards. This section of the Safety Element describes the associated natural risks in Thousand Oaks.

Faulting and Seismic Hazards
Thousand Oaks is in a seismically active region at risk from hazards associated with earthquakes, including fault rupture and seismic shaking. While no active faults have been mapped within the City limits, the Boney Mountain and Sycamore Canyon faults, both of which are inactive, traverse part of the City.36 The Simi fault, an active fault located approximately one mile north of the City, is anticipated to generate the highest peak ground accelerations for the City. These and other faults in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties can produce large earthquakes that could impact the entire region, including Thousand Oaks, as depicted in Figure 10.1. Earthquake damage depends on a variety of factors including fault properties, proximity to the fault, ground and soil characteristics, among others.

Landslides and Debris Flows
“Landslide” is a general term for the dislodging and fall of a mass of soil or rocks along a sloped surface. Many landslides have resulted from indiscriminate modification of sloping ground or the creation of slopes from cut and fill in geologically unstable areas. Some previous landslides could have been prevented through recognition of potentially unstable soils and/or incorporation of design standards prior to grading and construction.

Landslides, debris flows, rockfalls, and mudslides could all occur in portions of Thousand Oaks. All are manifestations of gravity driven flows of earth materials due to slope instability. Hill slopes naturally tend to fail. Unless engineered properly, development in hillside areas tends to increase the potential for slope failures. Slope modification by grading, changes in the infiltration of surface water, and undercutting slopes can create unstable hill slopes, resulting in landslides or debris flows. Areas at high risk of landslides in Thousand Oaks are shown in Figure 10.2. These areas are generally located around the perimeter of the City in open space areas with steeper slopes.

36. Inactive faults are geologic structures that can be identified but cannot cause an earthquake. An active fault is a fault that is likely to have another earthquake sometime in the future. Faults are commonly considered to be active if there has been movement observed or evidence of seismic activity during the last 10,000 years. 196 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Soil Hazards
Liquefaction occurs when soil below the water table temporarily loses strength during an earthquake and changes to a near-liquid state.

Depending on specific soil conditions such as density, uniformity of grain size, and saturation of soil materials, a certain intensity of seismic shaking is required to trigger liquefaction. Liquefaction is typically associated with medium to fine-grained sands in a loose to medium-dense condition.

Liquefaction can cause large movements of the ground and the resettling of soils after a liquefaction event can damage buildings and buried utilities. Liquefaction risk zones are present along Lang Creek, which runs southwestward from Oakbrook Regional Park, crossing State Route 23, and junctions with the Arroyo Conejo. Liquefaction zones also run along Highway 101 into Newbury Park. Another liquefaction zone is present in the northwest corner of the City’s Sphere of Influence, along Hill Canyon Road, near where North Fork Arroyo Conejo meets Conejo Creek. High liquefaction risk zones are shown in Figure 10.3.

Expansive soils generally have a high clay content and shrink when dry and swell when wet. Expansive soils can cause considerable damage to building foundations, roads, and other structures. The presence of expansive soils is typically determined by soil testing on the project site level. In Thousand Oaks, potentially expansive soils can be found throughout the City.

Settlement hazards can occur in areas with alluvial deposits. Largescale settlement problems have generally not been an issue in Thousand Oaks since geological hazard studies and compliance with California Building Code guidelines are required prior to construction. Areas of poorly consolidated sediments are engineered to support the weight of a structure that is to be built on the site. In areas of fill, the fill must be compacted to adequately support the proposed development.

Flood Hazards
Thousand Oaks is part of the Calleguas Creek Watershed. Heavy rainfall in this watershed can result in runoff that inundates the stormwater conveyance system, resulting in flooding. The Thousand Oaks area is subject to periodic inundation from flooding in certain areas, which can result in destruction of property, loss of life, and creation of health and safety hazards. Heavy rains during winter storms have caused several flooding events in Thousand Oaks. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 100-year flood risk zones are depicted in Figure 10.4.37 The 100-year floodplain identifies areas that have a 1% probability (1 in 100) of flooding. The 500-year floodplain identifies areas that have a

0.2% probably (1 in 500) of flooding. The main area of the City that is potentially subject to flooding is in the Newbury Park area of the City, south of Highway 101, between Old Conejo Road and Borchard Road.

37. A 100-year flood zone is the land that is predicted to flood during a 100-year storm, which has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.

City staff address flooding in the City
Safety | 197
Janss Rd
Kanan Rd
Hillcrest Dr
Lynn Rd Westlake Bl
Agoura Rd
Ventu Park Rd
W Wilbur Rd
Potrero Rd
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W e n d y D r
Lindero Canyon Rd
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¤£101
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Sycamore
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fault
Boney Mountain fault
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
°
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; CA Department of Conservation, 2010 City Limits
City Sphere
Inactive Seismic Faults
Major Roads
Freeways
Parks and Open Space
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 10.1 Seismic Faults
198 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Janss Rd
Kanan Rd
Hillcrest Dr
Lynn Rd Westlake Bl
Agoura Rd
Ventu Park Rd
W Wilbur Rd
Potrero Rd
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Thousand
Oaks
Bl
W e n d y D r
Lindero Canyon Rd
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E Olsen Rd
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Moorpark Rd
d
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¤£101
¤£101
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0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
°
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey, 2000 City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Landslide Zones
Parks and Open Space
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 10.2 Landslide Risk Zones
Safety | 199
Janss Rd
Kanan Rd
Hillcrest Dr
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey, 2000 City Limits
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Liquefaction Zones
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Freeways
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Figure 10.3 Liquefaction Risk Zones
200 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Lake Sherwood
Westlake
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; FEMA/ESRI, 2019 City Limits
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1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard

0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard
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Figure 10.4 FEMA Flood Hazard Zones
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Dam Failure
The Thousand Oaks area has five dams, depicted in Figure 10.5. Lake Sherwood and Lake Eleanor have the potential to result in inundation impact as a result of a dam failure. Failure of the Lake Sherwood Dam could flood the Westlake area of Thousand Oaks, while failure of the Banning Dam at Lake Eleanor could flood the Westlake Boulevard area.

Failure of the remaining three dams in the area would not flood any portion of Thousand Oaks.

Wildfires
Wildfire risk is determined by a combination of factors, including precipitation, winds, temperature, and landscape and vegetation conditions.

Thousand Oaks is vulnerable to wildfire, as shown by the devastating effects of the Woolsey Fire in November 2018. The fire, fueled by strong and dry northeasterly Santa Ana winds, damaged and destroyed dozens of properties and temporarily displaced hundreds of residents.

A substantial portion of Thousand Oaks is designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as CAL FIRE. This can be partially attributed to the abundance of open space and vegetated hills throughout the City. Developed areas of Thousand Oaks on the Valley floor are generally at lower risk of wildfire. Areas within City limits are designated Local Fire Responsibility Areas, meaning their management is the responsibility of the Ventura County Fire Protection District. The unincorporated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones surrounding Thousand Oaks are designated State Responsibility Areas, meaning their management is the responsibility of CAL FIRE. Figure 10.6 shows VHFHSZs in Thousand Oaks, which encompasses a majority of the City.

Only the more densely developed core of the City is not within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate wildfire risk by creating hotter and drier landscapes, which are more susceptible to burning.

In 2020 alone, California experienced six of the 20 largest fires in modern history and as of the 2021, over three million acres of land have burned. These fires arose during extreme fire weather conditions and record-breaking heat waves across California. The observed frequency of autumn days with extreme fire weather, which are associated with extreme autumn wildfires, has more than doubled in California since the early 1980s.38 Due to an increase in factors that contribute to wildfires (variability in precipitation, hotter and drier landscapes) and because the City is in a VHFHSZ, it is expected to see an increase in wildfire hazards largely due to climate change. Mitigating these wildfire hazards are a high priority for the City of Thousand Oaks.

Urban Fires
Urban fires occur in cities or towns with the potential to rapidly spread to adjoining structures. These fires damage and destroy homes, schools, commercial buildings, and vehicles. Although fires can start from numerous causes, major fires are often the result of other hazards such as storms, drought, transportation accidents, hazardous material spills, criminal activity (arson), or terrorism. The potential secondary effects of an urban fire include utilities’ failure and hazardous material spills.

Although any developed area of the City can be subject to an urban fire, Thousand Oaks has no areas of unusually high urban fire risk.

38. Goss, Michael et al. 2020. Climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme autumn wildfire conditions across California. Environmental Research Letters 15.094016 202 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Janss Rd
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles, California Department of Water Resources, DSOD, 2022 City Limits
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Lake Sherwood
Wood Ranch
Lang Creek Detention Basin
Potrero
Lake Eleanor
Westlake Reservoir
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Figure 10.5 Dam Inundation
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Janss Rd
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Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks 2019, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles; CAL FIRE, 2010 City Limits
City Sphere
Major Roads
Freeways
Local Fire Responsibility Area
State Responsibility Area
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 10.6 Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
204 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Emergency Evacuation
As part of the General Plan update process, the City of Thousand Oaks completed an emergency evacuation analysis pursuant to SB 99 (Section 65302) and AB 747 (Section 65302). The SB 99 map identifies any residential developments in any hazard area that does not have at least two evacuation routes. AB 747 requires scenario modeling to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios.

Results of the analysis show that even with Thousand Oaks’ broad transportation system, an evacuation event could still result in significant congestion, resulting in delayed evacuation for residents.

For example, in the case of a large wildfire, Highway 101 and SR 23 could become unviable prompting emergency traffic management and the use of alternative evacuation routes. The analysis also found that 33 residential developments throughout the city have a single entry or exit point. The analysis allows the City to identify areas at higher risk of impacts of human welfare and supports new evacuation strategies that improve the transportation system in future evacuation events.

These strategies include implementing traffic management strategies, improving communication among entities involved in the management of response, improving communication between the City and the public, and prioritizing vulnerable populations. The detailed evacuation analysis can be found in Appendix B and the map of single exit/entry neighborhoods can be found in the goals and policies section of this Safety Element.

Climate Change
As seen by the rise in average temperatures, extreme heat days, and sea levels over the past century, climate change is already affecting California. Climate change has wide-reaching consequences that affect California’s health and prosperity, such as increased frequency and severity of wildfires, pressure on water supplies, and an increase in populations that will be exposed to intense heat waves.

The City has long been committed to environmental leadership, especially in the face of climate change. This commitment is critical since virtually all people and assets in Thousand Oaks –including infrastructure, buildings, and the natural environment – will be affected in some way. The City participates in climate action and sustainability planning both locally and through regional collaboration and has taken steps to reduce the City’s reliance on fossil fuels, a primary source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In 2015, the Ventura County Regional Energy Reliance (VCREA) released “Climate on the Move”, a regional GHG emissions inventory and climate action plan template for each of the local government member organizations in Ventura County. Since then, the City has developed its own 2010-2020 GHG emissions inventory. According to this inventory, transportation is the largest source of GHG emissions for the City (65% of all emissions) and natural gas is the second largest source (22% of all emissions). The inventory also includes forecasts to 2030 and beyond.

The City is using this data to understand its emissions sources and develop pathways to reduce emissions to the working targets established by City Council in 2021 of at least 40% below 2010 levels by 2030 and 80% below 2010 levels by 2050.

Climate change impacts and climate resilience in Thousand Oaks are described in the following sections.

39. Model RCP 8.5, Cal-Adapt 2019.

40. “Business as usual” refers to a an GHG emissions scenario where there will be no major change in technology, economics, or policies, and consequently the trajectory of GHG emissions would continue to increase at the same rate they have historically.

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Temperature and Extreme Heat
Average maximum temperatures in Thousand Oaks are expected to rise between 4.5°F and 7.2°F by the end of the century, with some variations depending on the emissions model used. Additionally, average minimum temperatures in the City are expected to rise between 4.9°F and 7.9°F by the end of the century. The projected continued warming of average minimum and maximum temperatures as well as more frequent high temperature extremes may have severe impacts on water and energy demand, as well as public health and ecosystem function.39 The annual number of heat waves, defined as four or more days over the extreme heat threshold of 94.1°F, is projected to increase from

0.3 to 4.4 by the end of the century, based on the business-as-usual scenario emissions scenario.40 The annual number of extreme heat days with temperatures greater than 94.1°F is projected to increase from approximately nine days in 2015 to roughly 56 days by the end of the century, resulting in longer heatwaves. From 1961 to 1990, the observed average number of days in the longest heat wave was 2.5. By the end of the century the business-as-usual emissions scenario projects the average number of days in the longest heat wave to be 8.6.

The increase in surface heating may result in changes in seasonal patterns, an increase in heat waves, drought, and potentially increased storm frequency and intensity. Overall quality of life in the City would be impacted during extreme heat events as outdoor activities would be limited and overall comfort reduced. The primary population that is vulnerable to temperature increases and extreme heat in Thousand Oaks is older adults, who do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature and are more likely to have medical conditions that can worsen with extreme heat. Older adults living alone are at even higher risk. Children are also at risk to extreme heat impacts, especially those under the age of four, due to their less-developed physiology, immune system, and dependence on others.

Extreme heat can be highly dangerous to persons with chronic health conditions, because very high temperatures can exacerbate diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, respiratory ailments, and other diseases.

Some of these populations have weakened immune systems which can make them more likely to contract illnesses and increase overall vulnerability to other human health hazards. In addition, outdoor workers are vulnerable to extreme heat.

Thousand Oaks does not have a high number of households in poverty. Nevertheless, the City’s low-income households are at higherthan-average risk because of limited financial resources for home improvements and energy costs for air conditioning usage to better cope with extreme heat.

Climate Action Plan
The State of California Scoping Plan includes guidance for local jurisdictions to reduce GHG emissions through local planning and permitting. The State recommends that local governments evaluate and adopt robust and quantitative locally appropriate GHG reduction goals that align with the statewide targets for 2030 and 2050. The guidance states that it is appropriate for local jurisdictions to derive evidence-based per capita goals based on local emissions sectors and population projections. Local GHG reduction strategies to achieve the statewide targets can be implemented through standalone documents such as the Climate and Environmental Action Plan (CEAP). This includes GHG emissions reduction targets, and policies and actions to achieve these targets. The CEAP can serve to provide GHG targets and performance metrics for future projects.
206 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Precipitation
Projections show little change in total annual precipitation in California, with no clear or consistent trend during the next century. Cal-Adapt precipitation models show evidence for precipitation intensification over shorter durations of time with the annual number of dry days increasing. While there is likelihood of increased drought severity, there is also the possibility of occasional wet years. Because precipitation projections remain variable, some years will be less drought prone than others due to more frequent and possibly stronger storms.

Both increased temperatures and altered precipitation patterns can lead to altered seasons and intense rainstorms in Thousand Oaks. Intense rainstorms could result in increased flooding, which could affect property as well as human safety. Increases in intense precipitation could result in slope failures in the landslide prone areas shown in Figure 10.2.

Drought
Climate change will increase the probability that low precipitation years will coincide with above-average temperature years. This increases the likelihood of drought due to decreased supply of moisture and increased evaporation. This has implications for water demand. Warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns, as well as more frequent and extreme drought conditions, are anticipated to result in increased water needs to support irrigation.

Even though the State may not have a reduction in overall water, the City depends on imported water from the State Water Project (SWP) from northern California, and extended drought scenario is predicted for this area. Areas that supply water to the State Water Project are expected to see a 22% reduction of their water supply, which could reduce the amount of potable water available for delivery to the City.41 In 2022, allocation of water to this region from the SWP was severely curtailed, forcing the City to declare a Level 4 (40- 50%) water shortage. This resulted in a number of drought measures in the City including a oneday-a-week watering limit and a ban on the watering of non-functional turf at commercial properties.

Human-Induced Hazards
Human-induced hazards originate from technological or industrial accidents, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures, or certain human activities that may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation.

Human-induced hazards can also result from the alteration of natural processes in the Earth’s systems caused by human activities that may accelerate to aggravate the damage potential.

Hazardous Materials
A wide variety of products, chemical and purified chemical compounds, and elements considered hazardous, or toxic are used in households, commercial businesses, and industrial operations and processes. These include home and pool related chlorine products, chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, stored fuels and waste oil, chemical solvents and lubricants, and a variety of medical materials. The improper use and/or management of hazardous materials can pose a threat to the community and the environment. Thousand Oaks is one of the only cities in the region to have its own dedicated Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility to collect and process waste from residents.

Beginning in 2023, the City began a home collection program to collect HHW at residents’ homes.

Thousand Oaks does not contain a high concentration of hazardous material sites such as leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites, contaminated groundwater sites under the jurisdiction of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Site Cleanup Program, and hazardous waste sites under the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) Site Cleanup Program.

41. State Water Project Delivery Capability Report (DCR) 2019 (DWR 2020) Safety | 207
Terrorism
Terrorism is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”.42 Most Americans see terrorism as an assault on the most basic human right to life and security that cannot be justified based on any political or social objective.

Public safety services such as police, fire, and emergency management and response are discussed in the Community Facilities and Services Element of the General Plan and in the City Emergency Operations Plan.

Disease
Infectious disease emergencies are circumstances caused by biological agents, including organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins with the potential for significant illnesses or death in the population.

As evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, unforeseen infectious diseases can be disastrous for communities, especially vulnerable groups such as older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. The City worked diligently during the pandemic to minimize risks to community members and address local economic effects of the pandemic. Between 2020 and 2021 the City created numerous public relief funds for residents and businesses. Additionally, the City disseminated information regularly, including where to buy groceries (at onset of the pandemic), testing information, business support, homeowner support and more. Through collaborations with Ventura County Public Health (VCPH), the City has worked to prevent and minimize effects of and spread of disease, while responding to emergency incidents and assisting in recovery. Policies set forth in this Element regarding infectious disease can help expedite recovery and prepare the community for future related risks.

42. 28 C.F.R. Section 0.85
Drought affects overall water usage in the City
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Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key issues and opportunities facing the City, relative to safety topics. This concise list was developed in combination of the public engagement phase and existing data to address issues facing the city now, and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change. The topics inform the overall direction identified in the goals, policies, and actions listed below.

Seismic Hazards
Although no active faults traverse Thousand Oaks, the City is subject to potentially severe ground shaking in the event of seismic activity on any of several active faults in the region. Continued enforcement of applicable state and local codes will minimize the potential for loss of life and property during an earthquake.

Landslides/Debris Flow Safety Issues
Steeply sloped areas of the City continue to be landslide prone, which can be exacerbated by wildfires that denude vegetation and reduce slope stability. Continued enforcement of applicable code requirements, in combination with limiting development density on steep slopes and efforts to minimize and address wildfires, will minimize the potential for landslide-related property damage and loss of life.

Soil Hazards.

Limited areas of Thousand Oaks are subject to liquefaction and soil expansion, which can result in property damage. Continued enforcement of state and local code requirements on new development will minimize the potential for severe damage.

Wildfires can cause damage to life and property in the City Safety | 209
Flooding
Limited areas of the City are within 100-year flood zones, but the potential frequency and severity of floods may increase over time due to climate change. Continued enforcement of federal and local restrictions on development in flood-prone areas will minimize the potential for flood-related damage. However, ongoing tracking of flood patterns in coordination with FEMA will be needed to identify changes in flood potential.

Urban and Wildland Fires
Thousand Oaks is vulnerable to wildland fires, which present a substantial and potentially growing risk to the community. Continued enforcement of state and local fire codes will address fire risks, but ongoing enforcement and, as necessary, update of fire codes will be needed to minimize the effects of wildland fires. Ensuring the adequacy of emergency evacuation procedures and routes will also be a high priority over the time horizon of the General Plan.

Climate Resilience
The City is subject to a variety of potentially adverse effects related to climate change, including increased heat exposure and increased potential for flooding, drought, and wildland fire. Various new state requirements specifically address these types of risks. Reducing the potential for such changes to occur and/or to affect residents and community services and improving the ability to respond effectively to a range of climate-related events will be a high priority for the community.

Hazardous Materials
Although hazardous material exposure is not a major issue in Thousand Oaks, the potential for exposure exists due to the presence of contaminated sites, hazardous material transport, and emissions from freeways and other major roadways. Key approaches to addressing these issues include cleaning up contaminated sites and limiting exposure of sensitive land uses to potential hazardous material spills and emissions of toxic air contaminants.43
Terrorism
Thousand Oaks, like many communities, has facilities that are potentially targets for terrorism. Such acts can occur in a range of spaces where people congregate. Continuing to identify and avoid terrorism threats will remain a priority for local law enforcement.

Disease
Like many communities, Thousand Oaks is not immune to the spread of disease. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated that no community is immune to the effects of infectious diseases. The City will continue to work with federal, state, and local authorities to track and, as necessary, prevent the spread of infectious diseases to the degree feasible.

43. Toxic air contaminants are addressed in the Conservation, Cultural, and Historic Resources Element.

Fire crews fight a fire in the Thousand Oaks hills
210 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Faulting and Seismic Hazards
Goal S-1: Minimize the risk of loss of life, injury, damage to property, and economic and social dislocation resulting from fault rupture and seismically induced ground shaking.

1.1 Geologic and engineering investigations.

Require site-specific geologic and engineering investigations as specified in the California Building Code (as adopted by the State of California with local amendments) and Municipal Code for proposed new developments.

1.2 Earthquake resistant design.

Enforce the latest California Building Code (CBC) provisions relating to earthquake resistant design.

1.3 Strong motion instrumental program fund.

Allocate a percentage of building permit fees (as specified in the Public Resources Code) to a trust fund (Strong Motion Instrumentation Program Fund) which is remitted to the State of California.

1.4 Setback distances.

Provide setbacks, as determined to be necessary, for any proposed development located on or near an active or potentially active fault. Appropriate setback distances will be determined through engineering geologic investigation.

1.5 Notice of geologic hazards.

Require all developers and/or subdividers of a parcel or parcels in an area of a known fault hazard to record a Notice of Geologic Hazards with the County Recorder describing the hazards on the parcel and the level of prior geologic investigation conducted.

1.6 Faulting/seismic hazards.

Require hazard mitigation, project redesign, elimination of building sites, and the delineation of building envelopes, building setbacks and foundation requirements, as deemed necessary, to minimize faulting/ seismic hazards for new development and redevelopment.

1.7 Seismic retrofitting.

Investigate options for seismic retrofitting of older buildings that do not meet current seismic standards.

Landslides and Debris Flows
Goal S-2: Minimize loss, injury, damage, and economic and social dislocations resulting from soil landslide, debris flow, soil expansion, and settlement.

2.1 Setbacks from debris flow.

Require all development to provide setbacks from potentially unstable areas, including potential debris flow channels, as identified in engineering and geologic studies.

Goals and Policies
This section includes goals and policies for the Safety Element. Policies regarding emergency facilities and response are in the Community Facilities and Services Element.

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2.2 Drainage plans.

Require new projects to prepare drainage plans designed to direct runoff away from unstable areas.

2.3 Surface runoff in unstable areas.

Discourage introduction of surface runoff, including nuisance water into the ground, where the area is unstable.

2.4 Road reconstruction.

Where washouts or landslides have occurred on public or private roads, require road reconstruction to meet the conditions of geologic and engineering reports.

2.5 Building in flowline.

Discourage development in the flowline or discharge areas of hillside swales or channels.

2.6 Notice of geologic hazards.

In areas of known slope instability or debris flow hazards, require developers and/or subdividers of a parcel or parcels to record a Notice of Geologic Hazards with the County Recorder describing the potential hazards on the parcel and the level of prior geologic investigation conducted.

Soil Hazards
Goal S-3: Minimize loss, injury, damage, and economic and social dislocation resulting from soil hazards.

3.1 Liquefaction.

Require developers to submit studies that evaluate liquefaction potential for proposed developments in areas susceptible to liquefaction as illustrated by Figure 10.3.

3.2 Liquefaction hazard risk.

Require project alterations and/or mitigation as necessary to remediate liquefaction hazard risk.

3.3 Notice of geologic hazards.

Require developers and/or subdividers of a parcel or parcels in areas susceptible to liquefaction or of known highly expansive soils hazard to record a Notice of Geologic Hazards with the County Recorder describing the potential hazards on the parcel and the level of prior geologic investigation conducted unless the condition has been mitigated.

3.4 Soils reports.

Require the preparation of a soils report, prepared by a registered civil engineer, for developments where soils have been identified that are subject to expansion, or where there is inadequate soils information.

3.5 Hazard mitigation for soil hazards.

Require hazard mitigation, as necessary, to mitigate hazards associated with soils that may be subject to expansion, or settlement.

Flood Hazards
Goal S-4: Minimize loss of life, injury, property damage, and economic and social dislocations resulting from inundation by dam failure or floods.

4.1 New development in flood zones.

Require new development in flood zones and dam inundation areas to minimize flood potential and ensure that development siting and design features will not increase flood inundation potential offsite.

Regulate filing, grading, dredging, and other development that may increase flood damage.

4.2 New essential facilities in flood zone.

Prohibit the siting and construction of new essential public facilities within flood hazard zones, when feasible. If an essential facility must be located within a flood hazard zone, incorporate flood mitigation to the greatest extent practicable.

4.3 Critical and lifeline facilities.

Maintain the structural and operational integrity of critical and lifeline facilities during and after flooding events.
212 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

4.4 Master Plan of Drainage compliance.

Comply with provisions of the Master Plan of Drainage for new development.

4.5 Drainage deficiencies.

Implement drainage improvements to address deficiencies identified in the Master Plan of Drainage, and periodically update the City’s Master Plan of Drainage to incorporate new data and conditions.

4.6 Notice of flood hazards.

Require the developers and/or subdividers of a parcel or parcels in an area of known flood hazards to record a Notice of Geologic Hazards with the County Recorder describing the hazards on the parcel or parcels and the extent of prior hydrologic or geologic investigation conducted.

4.7 Floodplain improvements.

Partner with the Ventura County Watershed Protection District to complete drainage improvements to enable parcels to be removed from the 100-year floodplain.

4.8 Flood control.

Protect and maintain natural hydrological and ecological functions by implementing flood control improvements that use natural materials when possible. If the use of natural materials is not feasible, select the most environmentally preferred option and limit concrete channelization to the extent possible.

4.9 Agency coordination.

Coordinate flood control planning with the Ventura County Public Works Department and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Wildfires
Goal S-5: Provide necessary prevention services to reduce loss and damage due to wildfire.

5.1 Cooperation of VCFPD.

Continue to support the Ventura County Fire Protection District (VCFPD) and property owners living in the wildland urban interface by supporting inter-jurisdictional fire protection agreements.

5.2 Road widths and clearances.

Ensure that new development has appropriate road widths and clearances in accordance with:
• Standards specified in the City of Thousand Oaks Road Standards and construction specifications in effect at the time of construction • Any other standard and specific conditions required by State and County Fire Codes and VCFPD in the permit application.

5.3 Defensive spaces.

Establish defensive spaces in the urban/wildland interface to protect against wildfire. Defensive spaces shall:
• Establish and maintain a 100-foot defensible perimeter around each habitable structure along the urban wildland interface. • Provide for the removal of annual fuels within the defensive perimeter. • Provide any fire suppression resource from any agency the opportunity to successfully protect structures and other valuable properties during a wildfire threat.
• Create an ember resistant zone within 5 feet of structures by using extra fuel reduction measures within 5 and 10 feet of the structure, pursuant to AB 3074 (Public Resource Code 4291).
• Protect watershed areas from exposure to structure fires in the urban/wildland interface areas.
• Require fuel modification zones for new development within the VHFHSZ.

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5.4 Public facilities and utilities in high fire zones.

Discourage the location of new public facilities and above-ground utilities in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. When unavoidable, special precautions should be taken to minimize potential fire impacts to public facilities.

5.5 Science-based fuel management.

Work with VCFPD, COSCA, and other agencies, as appropriate, to implement science-based fuel management programs and post fire recovery plans that conserve wildlife habitat while protecting public safety.

5.6 Development standards.

Continue to incorporate fire safe design into development standards such as initial site design standards, landscape design standards, on-going maintenance standards, and mitigation measures into individual developments to reduce the potential damage and destruction due to fire.

5.7 Fire Hazard Severity Zone map.

Work with the Cal Fire and VCFPD to update the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone map as new data is available.

5.8 Wildfire resilience.

Continue to meet all current standards and best practices for wildfire planning in accordance with State guidance.

5.9 Public outreach and education.

Educate residents on fire hazard reduction strategies to employ on their properties and nearby evacuation routes. Prioritize outreach to the most vulnerable populations such as older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions.

5.10 Development fire safety compliance.

Ensure that new development complies with fire safety requirements for construction in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

5.11 Fire management best practices.

Require that developments located in wildland urban interface areas incorporate measures to reduce the threat of wildfires, accounting for any increased risk related to climate change. Clearly delineate fuel modification areas on grading plans.

5.12 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Follow all guidelines in the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and other applicable County, State, and Federal fire mitigation policies.

5.13 Ingress and egress points.

Whenever feasible, require the construction of multiple ingress and egress points for new development projects in high fire hazard severity zones. For example, each neighborhood should have at least two emergency evacuation ingress and egress points. See Figure 10.7.

5.14 Fuel reduction.

Continue to establish and maintain community fire breaks and fuel modification/reduction zones, including public and private road clearance.

5.15 Local ordinance updates.

Continue to update City ordinances to require development standards for the VHFHSZ to meet or exceed title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 2, articles 1-5 (commencing with section 1270) (SRA Fire Safe Regulations) and title 14, CCR, division 1.5, chapter 7, subchapter 3, article 3 (commencing with section 1299.01) (Fire Hazard Reduction Around Buildings and Structures Regulations).

5.16 Rebuild post fire re-development.

In the event of a large fire, the City will evaluate re-development within the impacted fire zone to conform to contemporary fire safe standards and require all development to meet or exceed City and State standards.

5.17 Fire Protection Plans.

Require Fire Protection Plans for new development in VHFHSZs. 214 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
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Janss Rd
Kanan Rd
Hillcrest Dr
Lynn Rd Westlake Bl
Agoura Rd
Ventu Park Rd
W Wilbur Rd
Potrero Rd
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Oaks
Bl
W e n d y D r
Lindero Canyon Rd
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E rb e s R
Moorpark Rd
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Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
°
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles City Limits
City Sphere
Single Exit/Entry Subdivision
Single Exit/Entry Point
Figure 10.7 Neighborhoods with One Entry/Exit
Safety | 215

5.18 Evacuation operations planning.

Continue to improve evacuation operations and planning for the community, with a focus on areas with inadequate access/ evacuation routes.

Climate Resilience
Goal S-6: Reduce community vulnerability to climate-related threats and increase community resilience.

6.1 Reduce urban heat island effect.

Reduce urban heat island effect by continuing to invest in the City’s urban forest and tree plantings, and support the use of heat reflective paint, cool surface treatment, and cool paving in buildings, facilities, infrastructure and streets, parking lots and other pavement if feasible.

6.2 Microgrids for municipal facilities.

Develop battery energy storage and microgrids at critical municipal facilities to maintain operations with clean energy during power outages.

6.3 Community-serving microgrids.

Support and encourage the development of community-serving microgrids, on-site battery energy storage, and resilience centers particularly in new development projects. Incorporate installation of such in residential use and other zoning designations.

6.4 Climate impacts.

Consider climate change impacts including increased storm severity, drought and extreme heat in planning decisions, including those involving public infrastructure, urban forest, sidewalks, streets, utilities, facilities, and private development.

6.5 Adaptation strategies.

Implement climate adaptation strategies at a local and regional level in which coordination and pooling of resources (e.g., emergency/ evacuation centers for people and animals, transit agency mutual emergency support) is planned.

6.6 Regional coordination.

Ensure the community’s engagement strategy for climate
adaptation planning includes surrounding jurisdictions to identify coordination opportunities.

6.7 Heat response.

Update emergency/disaster response measures to account for increased heat days.

6.8 Heat education.

Provide education on heat-related illness and mitigation measures, particularly targeted to seniors and other vulnerable populations.

6.9 Air conditioning alternatives.

Encourage alternatives to air conditioning such as ceiling fans, air exchangers, increased insulation and low-solar-gain exterior materials to reduce need for air conditioning and concomitant high electricity demands during high heat events to increase the reliability of the electrical grid.

Climate Change Mitigation
Goal S-7: A sustainable community with reduced energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

7.1 Climate and Environmental Action Plan.

Prepare and update the City’s Climate and Environmental Action Plan every ten years or more frequently.

7.2 Community emissions.

Reduce community GHG emissions by at least the SB 32 target of 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 relative to 2010.

7.3 Municipal emissions.

Reduce GHG emissions from Municipal operations by at least 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 relative to 2010.
216 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan

7.4 Electrification of new and existing buildings.

Encourage electrification of newly constructed buildings.

7.5 Transition to clean energy.

Reduce non-building-related energy emissions through
conservation, efficiency measures, and use of renewable energy in street lighting, water and wastewater conveyance and treatment, and municipal operations.

7.6 Clean energy vehicles.

Increase electric/alternative fuel use through charging and other appropriate fueling infrastructure expansion.

7.7 Clean energy technology.

Support deployment of emerging and future clean energy technologies such as hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicles, battery energy and other clean energy, storage means, carbon capture technologies, smart technologies with inter-device and grid communications, such as vehicle-to-grid and IoT (“Internet of Things”) for demand reduction, and other technologies, as feasible.

7.8 Renewable energy sources.

Encourage renewable energy supply for all buildings and infrastructure by 2045.

7.9 Community forest.

Expand and maintain the community forest to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Hazardous Materials
Goal S-8: Protect the community and environment from the effects of hazardous materials released into the air, land, or water.

8.1 Risks from hazardous materials.

Regulate the locations of businesses that utilize large quantities of hazardous materials, to prevent exposure of people or the environment from excessive hazardous material risks.

8.2 Cleanup of sites.

Coordinate with the Ventura County Environmental Health Department and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to cleanup sites that have been contaminated by hazardous materials releases, especially those that have contaminated groundwater.

8.3 Household hazardous waste disposal.

Continue to operate a local household hazardous waste (HHW) collection facility that is convenient and open for weekly drop off by the public and expand the HHW home collection program throughout the City.

8.4 Household hazardous waste education.

Support the education of the public about the importance of complying with household hazardous waste programs through City, waste hauler, and HHW facility operator communications.

8.5 Agency coordination for hazardous materials
transportation.

Continue to follow guidelines set in the Hazard Mitigation Plan regarding regional plans for transportation corridors for hazardous materials.

Safety | 217
Terrorism
Goal S-9: Protect life and property from the potential effects of terrorism.

9.1 Terrorist vulnerability.

As part of the development review process, conduct vulnerability assessments of terrorist-sensitive facilities and, where practical, implement measures to protect these facilities against terrorist acts. Terrorist-sensitive facilities include places that are at-risk for terrorism, including, but not limited to, government offices, schools, and religious facilities.

9.2 Special events.

Ensure that providers of major special events in City-owned facilities and public spaces implement security plans to address potential terrorism concerns.

9.3 Cross-jurisdictional information sharing.

Ensure that terrorist-related information is shared with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and the Ventura County Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC) via the Terrorism Liaison Officer to identify and minimize terrorism risk.

Disease
Goal S-10: Limit loss of life and economic disruption due to pandemics.

10.1 Disease spread.

During a pandemic or similar infections disease event, coordinate with the Ventura County Department of Public Health to implement measures that minimize the spread of disease including but not limited to: providing testing and contact tracing resources and promoting public safety protocols, maintaining up-to-date health services on the City’s website, connecting residents with up-to-date County infectious disease information, and partnering with local non-governmental organizations and community groups to provide economic support services.

10.2 Expert guidance.

During an infectious transmission event, implement the guidance of County, State, and federal health officials to protect human health.

10.3 Website resources.

Maintain up-to-date public health service information on the City’s website and the County website for all emergencies.
218 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 11
Noise
Noise | 219
Overview of Chapter
This element of the General Plan describes noise conditions in the City and provides goals and policies for addressing noise issues. Topics covered in this element include noise standards, current and projected noise levels, key issues and opportunities, and goals and policies.

Statutory Requirements
California law requires that a General Plan include an Element that addresses noise. This Chapter was prepared to meet the requirements of Government Code Section 65302(f) and identifies and appraises noise problems in the City. Citywide noise contours are shown in terms of the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) and are used to establish a pattern of land uses that minimizes exposure of residents to excessive noise.44 This chapter also includes possible solutions that address existing and foreseeable noise problems.

44. CNEL is the average sound level over a 24-hour period, with a penalty of 5 dB added between 7 pm and 10 pm and a penalty of 10 dB added for the nighttime hours of 10 pm to 7 am. CNEL is frequently used to gauge overall community noise. CNEL is presented in terms of the a-weighted decibel (dBA), a unit used to measure how powerful or loud a sound or signal is using a logarithmic formula. The term decibel (dB) is commonly used when referring to measuring sound; however, because humans do not hear all frequencies equally, the dBA was developed to take into account how the human ear actually perceives sound. 220 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Background
Thousand Oaks has evolved from a small town since its incorporation in September of 1964. This evolution, along with steady growth, has occurred throughout southern California and has increased noise levels in the community, particularly traffic-related noise. Although noise remains relatively low in most of the City, noise along freeways and other major travel corridors exceeds normally acceptable levels at some locations. Non-vehicular noise sources generally are not a major concern in the City. However, intermittent construction activity can generate temporary noise issues and the introduction of additional residential development on or adjacent to commercial corridors has the potential to expose new residents to relatively high noise levels.

City Noise Standards
The City of Thousand Oaks enforces noise limits through the Municipal Code, which prohibits loud, unnecessary, and unusual noise as well as audible noise from radios, television sets, and other similar devices, and powered equipment in residential areas. The Code Compliance Division of the Community Development Department and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office are responsible for the enforcement of noise restrictions.

The Community Development Department is responsible for reviewing new development applications for consistency with the General Plan Noise Element.

Current and Projected Noise Levels
Noise in the community is generally low and elevated noise is limited to specific areas with high levels of vehicular or commercial activity. Table

11.1 and Figure 11.1 show noise levels measured at key locations in the City in terms of a-weighted decibels (dBA) using the Equivalent Noise Level (Leq) and the maximum noise level (Lmax).45 Figure 11.2 and Figure

11.3 show current and projected future noise contours associated with major noise sources in the community in terms of CNEL. As indicated in these figures, noise levels vary depending largely on proximity to major roadways. Noise levels are not projected to change dramatically over the next 20-plus years.

45. Leq is the constant noise level that would result from the overall total sound energy being produced over a given period. Lmax is the highest sound level measured during a measurement period.

Noise | 221
Table 11.1 Sound Level Measurement Results
Measurement Location Primary Noise Source Sample Time L eq
Lmax
NM 1 Rancho Conejo Boulevard between Teller Road and West Hillcrest Drive Traffic along Rancho Conejo Boulevard 7:08 – 7:23 p.m. 65 77 NM 2 South Reino Road between Kimber Drive and Maurice Drive Traffic along South Reino Road 8:00 – 8:15 p.m. 69 81 NM 3 Old Conejo Road between Lois Avenue and North Wendy Drive Traffic along Highway 101 7:35 – 7:50 p.m. 71 87 NM 4 Lynn Road between Camino Manzanas and Portofino Place Traffic along Lynn Road 4:26 – 4:41 p.m. 72 81 NM 5 East Hillcrest Drive between North Moorpark Road and Hodencamp Road Traffic along East Hillcrest Drive 5:29 – 5:44 p.m. 70 86 NM 6 Janss Road between North Moorpark Road and Montgomery Road Traffic along Janss Road 4:58 – 5:12 p.m. 75 84 NM 7 North Moorpark Road between Thousand Oaks High School and Calle Entrar Traffic along North Moorpark Road 3:02 – 3:17 p.m. 71 80 NM 8 Olsen Road between Calle Contento and Erbes Road Traffic along Olsen Road 10:12 – 10:27 a.m. 68 81 NM 9 State Route 23 South (South Westlake Boulevard) between Bridgegate Street and Triunfo Canyon Road
Traffic along State Route 23 North 6:31 – 6:46 p.m. 68 86 NM 10 Rolling Oaks Drive between South Moorpark Road and Los Padres Drive Traffic along Highway 101 6:00 – 6:15 p.m. 64 75 NM 11 Golf Course Drive between Royal Saint George Drive and Tam O Shanter Drive Traffic along Golf Course Drive 11:27 – 11:42 a.m. 52 71 NM 12 Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Fairview Road and Hampshire Road Traffic along Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Highway 101
1:53 – 2:08 p.m. 66 78
NM 13 East Avenida de las Flores between State Route 23 North and Bamboo Court Traffic along State Route 23 North and East Avenida de las Flores
10:47 – 11:02 a.m. 61 76
NM 14 North Westlake Boulevard between Valley Spring Drive and Cresthaven Drive Traffic along Westlake Boulevard 1:07 – 1:22 p.m. 72 86 NM 15 West Janss Road between Lynnmere Drive and Hopewell Court Traffic along Lynnmere Drive 3:46 – 4:01 p.m. 51 72 NM 16 Lynn Road Traffic along Lynn Road 10:06 – 10:21 p.m. 68 82 NM 17 Hillcrest Drive between Citation Way and Kalinda Plance Traffic along U.S. 101 and Hillcrest Drive 6:00 – 6:15 a.m. 73 88 NM 18 Walnut Grove Park Traffic along U.S. 101 6:26 – 6:41 a.m. 70 73 NM 19 Fox Ridge Drive between Quails Trail and Hunters Point Drive Traffic along U.S. 101 6:51 – 7:06 a.m. 62 67 NM 20 Intersection of Hillcrest Drive and Erbes Road Traffic along Hillcrest Drive and Erbes Road 7:29 – 7:44 a.m. 70 90 NM 21 Conejo Creek Park South Traffic along U.S. 101 8:02 – 8:17 a.m. 58 62 NM 22 Whitecliff Road between Sussex Circle and Dorchester Street Traffic along U.S. 101 8:35 – 8:50 a.m. 60 70 To characterize ambient sound levels throughout the City, 15 minute sound level measurements were conducted on August 28, 2019, February 21, 2022, and April 6, 2023. The sound meter was calibrated prior to measurements.

L
eq is the energy average noise level over a period of time and is one of the most frequently used noise metrics that considers the noise level over time.

L
max is the highest RMS (root mean squared) sound pressure level within the measuring period. 222 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Noise Contours
Figure 11.3 Future Noise Contours shows the projected noise contours for the transportation noise sources in the City. These contours are calculated using predicted traffic data for the city roadways and do not factor in topography, other buildings, or noise attenuation. As such, the contours may not predict noise, but are used as a general guide to ensure that noise is considered with new projects.

Construction Noise
Construction noise typically involves the loudest common urban noise events. Construction equipment involves large diesel engines, operating at high power to move heavy loads. It involves the extensive use of power and air tools, impact noise from hammering and use of explosive drivers for masonry nails and anchors.

Construction activity is temporary at any given location but can be substantially disruptive to adjacent uses during the construction period.

Construction results from both private land development activity, and from public agency activity to construct utilities, streets, and public buildings. Construction is a temporary source of localized noise in the City Noise | 223
NM 1
NM 2
NM 3 NM 4
NM 5
NM 6
NM 8
NM 9
NM 10
NM 11
NM 12
NM 13
NM 14
NM 7
NM 15 NM 16
NM 17
NM 18
NM 19
NM 20
NM 21
NM 22
Janss Rd
Kanan Rd
Hillcrest Dr
Lynn Rd Westlake Bl
Agoura Rd
Ventu Park Rd
W Wilbur Rd
Potrero Rd
N R e in o R d
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W e n d y D r
Lindero Canyon Rd
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S u n s e t H ills B l
H a m p s h ire R d
S R e in o R d
O ld C o n e jo R d
T riu n fo C a n y o n R d
L a G ra n a d a D r
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B o rc h a rd R d
E rb e s R
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d
Rancho Conejo Bl
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23 UV
0 0.5 1 2 Miles
City of
Westlake
Village
City of
Simi Valley
City of
Camarillo
°
City of
Agoura Hills
Raimi + Associates 2023 | Data Source: City of Thousand Oaks, County of Ventura, County of Los Angeles City Limits
City Sphere
Noise Measurement Locations
Major Roads
Freeways
Parks and Open Space
Unincorporated Counties Land
Adjacent cities
Figure 11.1 Existing Noise Levels
224 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Figure 11.2 Existing Noise Contours
Noise | 225
Figure 11.3 Future Noise Contours
226 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key issues and opportunities facing the City, relative to noise. This concise list was developed in combination of the public engagement phase and existing data to address issues facing the City now, and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change.

The topics below inform the overall direction identified in the goals and policies listed in the following section.

Traffic Noise
Traffic along Highway 101 and State Route 23, and major arterials such as Westlake Boulevard, Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Lynn Road, Hillcrest Drive, and Moorpark Road are sources of noise that affects noise-sensitive land uses such as residential neighborhoods, schools, churches, hospitals, and nursing homes. The Noise Element addresses potential noise conflicts between traffic and noise-sensitive uses through land use planning and use of noise attenuation strategies as necessary and feasible.

New Housing Along Commercial Corridors
The General Plan allows new mixed-use development with residential components along certain commercial corridors in the City. This could potentially expose such residences to high noise levels due to proximity to the freeway, arterial roadways, or commercial uses. To mitigate this, the Noise Element identifies policies and strategies to insulate noise-sensitive residential uses from excessive noise.

Intermittent Noise
Though generally not a major source of concern in the City, intermittent noise related to construction activity, loud parties, and use of noisy equipment can result in temporary disturbance of tranquility in discrete areas. Effective enforcement of restrictions on the timing and nature of such activities is key to avoiding issues related to intermittent noise.

Noise | 227
Goal N-1: Promote a pattern of land uses that is compatible with current and future noise levels.

1.1 Acoustical studies.

Require an acoustical study and, as necessary, noise attenuation for proposed developments that may be exposed to noise exceeding the normally acceptable range identified Table 11.2 or where a project has the potential to result in a significant increase in noise, as defined in Table 11.3.

1.2 Noise-reducing design features.

Incorporate design features into land use projects that can be used to shield residents from noise exceeding the normally acceptable ranges included in Table 11.2. Design features may include, but are not limited to berms, walls, and sound attenuating building configuration, architectural design, and construction method and materials.

1.3 Mixed-use developments.

Require design and construction of mixed-use developments to achieve noise levels in the conditionally acceptable range or lower per Table 11.2 for outdoor recreation areas associated with residential components and to achieve interior noise levels in residences of 45 CNEL or lower, consistent with Title 24 interior noise standards.

1.4 Sensitive noise receptors.

Maintain acceptable noise levels near sensitive receptors such as residences, hospitals, schools, and places of worship through review of new development in accordance with Policy N-1.1 and enforcement of the Municipal Code.

1.5 Noise studies.

Require noise studies for new development located in areas where the contour maps on figures Figure 11.2 and Figure 11.3 indicate the potential for exposure to noise exceeding the normally acceptable range for the proposed use and/or where the proposed use would have the potential to expose existing uses to significant operational noise impacts per the thresholds included in policies N-1.1 and N-3.2. If the proposed project would or could be exposed to noise exceeding the normally acceptable range, require appropriate noise reduction techniques to minimize noise exposure. Depending on the noise source, such techniques may include but are not limited to building construction standards to reduce interior noise, building orientation that blocks noise, increased setbacks from noise source(s), and use of sound barriers. If the project would or could generate significant operational noise impacts to existing uses, require mitigation to minimize impacts.

Goals and Policies
This section includes goals and policies for the Noise Element. Noise related implementation actions can be found in Chapter 13: Implementation. 228 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Table 11.3 Thresholds of Significance for Long-Term Noise Increases If the CNEL for existing + proposed project + cumulative conditions at a noise-sensitive land use is projected to be: A project or cumulative noise impact would be significant if the CNEL would increase by the following amounts at a noise-sensitive land use:

The project alone would make a substantial contribution to a significant cumulative impact if the CNEL would increase by the following amounts at a noise-sensitive land use:

Less than 55 dBA Not significant for any change in noise level Not significant for any change in noise level 55-60 dBA Equal to or greater than 3.0 dBA Equal to or greater than 1.0 dBA 60-70 dBA Equal to or greater than 1.5 dBA Equal to or greater than 0.5 dBA Greater than 70 dBA Equal to or greater than 1.0 dBA Equal to or greater than 0.5 dBA A noise-sensitive use is a use for which the upper limit for the “normally acceptable” noise level range shown in Table 11.2 is 65 CNEL or lower.

Table 11.2 Land Use Compatibility Guidelines with Urban Noise Environments Land Use Category
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL), dB
Clearly
Acceptable Normally Acceptable Conditionally
Acceptable Normally Unacceptable Clearly Unacceptable
Residential – Low-Density Single-Family, Duplex, Mobile Homes < 55 55-60 60-65 65-75 < 75 Residential – Multifamily (including residential components of mixed-use developments) < 55 55-60 60-65 65-75 < 75 Commercial – Motels, Hotels, Transient Lodging < 60 60-65 65-70 70-80 < 80 Schools, Libraries, Churches, Hospitals, Nursing Homes - < 60 60-70 70-80 < 80 Amphitheaters, Concert Halls, Auditoriums, Meeting Halls - - < 65 65-70 <70 Sports Arenas, Outdoor Spectator Sports - - < 70 70-75 > 75 Playgrounds, Neighborhood Parks < 55 55-67 67-75 - > 75 Golf Courses, Riding Stables, Water Recreation, Cemeteries < 55 55-75 75-80 - >80 Office Buildings, Business, Commercial and Professional < 60 60-65 65-75 < 75 - Industrial, Manufacturing, Utilities, Agriculture < 65 65-70 70-80 < 80 - • Clearly Acceptable = The noise environment is suitable for this use. • Normally Acceptable = Noise may be considered a problem by some people, but normal building construction will usually provide adequate protection of interior spaces. • Conditionally Acceptable = New construction or development should be undertaken only after a detailed analysis of noise reduction requirements is made and needed noise insulation features included in design. Conventional construction, but with closed windows and fresh air supply or air conditioning, will normally suffice.
• Normally Unacceptable = New construction or development should generally be discouraged. If new construction or development does proceed, a detailed analysis of noise reduction requirements must be made and needed noise insulation features included in design. • Clearly Unacceptable = New construction or development should generally not be undertaken.

This chart is a variation of a chart found in the California General Plan Guidelines (accessed February 2022).

Noise | 229
Goal N-2: Minimize adverse noise impacts associated with transportation.

2.1 Freeway noise reduction.

Work with Caltrans and VCTC to construct soundwalls and implement other measures to achieve locally acceptable levels from Highway 101 and State Route 23 whenever there are major freeway projects.

2.2 Noise sensitive receptors and roadway noise.

Protect sensitive receptors from freeway and roadway noise through minimization techniques, including building configuration and design, sound walls, traffic calming, traffic diversion, or rubberized asphalt.

Goal N-3: Minimize excessive intermittent noise.

3.1 Construction noise.

Use the noise levels shown in Table 11.4, adopted from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) standards, as thresholds of significance for construction noise and, as necessary, require mitigation for construction activities that would result in significant noise impacts.

3.2 Noise reduction for construction.

Require the following noise reduction techniques for all construction activity in the City:
• Require power construction equipment with noise shielding and silencing devices consistent with manufacturer’s standards or the Best Available Control Technology
• Prohibit use of driven (impact), sonic, or vibratory pile drivers, except in locations where the underlying geology renders alternative methods infeasible, as determined by a soils or geotechnical engineer and documented in a soils report
• Utilize noise attenuating measures or screening for all outdoor mechanical equipment from off-site noise-sensitive uses • Locate construction staging areas as far from noise-sensitive uses as reasonably possible and feasible in consideration of site boundaries, topography, intervening roads and uses, and operational constraints • For construction activity that even with the above requirements would or may still generate noise exceeding the significance thresholds in Policy N-3.2, investigate the use of additional feasible noise reduction techniques, including but not limited to the use of temporary sound barriers between the noise-generating activity and affected sensitive uses

3.3 Noise complaint response.

Track and respond to noise complaints and, as necessary, take action to address violations of noise restrictions. For repeat violators, investigate the potential to require systemic changes to the activity generating the Municipal Code violation.

Table 11.4 Construction Noise Thresholds of Significance Land Use Leq (8-hour) CNEL
Day Night
Residential 80 dBA 70 dBA 75
Commercial 85 dBA 85 dBA 80
Industrial 90 dBA 90 dBA 85
A noise-sensitive use is a use for which the upper limit for the “normally acceptable” noise level range shown in Table 11.2 is 65 CNEL or lower.
230 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 12
Governance
Governance| 231
Overview of Chapter
This chapter of the General Plan describes the system of governance in the City and provides goals and policies to continue being a properlyfunctioning, responsive and participatory government. The City recognizes the critical importance of public participation and promoting diversity in the approach of governance.

Topics covered in this Element include:
• Statutory Requirements
• Transparency
• Community Engagement
• Racial and Economic Equity
• Fiscal sustainability
• Partnerships
• Key Issues and Opportunities
• Goals and Policies
Statutory Requirements
State law does not require that a City’s General Plan specifically address governance. However, Thousand Oaks’ residents’ involvement in local government is fundamental to the community character of the City. A Governance Element was included in the General Plan, along with goals and policies, to strengthen the community as a whole through public participation and equal representation of all community members in the City processes.

Thousand Oaks City Hall
232 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Local Government Structure
As a general law city administered with a council/manager form of government, the City Council is the policy-making body, appointing the City Manager who is responsible for carrying out City Council policy. Since incorporation, this form of governance together with an enduring emphasis on the importance of public participation, has enabled Thousand Oaks to grow and evolve into a community its residents can be proud of.

The City’s mission statement, “Extraordinary service to the citizens we serve is our purpose,” embodies its strong commitment to residents.

The City’s customer service philosophy further exemplifies its sense of commitment of responsibility to residents to provide exceptional community services in a fair, efficient, and responsive way. City officials are dedicated to making decisions that balance environmental quality and economic vitality. The City’s strong governance, high prioritization on public engagement, deep commitment to extraordinary, fair, efficient, and responsive service delivery, as well as its dedication to a balancing of environmental quality and economic vitality goals, has earned Thousand Oaks recognition as one of the most desirable places to live. City staff team building exercise Governance| 233
City Council
The community elects the five-member City Council to create policy, enact legislation, and provide overall leadership on behalf of the City.

The City Council also appoints the City Manager, who is responsible for carrying out City Council policy. Council members serve four-year staggered terms, with elections held in November of even-numbered years. The City Council annually selects a mayor who serves as presiding officer during City Council meetings. Besides appointing a City Manager and policy-making functions, the City Council is also responsible for appointing a City Attorney and City Committees/ Commissions members and adopting a two-year budget.

City Manager
The City Manager is the administrative head of the City, and oversees the City’s day-to-day operations, including guidance, personnel management, and support to all City departments. The City Manager is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of policies, citywide goals, and performance measures, as established by the City Council.

Commissions
City Council appoints members of the Commissions in Thousand Oaks.

The Commissions meet on regular schedules to consider issues within their areas of responsibility, make decisions on matters within their purviews and make recommendations to City Council. Commissioners are residents who volunteer their time and work to serve their communities interests. Commissions have been formed to address topics including land use, arts and culture, businesses, matters regarding older adults, public safety and traffic needs, and the youth.

The Planning Commission is a permanent commission of the City. It is the only Commission that is required to be enacted under State law.

The Planning Commission reviews and decides on applications for commercial, residential, industrial, and other development projects, and applications regarding just and reasonable return for rental spaces in mobile home parks. The Planning Commission also makes recommendations to the City Council on matters related to the City’s General Plan, zoning ordinance, and other City planning policies and regulations.

Community Representation
The City has several committees and advisory boards focused on various community issues, interests and perspectives. These bodies are made up of individuals who represent unique opinions, organizations, and positions within the community. These bodies make recommendations and/or decisions that guide City policy and actions. Through their participation, hundreds of residents volunteer their time to ensure local government represents the citizens it serves. The City Council also forms ad-hoc committees as needed to address specific issues, and then once resolved, are disbanded.
234 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
City Departments
The City departments bring policy, programs, and services to life and each department oversees a number of City functions and programs.

The City of Thousand Oaks is comprised of ten individual departments, including City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Finance, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs, Library Services, Cultural Affairs, Human Resources, City Clerk, Community Development, Public Works.

Regional Partnerships
Part of the City’s decision-making process involves having strong partnerships and relationships with outside agencies and organizations.

This is due to a desire to have good relations with the City’s neighbors and out of necessity, since the City is bordered by other jurisdictions and receives some services from outside agencies.

The City contracts with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office for its police services, and the Los Angeles County Animal Services for animal control. The City receives fire protection as part of the Ventura County Fire Protection District. Conejo Recreation & Park District (CRPD) provides recreation and parks services in the Conejo Valley, including the City and the unincorporated communities within the City’s planning area. The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) is a joint powers agency formed by the City and the CRPD for the purpose of protecting and managing open space.

In addition, a variety of agencies and organizations are actively involved and provide services to the City’s residents and businesses. These include the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura (AHACV), Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), and the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC). Elected officials and City staff are also actively involved with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), and other regional agencies.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office connecting with residents at a Halloween Trunk or Treat event Governance| 235
E-Governance
The City recognizes and supports the need to maintain a high level of service to the community. It further recognizes the need to pursue and engage various information technologies to make communications more efficient and accessible. The City’s Department of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs is responsible for coordinating citywide communications, media relations, community relations, and emergency communication, which also includes the use of local government access television, social media, photo-sharing, and other technologies as they evolve.

In order to continue to improve the ease of doing business, the City also uses an enhanced and integrated virtual service system called TO/24 Virtual Land Use Service for property owners, residents, and businesses seeking authorization from City departments for a range of activities relating to residential and commercial development and business operations. TO/24 provides an overall positive customer experience when seeking City land use approvals by streamlining processes, providing access to real-time status updates, and better preserving historical records.

Civic Engagement
Civic engagement describes how individuals become involved in their community to improve their quality of life and develop knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference. When citizens are engaged, they exchange ideas, express their voices, and become more invested in their communities to make positive changes. The City is committed to actively seeking public participation and treating all individuals with respect and dignity.

Example of a civic engagement activity as part of the General Plan update “TO24 Virtual Land Use Service” logo
236 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Key Issues & Opportunities
This section identifies the key issues and opportunities facing the City, relative to governance-related topics. This list was developed from the public engagement phase to address issues facing the City now, and in the future, and the opportunities for positive change. The topics inform the overall direction identified in the goals and policies in the following section.

Transparency
Thousand Oaks has a long history of promoting transparency in its decision-making processes through committees and commissions, and community engagement related to major City decisions, including updating the General Plan. Continuing and expanding upon this tradition of “open government” is essential to the long-term success of the City.

Fiscal Sustainability
Thousand Oaks provides a high quality of public services and well-maintained public facilities. This is due to the City’s diverse land uses and strong, revenue-generating businesses, including auto dealers and the biotech industry. However, a declining retail sector and changes in the biotech industry could negatively impact the City’s long-term fiscal health. The City is well-positioned to bolster fiscal sustainability by expanding biotech uses, supporting existing businesses, recruiting new businesses to locate in Thousand Oaks, and using vacant and underutilized land (especially aging retail establishments) for revenue-producing uses. The City incorporates long-term financial forecasting as part of its fiscal sustainability efforts through its financial strategic plan. This enables the City to proactively prepare for potential economic downturns and ensure the City can continue to provide a high level of services and maintain quality infrastructure.

Community Engagement
Thousand Oaks strives to have an active and engaged citizenry who desire involvement in the City’s decision-making process. Therefore, it is important to continue to involve residents through inclusive and robust community engagement. This should go beyond just communicating to the public about decisions; it should involve allowing citizens to express their ideas before decisions are made and actively working to ensure that all residents can participate equally. Engagement can and should occur at many levels of government and involve many activities. These include the Community Attitude Survey (which occurs every few years), community engagement for major projects (such as the General Plan and the City’s budget), and communications materials such as the project website and newsletters.

Racial and Economic Equity
Supporting racial and economic equity provides opportunities for all residents regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, ability, or economic status is a critical function of the City government. An opportunity exists for the City to continue its commitment to equity by actively offering all residents a chance to engage in decision-making and taking steps to ensure equal representation in government.

Community and Regional Partnerships
The City maintains excellent partnerships with regional agencies.

The City should continue to capitalize on existing partnerships and create new partnerships that improve the quality of life for residents, employees, and visitors and support a thriving local economy.

Governance| 237
Community Engagement
Goal G-1: Engage and empower all members of the community to participate in the City’s decision-making process.

1.1 Communication.

Expand communications with residents about City initiatives through a new City website, newsletters, social media, “State of the City” address, and other methods. Track the usage and effectiveness of communication methods and focus resources on the most impactful methods of reaching community members.

1.2 Diverse engagement.

Hold diverse in-person and virtual community engagement activities (e.g., community workshops, focus groups, pop-up workshops, etc.) to gather community input into future planning processes and other decision-making activities. Hold these community meetings in locations and at times that are convenient for community members.

1.3 Education and capacity building.

Take creative steps to educate community members about the City’s decision-making process.

1.4 Translation at public meetings.

Provide live translation services as feasible and if requested for City sponsored public workshops and hearings.

1.5 Meeting and event accessibility.

Provide accessibility for members of the public with special needs or disabilities at all City meetings and City-sponsored events.

1.6 Increase outreach.

Partner with local organizations and institutions, such as religious institutions, non-profit organizations, and community-based organizations, to increase outreach opportunities.

1.7 Utilize communication channels.

Use digital platforms and traditional communication channels to notify community members of important meetings, events, policies, and actions before decision-making bodies.

1.8 Community Attitude Surveys.

Use Community Attitude Surveys on a regular basis to determine the public’s satisfaction with City services.

Goals and Policies
The following section includes goals and policies for the Governance Element. In addition, governance-related topics and policies are integrated throughout the General Plan including the land use, mobility, and arts and culture elements. Related implementation actions are included in Chapter 13: Implementation.
238 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Equitable & Welcoming Community
Goal G-2: Create a more equitable, accessible, safe, welcoming, and inclusive government and community regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, language, education and/or socioeconomic status.

2.1 Racial and social equity.

Seek opportunities to increase racial and social equity within the City’s organizational structure.

2.2 Equity trainings.

Create equity trainings for all City staff, elected officials, and appointed officials.

2.3 City staff diversity.

Strive to ensure that City staff’s diversity reflects the City’s diversity and Ventura County region.

2.4 Boards and commissions diversity.

Strive to ensure that the City’s boards and commissions reflect the diversity of backgrounds, races, ethnicities, physical abilities, gender, sexual orientation, and ages of Thousand Oaks residents.

Transparent & Responsible Government
Goal G-3: Provide municipal government leadership that is open and responsive to residents and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, and transparency.

3.1 Customer service.

Prioritize a high level of customer service responsiveness and accessibility to the community.

3.2 Hybrid public meetings.

Hold hybrid model public meetings (with in-person and online options) that allow for greater participation in decision-making.

3.3 Public involvement in budgeting.

Implement methods to encourage public participation in the budget process. Proactively seek input from demographic segments of the community that are traditionally underrepresented in decision-making, including individuals with language barriers and disabilities.

3.4 Service evaluations.

Periodically solicit service evaluations from the community and utilize feedback to improve the City’s policies, ordinances, programs, and funding priorities.

Goal G-4: Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible way to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California’s most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.

4.1 Diversify fiscal sources.

Consider new and diversified fiscal sources to maintain the City’s long-term fiscal health.

4.2 Infrastructure financing tools.

Consider the use of available infrastructure financing tools such as Tax Increment Financing, Public Assessment districts, and other public-private partnerships.

4.3 Economic development best practices.

Support and coordinate economic development by following ‘best practices’ to maintain a balanced budget with flexibility to provide both sufficient ongoing operational revenues and maintain prudent level of reserves to meet economic uncertainties.

4.4 Strategic infrastructure investments.

Promote strategic infrastructure investments to support sustainable economic growth, leveraging State and Federal resources.

4.5 Fiscal policy review.

Conduct thorough and frequent reviews of fiscal policies in order to maintain balanced tax and fee structures, and to respond to changing fiscal policies at broader governmental levels.

Governance| 239
Regional Leadership & Partnerships
Goal G-5: Foster partnerships with other regional and local agencies to ensure residents have access to high quality parks, recreation, education and leisure programs and services.

5.1 Leadership appointments.

Proactively seek appointments to regional and state committees/ boards and continue to advocate for state legislation that positively impacts City services and future City objectives.

5.2 Regional planning and governance.

Participate in regional planning and governance activities to advocate for policies and programs that benefit Thousand Oaks and the region as a whole.

5.3 Collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions.

Work closely with adjacent jurisdictions on topics of mutual importance, including transportation, sustainability and climate change, open space, and land use/development decisions.

5.4 Parks and open space partnerships.

Partner with agencies and organizations that preserve and expand parks and open spaces within and around Thousand Oaks, including COSCA, CRPD, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and others.

5.5 Expand hospitality.

Work with the Conejo Valley hospitality sector to market Thousand Oaks as a unique tourist destination, which can create jobs and support fiscal health as new tax revenues are generated.

5.6 Local employer partnerships.

Collaborate with existing and future employers, local institutions, and business groups on programming and marketing the City.

5.7 Regional economic partnerships.

Strengthen relationships with regional economic development entities (e.g., Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, Ventura County Economic Development Collaborative, Ventura County Economic Development Association) to support business attraction and retention.

5.8 Institutional partnerships.

Strengthen partnerships with regional academic institutions (e.g., California Lutheran University, CSU Channel Islands, and Moorpark College) and industry representatives to craft workforce development strategies and other educational programs that serve City objectives.

5.9 Local workforce training.

Collaborate with California Lutheran University, Moorpark College, CSU Channel Islands, Workforce Development Board, and major employers within the region to create internship and apprenticeship opportunities and mid-career training.

5.10 Environmental leadership.

Demonstrate environmental leadership through continued investment in open space, clean and renewable energy, and sustainability, and seek to minimize environmental impact of actions.
240 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
City Identity & Branding
Goal G-6: Support and promote a City brand and identity that represents a multigenerational, diverse, welcoming, and innovation-driven community.

6.1 Promote livability.

Promote Thousand Oaks as an attractive place to live and work for a variety of groups, including young professionals, families, and seniors.

6.2 Promote inclusivity and diversity.

Promote Thousand Oaks as an inclusive, diverse, and safe place for all people including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, those with intellectual, physical and/or developmental needs regardless of ethnicities, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic status.

6.3 Digital infrastructure.

Support high-quality digital infrastructure and promote shared and co-working office facilities to capitalize on the “work from anywhere economy.”
General Plan Implementation
Goal G-7: Implement the 2045 General Plan and regularly update the plan to respond to new opportunities and challenges.

7.1 Workplan tied to the General Plan.

Utilize departmental workplans to address the goals, policies and implementation actions of the General Plan.

7.2 Annual Goal Setting.

Reference the General Plan as part of the City Council’s annual goal-setting sessions.

7.3 Phasing and financing.

Adopt phasing and financing strategies to implement the General Plan targets. The City’s biennial process and Capital Improvement Plan should be consistent with the General Plan implementation timeframes.

7.4 Routine General Plan modifications.

Conduct review and minor updates to the General Plan every five years to reflect changes in State regulations, new technologies, and new opportunities and challenges.

7.5 Comprehensive General Plan Updates.

Conduct a comprehensive, citywide visioning effort and update to the General Plan no later than 15 years after the adoption of the 2045 General Plan.

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242 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 13
Implementation
Implementation | 243
Introduction
This chapter describes the implementation actions for the Thousand Oaks General Plan 2045. Implementation actions are generally one-time actions needed to mobilize and execute the goals and policies within the General Plan, such as creating an ordinance or updating a master plan.

Implementation actions presented here are organized by the relevant chapter within the General Plan. Each implementation action includes:
1) the name of the action; 2) a brief description of the action; 3) the goal in that Element that it implements; 4) the timeframe; and 5) the City departments and divisions that will be involved in implementation.

The timeframe for the implementation actions is:
• Short ( ) – 1-3 years
• Medium ( ) – 4-7 years
• Long ( ) – beyond 7 years
Not every goal or policy within the General Plan will have an implementation action; instead, many policies require ongoing efforts that are not specifically dependent upon a single mobilizing action. The implementation actions are intended to be updated more frequently than the rest of the General Plan, adding or modifying actions due to changing social, economic, and environmental conditions, as well as changes in funding and department priorities.

The City’s ample supply of open space provides trails for residents and visitors to enjoy Note to Reader
Policies marked with this icon are related to sustainability.

Policies marked with this icon are related to health, equity, and environmental justice. 244 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
LU-A.1
Comprehensive zoning code update
Following the adoption of the General Plan, prepare a comprehensive update to the Citywide zoning code. LU-1 Community Development LU-A.2
Create new mixed-use zoning
district
Following the adoption of the General Plan, create a new mixeduse zoning district, including performance standards for infill development on parking lots and commercial structures.

LU-5 Community Development
LU-A.3
Inclusionary Housing Program Adopt and implement an Inclusionary Housing Program. LU-3 and LU-4 Community Development LU-A.4
Campus Master Plan
Implement vision of the Downtown Core Master Plan by redesigning the Civic Arts Plaza. LU-13 City Manager’s Office
LU-A.5
Creation of a downtown core
Initiate public/private partnerships to redevelop Thousand Oaks Boulevard as a “main street” with public, retail, lodging, entertainment and/or multi-family uses.

LU-13 and LU-14 City Manager’s Office
LU-A.6
Update specific plans
Update Specific Plans where policy changes are required pursuant to the 2045 General Plan policies, starting with the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan.

LU-1, LU-13, and
LU-14 Community Development
LU-A.7
Specific plan or master plan
preparation
Coordinate with property owners of key opportunity sites to prepare Specific Plan or Master Plan efforts for the
following areas:
• The Oaks
• Moorpark Road/Janss Marketplace
• Highway 101 Corridor/Borchard Property
LU-15, LU-16,
LU-17, and LU-18 Community Development
LU-A.8
Mixed-use and adaptive reuse
parking requirements study
Conduct a study to investigate modifying parking requirements for new mixed-use development and adaptive reuse projects. Revise the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code accordingly.

LU-5 Community Development
Land Use Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
Implementation | 245
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
LU-A.9
Municipal code review for healthy
housing
Review, revise, and update the municipal code (as well as other relevant plans, procedures, regulations, guidelines, programs, and design manuals) to promote healthy housing quality.

LU-4 Community Development
LU-A.10
Affordable housing linkage fee
Study and determine nexus to implement a fee program where new commercial and/or industrial developments pay a fee to fund affordable housing units.

LU-3 and LU-4 Community Development
LU-A.11
Update the Economic Development
Strategic Plan
Update and implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan. LU-1, LU-6, and LU-7 City Manager’s Office
LU-A.12
Entitlement process
Streamline the City’s entitlement and development process which may include one-stop permitting, priority processing, ministerial processing and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Evaluate and create incentives for qualifying developments, such as fee deferrals or modification of development standards.

LU-1 Community Development
LU-A.13
Streetscape standards
Develop Complete Streets strategy and update streetscape design for Thousand Oaks Boulevard and mixed-use developments. LU-5 and LU-9 Public Works, Community Development
LU-A.14
Design criteria and guidelines
Develop site, landscaping and architectural criteria and update existing design guidelines.

LU-8, LU-9, and
LU-10 Community Development
LU-A.15
Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design (CPTED)
Implement CPTED strategies such as:

1. Site design techniques that balance natural surveillance and reduce the potential for criminal activity with the desire to create pedestrian-friendly spaces throughout the City;

2. Policies and regulations that encourage a mixture of compatible land uses;

3. Improve lighting and nighttime security across City
neighborhoods, especially in existing or potential crime problem areas;

4. Involvement of the Sheriff’s Department in the development review process for evaluation of building and site plan vulnerabilities to criminal activities, especially for public areas within developments.

LU-8
Ventura County Sheriff
Department, Community
Development
Land Use (Continued) Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long 246 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
M-A.1.

Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP)
Create a funding strategy to implement infrastructure improvements as well as non-engineering programmatic and safety project recommendations, including those that improve safe access for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. Maintain regular updates every 5 years to the LRSP that identifies location-specific safety improvements.

M-1, M-2, and
M-3 Public Works
M-A.2.

Vision Zero Policy and Action Plan
Implement a systemic approach to proactively address safety risk; establish a High Injury Network (HIN) to target future bicycle and pedestrian investments.

M-1 Public Works
M-A.3. Complete Streets Guidelines
Establish Complete Streets Guidelines to identify and guide the design of comprehensive, integrated multimodal corridors.

M-1, M-3, M-4,
and M-5
Public Works and
Community Development
M-A.4.

Mobility policy and programs
Develop a policy framework to regulate, manage, and partner with emerging transportation technologies in a manner that supports the goals of the General Plan. The framework may cover pilot partnerships, equitable distribution of services, curb management, and requirements for sharing location and parking data with the City for operators of shared and micro mobility services (i.e. ridesharing services, e-scooters, etc.).

M-2 and M-4 Public Works and
Community Development
M-A.5.

Active Transportation Plan (ATP)
Implement bicycle and pedestrian recommendations, with
prioritization given to existing facilities on roadways with high-levelof traffic stress.

Implement targeted enforcement programs in partnership with schools and colleges.

Install safe, useful, and convenient short and long-term bicycle parking facilities in the public right-of-way or near key destinations, City facilities, and transit facilities, and require the provision of bicycle parking at private developments.

Maintain regular updates every 5 years to the ATP due to infrastructure improvements and reassessment of facility needs.

M-1, M-2, M-3,
M-4, M-5, and
M-6
Public Works
Mobility Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
Implementation | 247
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
M-A.6.

Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee (TIMF)
Nexus Study
Update the TIMF, in order to fund future roadway upgrades and improvements. M-4 Public Works
M-A.7.

VMT-based transportation analysis
policy and VMT mitigations for
environmental review
Adopt and implement the City’s Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT) Analysis Guidelines, which defines VMT-based thresholds of significance for transportation impacts in environmental review and identifies TDM-based mitigations.

M-3, M-4, and
M-6
Public Works and
Community Development
M-A.8.

Local transportation
analysis guidelines
Develop local transportation analysis guidelines to address traffic operations and multimodal access questions outside of the environmental review process, which may also include TDM guidelines for large developments.

M-4 and M-6 Public Works
M-A.9.

Micro-mobility support
Expand self-service bicycle repair stations and provide flexible space for future micro-mobility storage or stations to support sharing models.

M-2, M-3, M-4,
and M-5 Public Works
M-A.10.

ADA transition plan
(in right-of-way)
Continue to upgrade curb ramps and corner ramps on streets citywide in conjunction with the City’s biennial Paving Program.

M-1, M-2, M-3,
and M-4 Public Works
Mobility (Continued) Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long 248 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
POS-A.1.

Update park standards
Review and update the park standards to recognize the park requirements and space limitations of high-density multifamily and mixed-use housing.

POS-8
Community Development
and Conejo Recreation and
Parks District
POS-A.2.

Zoning code update
Re-zone natural open space lands to the Open Space (OS) Zone, in order to provide appropriate and consistent legislative controls on land use and improvements.

POS-1 Community Development
POS-A.3.

Open space acquisition
Acquire parcels based on latest “Priority Areas for Potential Purchase as Natural Open Space” map and table. Be open to unique acquisition opportunities that may arise.

POS-1 and POS-2 Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency
POS-A.4.

Biological resource assessment
Prepare an inventory of significant plant and animal habitats within open space areas for potential restoration or enhancement, including an assessment of the costs and benefits of such restoration on a sitespecific basis.

POS-3 Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency
POS-A.5.

Review of existing roads
in open spaces
Review existing road easements across open space lands and determine if these roads can be relocated to avoid or minimize impact on open space resources.

POS-3
Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency and
Public Works
POS-A.6.

Inventory of damaged
open space areas
Prepare an inventory of natural open space areas damaged by off-road vehicles, dumping, vandalism, or other activities (i.e., firebreaks). POS-3 and POS-4 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency
POS-A.7.

Inventory of encroached
open spaced areas
Prepare an inventory of encroachments from neighboring properties, such as unauthorized trails or other activities and develop site-specific measures to reduce such activity. Systematically implement a program to construct fencing or other barriers as indicated by the inventory.

POS-4 Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency
Parks and Open Space Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long Implementation | 249
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
POS-A.8.

Water quality
improvement programs
Install signage such as “drains to creek” to increase public awareness of storm drain pollution. Continue programs to periodically clean storm drains and monitor stormwater quality.

POS-3 Public Works
POS-A.9.

Trails Master Plan
Update the Trails Master Plan, which provides appropriate controlled access to open spaces. POS-2 and POS-4 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency
POS-A.10.

Fencing and barriers
Install fencing and barrier materials as needed to direct access to specific entry points, control off-road vehicle access, and provide public safety and resource protection. Remove unnecessary fences and barriers to support wildlife movement and enhance public safety.

Preclude individual lots from direct access to open space.

POS-7 Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency
Parks and Open Space (Continued) Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long 250 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
C-A.1.

Stream restoration
Coordinate with the Ventura County Watershed Protection District to develop a plan for restoration and improvement of portions of the Calleguas Creek and Malibu Creek Watersheds.

C-5, C-8, and, C-9
Community Development,
Public Works, and
Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency
C-A.2.

Stormwater Educational Plan
Develop an educational plan to inform the public on stormwater pollution and toxin reduction for wetland, river, and creek protection. C-5 Public Works C-A.3.

Urban-wildlife education
Develop educational materials to inform the public about urbanwildlife issues to minimize human-wildlife conflicts. C-5 and C-7 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency
C-A.4.

Restrict gas-powered
landscape equipment
Develop an ordinance to restrict gas-powered landscape equipment. C-10 Public Works C-A.5.

Habitat connectivity and freeways
Cooperate with and assist other public agencies and interested parties to reduce regional habitat isolation and fragmentation caused by the Highway 101 and State Route 23 Freeways.

C-7 Public Works
C-A.6.

Wetland and riparian resources
Coordinate with local, State, and Federal agencies that protect and enhance wetland and riparian resources when designing and reviewing developments that may disturb a wetland or riparian habitat.

C-5, C-6, C-8,
and C-9
Community Development
and Public Works
C-A.7.

Wetland and riparian education
Educate the public about the importance of avoiding direct and indirect disturbance of wetlands and riparian habitat. C-7 and C-9 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency
C-A.8.

Limit slope development Update standards to limit development on steep slopes and ridgelines. C-2 Community Development and Public Works
C-A.9.

Native plant communities
Encourage development adjacent to open space to minimize the area of required brush clearance to protect native plant communities. C-5 Community Development,
Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency
Conservation Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
Implementation | 251
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
C-A.10.

Grading
Update standards for the height of manufactured slopes and limitations on grading in areas of 25% or greater than grade. C-2 Community Development and Public Works
C-A.11.

Forestry Master Plan
Continue to implement City-maintained planting and maintenance standards set forth in the Forestry Master Plan. C-3 Public Works C-A.12.

Reduce air pollution
Require individual contractors to implement the construction mitigation measures included in the most recent version of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Air Quality Assessment Guidelines as standard conditions of approval for developments.

C-10 Community Development
and Public Works
C-A.13.

Native plant viability
Regularly evaluate the list of the City’s native plants for their viability to response to expected future conditions and look for opportunities to increase their viability.

C-5 Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency
C-A.14.

Anticoagulant rodenticides
Continue to prohibit the use of anticoagulants and rodenticides within the City. C-5 Community Development
C-A.15. Climate adaptation
Work with partner agencies and organizations to produce educational materials that reduce the potential for wildfire ignitions. C-5 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency
C-A.16.

Native plant communities
Coordinate with partner agencies to produce invasive plant management plans for open space areas. C-5 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency
Conservation (Continued) Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long 252 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
CFS-A.1.

High-speed
broadband infrastructure
Support the implementation of universal broadband to reduce the digital divide faced by small businesses and low-income households, particularly in underserved communities.

CFS-2 City Manager’s Office
CFS-A.2.

Track and secure federal recovery
and infrastructure funds as they
become available
Follow procedures to secure both formula allocation as well as competitive grant funds to be deployed via the bi-partisan infrastructure bill.

CFS-1 City Manager’s Office
CFS-A.3.

Telecommunication standards
Develop local standards for telecommunication facilities that are consistent with FCC requirements and meet community goals related to aesthetics and continue to underground overhead utilities.

CFS-2 Community Development
and Public Works
CFS-A.4.

Hill Canyon Treatment Master Plan
Perform periodic master planning for the City’s Hill Canyon Treatment Plant to ensure the plant stays up to current standards for energy generation and wastewater treatment.

CFS-5 Public Works
CFS-A.5.

Adopt Zero Waste Plan
Develop a plan that identifies how to reduce waste generation and divert recyclables and organic waste from landfills. CFS-6 Public Works CFS-A.6.

Solid waste diversion Implement the requirements of SB 1383 for composting waste. CFS-6 Public Works CFS-A.7.

Civic Arts Plaza building
improvements
Update the Civic Arts Plaza building according to the Campus Master Plan and Downtown Core Master Plan. CFS-12 City Manager’s Office CFS-A.8.

Address resource gaps
Utilize the Sheriff’s Department Mobile Command Center to address resource availability gaps, especially during emergency situations. CFS-10 City Manager’s Office
and Ventura County
Sheriff Department
Community Facilities and Services Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long Implementation | 253
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
AC-A.1.

Program expansion
Continue to expand programming beyond the theaters through community partnerships. AC-1 Cultural Affairs
AC-A.2.

Campus Master Plan
Develop specific creative programming, spaces, and facilities for the updated Civic Plaza. AC-1 Cultural Affairs and City
Manager’s Office
AC-A.3.

Cultural space incentives
Create developer incentives for integration of cultural and community spaces into developments, such as art incubator space. AC-1 Cultural Affairs and Community Development
AC-A.4.

Economic development recruitment
Develop and include cultural and creative promotional content for attraction and retention of workers. AC-1 Cultural Affairs and City Manager’s Office
AC-A.5.

Arts and Business Roundtable Create an Arts and Business Roundtable with diverse membership. AC-2 Cultural Affairs AC-A.6.

Cultural Affairs Dept. support for
TOArts
Continue allocating Department staff resources to support TOArts’ programming and fundraising. AC-2 Cultural Affairs, TOArts AC-A.7.

Continued success of BAPAC
programming
Continue the vitality and financial success of BAPAC programming through annual assessment and periodic audience research. AC-2 Cultural Affairs, TOArts AC-A.8.

City public art program
Develop a City public art ordinance that establishes standards for the location and oversight of art in public spaces. AC-3 Cultural Affairs and Community Development
AC-A.9.

Expanded community arts and
cultural programs
Engage residents in the development of programming choices. AC-3 Cultural Affairs AC-A.10.

Cultural facilities Commission a facilities feasibility study for a large venue. AC-3 Cultural Affairs and City Manager’s Office
AC-A.11.

Community cultural plan Develop a citywide community cultural plan. AC-3 Cultural Affairs Arts and Culture Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
254 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Arts and Culture (Continued)
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
AC-A.12.

Lifelong learning in the arts
Create a lifelong learning program in the arts within the Cultural Affairs Department. AC-4 Cultural Affairs
AC-A.13.

Support for preK-12 arts education
Explore ways to enhance preK-12 arts education in and out of school time in partnership with CVUSD, arts community, Los Angeles County Arts Education Collaborative, and other agencies.

AC-4 Cultural Affairs, TOArts,
CVUSD
AC-A.14.

Convening the creative sector
Conduct a series of Town Halls for Thousand Oaks’ creative sector residents and workers to establish a network and identify potential initiatives.

AC-5 Cultural Affairs
AC-A.15.

Creatives in city government Establish an Artist in Residency (AIR) Program. AC-6 Cultural Affairs, City Manager’s Office
AC-A.16.

Additional arts funding sources
Explore development of additional funding sources, such as a cultural district or business council for the arts. AC-7 Cultural Affairs AC-A.17.

Sustained funding for Civic Arts
Plaza and community programming
Explore the option of a dedicated funding source for arts, together with other community priorities. AC-7 Cultural Affairs, City Manager’s Office, TOArts
Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
Implementation | 255
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
S-A.1.

Update Community Wildfire
Protection Plan
Collaborate with the Ventura County Fire Protection District to include Thousand Oaks in the development and maintenance of a County Wildfire Protection Plan and investigate the possibility of preparing a plan component specific to the City of Thousand Oaks.

S-5
Ventura County Fire
Protection District,
Community Development,
Public Works, Conejo Open
Space Conservation Agency
S-A.2.

Very high fire hazard
severity zone code update
Update the development code to incorporate state laws for defensible space. S-5
Community Development,
Ventura County
Sheriff’s Department,
and Ventura County Fire
Protection District
S.A.3.

Wildfire buffer zones
Update the zoning map to designate as open space those areas within new development that are necessary to remain undeveloped for public health and safety purposes.

S-5
Community Development,
and Ventura County Fire
Protection District
S-A.4.

Communicate evacuation routes to
residents
Develop educational materials, in multiple languages, that inform residents of evacuation routes and resources for every neighborhood in very high hazard areas to assist in preparing for immediate evacuation.

S-5
Ventura County Sheriff’s
Department and
Ventura County Fire
Protection District
S-A.5.

Identify existing buildings
that need seismic retrofitting
Perform a seismic vulnerability analysis for seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings. S-1 Community Development,
Finance
S-A.6.

Fire Risk Reduction
Communities List
Apply to CAL FIRE Fire Risk Reduction Communities List to be prioritized for grant funding. S-5 Community Development S-A.7.

Evaluate evacuation
Evaluate evacuation route capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios as part of the next update to the Hazard Mitigation Plan, in accordance with AB 747.

S-5 Public Works
S-A.8.

Heat education
Incorporate links and references on the City website providing education on heat related illness and personal care steps. S-6 Conejo Open Space
Conservation Agency,
Public Works
Safety Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
256 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Safety (Continued)
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
S-A.9.

Industrial performance standards
Adopt industrial performance standards addressing hazardous waste materials storage. S-8
Community Development,
Ventura County Fire
Protection District
S-A.10.

Master Plan of Drainage
Update the City’s Master Plan of Drainage periodically to incorporate new data and conditions. S-2 Public Works
S-A.11.

Local clean energy
facility regulations
Prepare a study to develop regulations that would allocate space to allow for local clean energy facilities such as battery energy storage, wind, and solar, to be distributed throughout the community.

S-6 Community Development,
Public Works
S-A.12.

Microgrids for municipal facilities
Develop microgrids at critical municipal facilities to maintain operations. S-6 Public Works
S-A.13.

Climate and Environmental
Action Plan
Adopt and implement a Climate and Environmental Action Plan. S-7 Public Works S-A.14.

Climate adaptation
Work with partner agencies and organizations to produce educational materials that reduce the potential for wildfire ignitions. S-6 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency
Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
Implementation | 257
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
N-A.1.

Municipal Code update
Amend the noise requirements of the Municipal Code to be consistent with the General Plan Policies and adopt standard mitigation measures related to construction noise.

N-1 and N-3 Community Development
Noise Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
258 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Action Description Implementing
Goals Timeframe Lead Responsibility
G-A.1.

City website overhaul
Build a new mobile friendly, accessible website that will serve as an information hub in an easy to navigate, user focused design. Provide timely, relevant information that meets and exceeds (where possible) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and offers flexibility in displaying emergency notifications, public meeting notices, and other important, frequently updated information.

G-1 City Manager’s Office
G-A.2.

Equity engagement
Participate in community discussions and partner with other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to explore strategies that address social and racial inequities.

G-1 City Manager’s Office
G-A.3.

Equity network
Seek out and utilize state and national resources to support the City’s equity and inclusion efforts. G-2 City Manager’s Office G-A.4.

Equity assessment
Conduct an internal equity assessment of existing City programs, and policies, to develop strategies that address racial and social inequities. G-2 City Manager’s Office G-A.5.

City departmental diversity, equity
and inclusion training
Conduct department specific diversity, equity and inclusion training. G-2 City Manager’s Office G-A.6.

Update boards and commissions
appointment criteria
Evaluate and modify appointment criteria to strive for greater diversity of representation. G-2 City Manager’s Office
G-A.7.

Prepare a disability access plan
Develop a disability access plan to integrate the needs of the disabled community into all aspects of the City - from budget allocations, to transportation, governance, emergency, City events, housing, etc.

G-2 City Manager’s Office
G-A.8.

Citywide communications strategy
Implement a strategy to communicate the City’s unique advantages within the region. Use digital and traditional communication channels to attract new investments, employers and a wider diversity of residents.

G-6 City Manager’s Office
G-A.9.

Communication management
Track the usage and effectiveness of communication methods and reallocate resources to the most impactful methods of reaching community members as platforms and technology shifts
G-1 City Manager’s Office
Governance Timeframe Legend: Short Medium Long
Implementation | 259
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260 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Chapter 14
Glossary
Glossary | 261
Glossary
A
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Commonly known as accessory apartments, backyard cottages, secondary suites, and granny flats, ADUs are a smaller independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone (i.e., detached) single-family home or multifamily development. ADUs can be converted portions of existing homes (i.e., internal ADUs), additions to new or existing homes (i.e., attached ADUs), or new stand-alone accessory structures or converted portions of existing stand-alone accessory structures (i.e., detached ADUs).

Action. A strategy carried out in response to adopted policy to achieve a specific goal or objective. Policies and action statements establish the “who,” “how” and “when” for carrying out the “what” and “where” of goals and objectives.

Acres, Gross. The total area within the lot lines of a site before public streets, easements, or other areas to be dedicated or reserved for public use are deducted from such lot, and not including adjacent lands already dedicated for such purposes.

Acres, Net. The portion of a site that can be built upon. The following generally are not included in the net acreage of a site existing or proposed: public or private road rights-of-way, public open space, and flood ways.

Active Solar System. A system that uses a mechanical device, such as pumps or fans run by electricity in addition to solar energy, to transport air or water between a solar collector and the interior of a building for heating or cooling.

Adaptation. A group of processes and actions that help a system absorb changes that have already occurred or may be predicted to occur in the future. In the context of climate change, adaptation is the active decision-making processes and actions, which are deliberate changes made in response to the actual or expected climate and its effects.

Adaptive Re-Use. The process of reconfiguring or remodeling existing spaces, building or site to accommodate a new use or a new purpose other than for what it was originally designed, thereby reducing environmental impacts.

B
Bikeways. A term that encompasses “bicycle lanes,” “bicycle paths,” and “bicycle routes.”
Building Height. A vertical dimension measured from existing grade or the finished grade, whichever is lower, up to a warped plane equal to the height limit of the underlying zone. All portions of the building must be located at or below the building height limit, unless otherwise specified within the code as a building height exception. The “warped plane” is an imaginary plane projected parallel to the topography of the site at the height limit of the applicable zoning district. Specific Plan areas may contain a separate definition based on different methodology.

Building Type. A structure category determined by function, disposition on the lot, and configuration, including frontage and height.

For example, a rowhouse is a type, not a style.
262 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Build-out. Development of land to its full potential, or theoretical capacity, as permitted under current or proposed planning or zoning designations.

C
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Legislation and corresponding procedural components established in 1970 by the State of California to require environmental review for projects anticipated to result in adverse impacts to the environment.

Capital Improvements Program (CIP). A program administered by a City and reviewed by its Planning Commission that schedules permanent improvements, usually for a minimum of five years in the future, that is within the jurisdiction’s fiscal capability. The CIP generally is reviewed on a biennial basis for conformance to and consistency with the General Plan.

City limits. City limits refers to land inside of the boundaries of the City of Thousand Oaks.

Climate Action Plan. A detailed and strategic framework for measuring, planning, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addressing other environmentally related and climatic impacts.

Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL). A 24-hour energy equivalent level derived from a variety of single-noise events, with weighting factors of 5 and 10 dBA applied to the evening (7 PM to 10 PM) and nighttime (10 PM to 7 AM) periods, respectively, to allow for the greater sensitivity to noise during these hours.

Conservation. The management of natural resources to prevent waste, destruction, or neglect.

Courtyard Housing. A distinct medium to high-density multi-family housing typology centered on a shared outdoor open space or garden and surrounded by one to three stories of apartment units typically accessed by a courtyard from the street (and not be an interior corridor).

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

A multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design.

Cul-de-sac. A short street with only a single means of ingress and egress at one end and with a turnaround at its other end.

Cultural Resources. Includes historic, archaeological, and paleontological resources, as well as human remains.

Cumulative Impact. As used in CEQA, the total environmental impact resulting from the accumulated impacts of individual projects or programs overtime.

D
dBA. The “A-weighted” scale for measuring sound in decibels, which weighs or reduces the effects of low and high frequencies in order to simulate human hearing. Every increase of 10 dBA doubles the perceived loudness even though the noise is actually ten times more intense.

Decibel (dB). A unit used to express the relative intensity of a sound as it is heard by the human ear. The lowest volume a normal ear can detect under laboratory conditions is 0 dB, the threshold of human hearing.

Since the decibel scale is logarithmic, 10 decibels are ten times more intense, and 20 decibels are a hundred times more intense than 1 db.

Glossary | 263
Dedication. The turning over by an owner or developer of private land for public use, and the acceptance of land for such use by the governmental agency having jurisdiction over the public function for which it will be used. Dedications for roads, open space, parks, school sites or other public uses are often required by a city or county as conditions for approval of a development. (See “in-lieu fee”) Density. The amount of residential development that is allowed within a given area. Standards of building density for residential uses are stated as the allowable range (i.e., minimum and maximum) of dwelling units per gross acre (du/ac).

Development. The physical extension and/or construction of urban or rural land uses. Development activities include the subdivision of land, construction or alteration of structures, roads, utilities and other facilities, grading, deposit of refuse, debris or fill materials, and clearing of natural vegetative cover (except for agricultural activities). Routine repair and maintenance activities are not considered “development.” Diversity. The quality of representing a range of people with various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds and various lifestyles, experience, and interests.

Dwelling Unit (d.u.). A structure or the part of a structure that is used as a home, residence, or sleeping place by one person who maintains a household or by two or more persons who maintain a household.

E
Ecosystem. An interacting system formed by a biotic community and its physical environment.

Endemic Species. Species native to, and restricted to, a particular geographical region.

Environmental Impact Report (EIR). A report required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that assesses all the environmental characteristics of an area, determines what effects or impacts will result if the area is altered or disturbed by a proposed action, and identifies alternatives or other measures to avoid or reduce those impacts. (See “California Environmental Quality Act.”) Electric Vehicle (EV). An electric vehicle is an alternative fuel automobile that uses electric motors and motor controllers for propulsion, in place of more common propulsion methods such as the internal combustion engine.

Equity. The fair access to or distribution of resources according to need recognizing that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

F
Fault. A fracture in the earth’s crust that forms a boundary between rock masses that have shifted.

Flood, 100-year. The magnitude of a flood expected to occur on average every 100 years, based on historical data. The 100-year flood has a 1/100, or one percent, chance of occurring in any given year.

Floodplain. The relatively level land area on either side of the banks of a stream regularly subject to flooding.

Floodway. The part of the floodplain capable of conveying the 100- year flood with no more than a one-foot rise in water. The floodway includes the river channel itself and adjacent land areas. 264 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Standards of building intensity for nonresidential uses such as office, commercial, industrial, and institutional development are stated as a range (i.e., minimum and maximum) of floor area ratios (FARs). FAR is a measure of the total amount of building space (or “floor area”) compared to the area of the parcel. In the case of mixed-use developments that include residential uses, density standards are applied to the residential component while FAR standards are applied to the non-residential component.

G
Goal. A description of the general desired results that Thousand Oaks seeks to create through the implementation of the General Plan.

Goals are included in each element and may include the key physical or community characteristics that the City and its residents wish to maintain or develop.

Gray water. The less contaminated portion of domestic wastewater, including wash water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, washing machines or dishwashers.

Groundwater. Water that exists beneath the earth’s surface, typically found between saturated soils and is used to supply wells and springs.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. Atmospheric gases that
contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth’s surface.

H
Habitat. The physical location or type of environment in which an organism or biological population lives or occurs.

Household. All persons occupying a single dwelling unit.

Horizontal mixed-use. A development consisting of two or more attached or detached buildings of differing use categories within the same project area.

I
Impact Fee. A fee charged to a developer by the City typically by number of units, square footage or acreage. The fee is often used to offset costs incurred by the municipality for infrastructure such as roads and police and fire infrastructure.

Implementation. Actions, procedures, or programs that carry out policies.

Inclusion. The practice or policy of creating an environment where all people and groups feel welcomed and valued and, in turn, are included and integrated in activities, organizations, and political processes.

Infill Development. Development that occurs on vacant or underutilized land within areas that are already largely developed.

In-lieu fee. Payment that substitutes for required dedication of land or provision of structures or amenities for public use, such as construction of affordable housing, or as means of fulfilling mitigation requirements to offset the impacts of a proposed development. Usually calculated in dollars per lot or per dwelling unit and referred to as in-lieu fees or inlieu contributions. (See “dedication”) Glossary | 265
L
Land Use. The occupation or utilization of an area of land for any purpose.

Land Use Designation. A particular category in the land use classification series established by the General Plan Land Use Element.

M
Mitigation. Under CEQA, mitigation is a feasible measure or revision in the proposed project to avoid or substantially reduce the project’s significant environmental effects.

Mixed-use. Development in which various uses, such as office, commercial, and institutional, are combined with residences in a single building or site in an integrated development project with significant functional interrelationships and a coherent physical design. A single site may include contiguous properties. Generally, there are two types of mixed-use – vertical and horizontal.

N
Noise Contour. A line connecting points of equal noise level as measured on the same scale. Noise levels greater than the 60 Ldn contour (measured in dBA) require noise attenuation in residential development.

Non-Conforming Use. A use that was valid when brought into existence, but no longer permitted by later regulation. “Nonconforming use” is a generic term and includes: (1) non-conforming structures (because their size, type of construction, location on land, or proximity to other structures is no longer permitted); (2) non-conforming use of a conforming building; (3) non-conforming use of a non-conforming building; and (4) non- conforming use of land. Any use lawfully existing on any piece of property that is inconsistent with a new or amended General Plan, and that in turn is a violation of a zoning ordinance amendment subsequently adopted in conformance with the General Plan, will be a nonconforming use. Typically, non-conforming uses are permitted to continue for a designated period of time, subject to certain restrictions.

O
Open Space. Land which has been designated for the preservation of the surface of that land in essentially an open, natural, and undeveloped state. Open space may contain limited improvements and uses which are compatible and consistent with open space use.

Overlay. A land use designation on the Land Use Map, or a zoning designation on a zoning map, that modifies the basic underlying designation or designations in some specific manner.

Outparcel. A plot of land that is part of a shopping center or other development reserved for the construction of smaller buildings, generally located on the exterior of the development or adjacent to the street.
266 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
P
Parcel. A site or lot, in single ownership or under single control, that has been legally subdivided, re-subdivided, or combined and usually considered a unit for purposes of development.

Passive Solar System. A non-mechanical or non-electrical system that relies on building design and materials to collect and store heat and to create natural ventilation for cooling. The system includes roof, window, wall, and floor design features made to collect, store, reflect, and distribute solar energy, in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer.

Pedestrian-Oriented Design. Design that encourages a mix of land uses including compact residential and commercial areas, smaller block sizes, including features that prioritize pedestrian safety, and local pedestrian amenities such as parks, plazas, street trees and public art.

Per Capita. A measure for each person; in relation to people taken individually.

Planning Area. The area where the city has land use control which is the same as the City’s current Sphere of Influence (SOI).Policy. A specific statement of principle or of guiding actions that a governmental agency intends to follow, in order to meet its goals and objectives before undertaking an implementing action or program.
(See “Action”)
Public Art: Monuments, sculptures, murals, statues, and other artistic installations in spaces accessible to the general public that accentuate or draw attention to a particular place or feature of the city, provide a focal point for public gathering, and/or serve a specific function, such as to provide seating.

R
Resilience. The ability of a community to prepare for, respond to and recover from the social, economic and environmental impacts of hazardous climatic events.

S
Semi-Public Space (or Quais-Public). An interior or exterior area that is owned and managed by a private entity, but which is used by the public.

Sensitive Receptors. Uses sensitive to noise such as residential areas, hospitals, convalescent homes and facilities, and schools.

Shared Parking. A permitting tool used through which adjacent property owners share parking spaces and reduce the number of parking spaces that would be required if applied per each individual use or property. Shared parking is allowed when the uses in proximity to one another have different peak parking requirements and share the same marginal parking spaces provided to accommodate peak parking conditions in a common parking facility.

Site. A lot, or group of contiguous lots not divided by an alley, street or right of way, or city limit, that is proposed for development and is in single or multiple ownership, all of whom join in the application for development.

Special Use Permit. The discretionary and conditional review of an activity or function or operation on a site or in a building or facility.

Glossary | 267
Specific Plan. A legal tool for detailed design and implementation of a defined portion of the area covered by a General Plan. A specific plan includes detailed regulations, conditions, programs, and/or proposed legislation which may be necessary or convenient for the systematic implementation of the General Plan element.

Sphere of Influence (SOI). The SOI is the “probable physical boundaries and service area” of the City as defined by the State General Plan Guidelines. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) in Ventura County adopted the SOI for the City of Thousand Oaks.

T
Townhouse/Townhome. A series of residences, often two to three stories in height, that are connected side by side in a row with each having a separate street-level entrance.

Traffic Calming. Measures designed to reduce motor vehicle speeds and to encourage pedestrian use, including narrow streets, tight turning radii, sidewalk bulbouts, parking bays, textured paving at intersections, parkways between sidewalks and streets.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM). Strategies for
reducing the number of vehicle trips by increasing ridesharing, transit use, walking, and biking.

U
Universal Design. The design of buildings, products or environments that address common barriers to participation by creating products and built environment accessible to the maximum number of people possible, regardless of age, disability or other factors.

Utility Corridor. Rights-of-way or easements for utility lines on either publicly or privately owned property.

V
Vertical mixed-use. Uses are mixed vertically within the same building, typically with ground floor retail or services and residential on the upper floors.

W
Wastewater. Water that has already been used for washing, flushing, or in a manufacturing process, and therefore contains waste products such as sewage or chemical by-products.

Wastewater Irrigation. The process by which wastewater, that has undergone appropriate treatment, is used to irrigate land.

Wetland. An area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation.

Z
Zoning. The division of a city by ordinance or other legislative regulation into districts or zones, which specify allowable uses for real property and size restrictions for buildings constructed in these areas; a program that establishes implements the land use policies of the General Plan.
268 | City of Thousand Oaks General Plan
Appendix A
Public Health + Equity
Existing Conditions
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-1

HEALTH EQUITY

OVERVIEW
Health “equity” is achieved when every person in a community has a just opportunity to reach their optimal social, physical, and mental well-being at all stages of life. This report presents a broad overview of health challenges and opportunities in Thousand Oaks, including chronic disease prevention, mental health, physical activity, and safe and healthy housing. It also assesses the presence of “disadvantaged communities,” as defined by the State of California in Senate Bill 1000
(Environmental Justice). More specifically, this chapter provides an overview of health conditions for the following topics:
disadvantaged communities, general demographics, life
expectancy and causes of death, and health status issues in the City of Thousand Oaks.

Data is provided at the City and Ventura County levels, where available. In some cases, data for Thousand Oaks is available by zip code and Census Tract level (see Figures A.1 and A.2), thus providing detailed information pertaining to geographic areas and certain health outcomes.
1 This Appendix is narrowly focused on specific health and equity issues in accordance with SB 1000. However, a health equity lens is applied throughout the General Plan and spans across the broad 1 Data is only analyzed for the four zip codes that include large areas within the City boundaries: 91320, 91360, 91361, and 91362. In some cases, data for zip code 91361 was not available and is noted with an “ND” in the graphics. range of topics that impact the overall health and quality of life for residents of Thousand Oaks. For example:
• The Environmental report covers topics such as open
space, natural hazards, and pollution.
• The Mobility report addresses active transportation
(bicycle and pedestrian movements) and transportation
safety, including collisions involving pedestrians and
cyclists.
• The Land Use report covers topics related to walkable access to goods and services and access to parks.
• The market report covers socioeconomic conditions,
which are a determinant of health outcomes.

Overall, this chapter, combined with specific information from other chapters, provides a complete picture of health in Thousand Oaks.

Key Findings
• Residents living in the Thousand Oaks/Westlake area have the highest life expectancy across Ventura County (88.7 years). This means that, on average, Thousand Oaks
residents live very healthy lives.
• There are no areas that are identified as disadvantaged communities according to CalEnviroScreen 4.0’s overall
index score. However, the disadvantaged communities’
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-2
analysis found that there are three low-income census
tracts in the City with a disproportionate health and
environmental burden (see Figure A.2). Thus,
environmental justice goals, policies, and actions
addressing these topics will be required as part of the General Plan.
• Obesity is a leading cause of death across the nation.

Students at Thousand Oak’s elementary schools have the
highest percentage of risk to health issues due to their body composition compared to middle school and high
school students.
• The suicide rate across Ventura County is slightly higher than in the State. In Thousand Oaks, emergency room
rates due to suicide and intentional self-inflicted injury are consistently higher among youth than adults.
• Access to health care professionals is a critical need for low-income individuals and families. Across the City, over a quarter of adults reported difficulty accessing medical care they felt they needed. Across the County, adults 25-44 experienced the most difficulties or delays in accessing care. 2 2 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-3
Figure A.1 Thousand Oaks Zip Codes
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-4
Figure A.2 Census Tracts
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-5
The Health Connection
Eleven key components are needed for creating healthy and equitable communities (Figure A.3). Of these components, significant ones include factors related to a person’s place, income, living conditions and education. Therefore, it’s important for cities to consider the combination of their physical, social, and economic environments, while planning and
prioritizing growth for the future. These factors impact how healthy residents are in the long term and can impact specific individuals and groups more vulnerable to long-term changes and short-term shocks.

Additional contributing components include eating well, staying active, access to health care services, access to social and economic opportunities, quality of education, neighborhood conditions, workplace safety, and cleanliness of water and air, among others. These conditions influence why some people are healthier than others, and why where people live and work matters to community health.

Strategic healthy community programs can bring many benefits to the residents of Thousand Oaks, including improved quality of life, access to transportation, and economic investments.

Improving conditions related to the social determinants of health can also help promote equity and community development over the long term and prepare the City for the potential impacts of climate change.

APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-6
Figure A.3 Example of Healthy Communities Components
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-7
Disadvantaged Communities Analysis
Overview of SB 1000
Senate Bill 1000 (or the Planning for Healthy Communities Act) was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on September 24, 2016. SB 1000 requires cities and counties that update two or more elements of their general plan after January 1, 2018 to proactively identify and incorporate goals, policies, and objectives to address environmental and health impacts within their boundaries and also address the needs of disadvantaged
communities most impacted by their effects. Given the revision of more than two elements to the current General Plan, the requirements of SB 1000 apply.

The goal of SB 1000 is to help identify and reduce risks in communities disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation. In doing so, SB 1000 offers an opportunity to adopt various methods to address existing community health concerns and mitigate impacts of future health issues, including increasing access to healthy food, preventing chronic disease, improving transportation facilities and infrastructure, promoting healthy land use design, and encouraging physical activity.

Addressing SB 1000 requirements involves a three-step process.

The first step is to identify whether there are any “disadvantaged communities” within the jurisdiction. According to California’s Health and Safety Code (Section 39711), a “disadvantaged community” is defined as “a low-income area that is
disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.” The second step is to conduct community engagement to better understand the health issues on the ground and through residents’ lived experiences. The third step is the creation of goals, policies, and implementation actions that address the health and environmental justice issues identified through the process.

Disadvantaged CommunitiesScreening Analysis
The first part of the SB 1000 process is to understand the negative health conditions in the community and determine the presence of any areas that are “disadvantaged communities” as defined by State law. This involves a three-step screening process:
• Part 1: Determine whether there are any census tracts that scored in the top 25 percent (i.e., above the 75th percentile) for the overall index score as established by the California Environmental Health Screening Tool 4.0
(CalEnviroScreen). This tool is a screening methodology developed by the California Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).
• Part 2: Determine whether there are any census tracts with a median household income below 80% of the
County’s area median income or below 80% of the State’s median income. If there are low-income areas, the next
step is to determine if any have a disproportionately high pollution burden (75th percentile of census tracts in the State) for the 13 individual pollution burden indicators (such as ozone pollution) from CalEnviroScreen.
• Part 3: Incorporate any other community-specific data related to other health risk factors, including social
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-8
vulnerabilities (such as linguistic isolation) and poor health outcomes (such as asthma rates).

Results of the Disadvantaged Communities
Analysis
Part 1 of analysis found that there are no census tracts in Thousand Oaks with a CalEnviroScreen 4.0 overall index score at or above the 75th percentile. A map of the 4.0 index scores by census tract can be found in Figure A.4. In fact, the city’s average score and most census tracts’ scores are below the 25th percentile, which indicates the best overall health and environmental conditions in comparison to the rest of the State. This result reinforces the perception that Thousand Oaks offers residents a healthy environment in which to live, work, and play.

Part 2 of the analysis found that there are four census tracts (65, 69, 70, and 71) with household median incomes below 80 percent of the County’s area median income and/or the State’s median income, and three of these (69, 70, and 71) scored above the 75th percentile threshold for at least one individual pollution burden indicator from CalEnviroScreen 4.0. Figure A.5 shows the median income by census tract in Thousand Oaks. The analysis also found that other census tracts in the City experience disproportionate pollution burdens. Thus, census tracts 69, 70, and 71 can be considered disadvantaged communities (See Figure A.2 for a map of census tracts in the City), while others have environmental health issues that can be addressed in the General Plan.

The following is a summary of the results of the SB 1000 analysis for all census tracts in Thousand Oaks, regardless of income. This information is also summarized in Tables A.1 and A.2.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
• Impaired Water Bodies. The majority of census tracts in the city, including the three identified disadvantaged
communities (Tracts 69, 70, and 71), scored above the 75th percentile threshold for impaired water bodies. This
measure assesses the total amount of pollutants found in surface water bodies. This pollution burden indicator was the only one with a citywide average score above the 75th percentile threshold and, as a result, it is a citywide issue that should be considered but is unlikely to have
significant public health impacts due to limited exposure by residents.
• Traffic Impacts. 12 census tracts in Thousand Oaks,
including the three identified disadvantaged communities (Tracts 69, 70, and 71) scored above the 75th percentile threshold for traffic impacts. This measure evaluates the total traffic volumes within 150 meters of a census tract.

The majority of the impacted census tracts are
immediately adjacent to Highway 101, which is one of the busiest highways in the State. Although the City has
limited control over the highway, there are various
strategies and mitigation measures that can be
implemented to limit exposure to highway-related air
pollution, particularly in new buildings.
• Hazardous Waste. Four census tracts scored above the 75th percentile threshold for hazardous waste (Tracts 59.08, 60, 61, and 66), which measures the number of permitted hazardous waste facilities, hazardous waste generators, and chrome plating facilities within each census tract; it does not measure actual resident exposure to hazardous
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CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-9
wastes. The four areas with high scores contain biotech and industrial uses. Thus, the City will need to continue to partner with companies that use hazardous materials to
ensure that they are used and disposed of safely.
• Diesel Particulate Matter (PM). Three census tracts,
including one low-income census tract, scored above the 75th percentile threshold for diesel PM (Tracts 59.08,

59.09, and 71), which is a specific type of air pollution of concern in California. This measure assesses the spatial distribution of diesel PM emissions from on-road sources (such as trucks) and off-road sources (such as ports and rail yards). The three areas with a high pollution burden for diesel PM include Highway 101 and existing areas of concentrated commercial uses.
• Groundwater Threats. Three census tracts scored above the 75th percentile threshold for groundwater threats
(Tracts 59.07, 60, and 61), which is a measure that
assesses proximity to potential sources of groundwater
contamination. The three areas that scored high for this indicator are in census tracts with health and biotech
facilities.
• Cleanup Sites. One census tract scored above the 75th percentile threshold for cleanup sites (Tract 61), which measures proximity to brownfield sites that require
environmental remediation.
• Pesticide Use. One census tract scored above the 75th percentile threshold for pesticide use (Tract 53.05).

However, this census tract is mostly located in the Santa Rosa Valley where there are significant agricultural uses.

Moreover, the Thousand Oaks portion of this census tract only includes the open space reserve of Elliot Mountain.

Therefore, exposure to pesticides is not a real concern for Thousand Oaks residents.

SOCIAL VULNERABILITY
• Low Birth Weight. Six census tracts had a high proportion of infants born classified as low birth weight (Tracts

58.01, 61, 63.02, 65, 70, and 73). Two of these six census tracts are considered low-income; Tracts 65 and 70.

There are many known risk factors for LBW, including
nutritional status, lack of prenatal care, stress, and
exposure to air pollution.
• Housing Burden. Two census tracts had a high proportion of low-income households who were severely costburdened, which is defined as paying more than 50% of income toward housing costs. Both census tracts are also considered low-income; Tracts 69 and 71.
• Linguistic Isolation. Two census tracts had a high
proportion of limited English-speaking households, an
indicator associated with poor health outcomes. One of
these two census tracts (Tract 70) is also low-income.
• Unemployment. One census tract (Tract 63.02) had a high percentage of the population over the age of 16 that was unemployed, however the rest of the City had much lower unemployment rates.

CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-10
Table A.1 CalEnviroScreen 4.0, Pollution Burden Percentiles3 Below is the CalEnviroScreen (CES) 4.0 data for all census tracts in Thousand Oaks organized by the two main CES categories: Pollution Burden and Population Characteristics. All scores are percentiles in comparison to the rest of the state. Percentile scores at or above the 75th percentile are considered by the State as having a disproportionate burden and are shown here in RED shading in the table. Low-income census tracts are identified with TEAL shading and their rows are outlined in BLACK.

Census
Tract
Median
Household
Income
CES 4.0
Overall
Score Ozone PM2.5
Diesel
PM
Pesticide
Use
Toxic
Releases
Traffic
Impacts
Drinking
Water
Childrens’
Lead Risk
Cleanup
Sites
Groundwater
Threats
Hazardous
Waste
Facilities
Impaired
Water
Bodies
Solid
Waste
Sites
Pollution
Burden
Score

58.01 $157,667 11.0 42.8 39.3 3.5 2.8 37.5 12.9 57.5 6.6 0.0 0.0 50.1 87.0 0.0 10.3

58.02 $144,375 8.0 42.6 39.9 11.5 54.2 34.1 47.2 57.5 2.0 0.0 2.1 50.1 87.0 0.0 25.1

59.01 $131,289 6.4 47.0 41.2 9.6 15.0 33.9 11.7 58.6 15.3 0.0 0.0 50.1 87.0 0.0 14.7

59.06 $115,431 23.1 58.2 41.0 41.1 0.0 28.7 87.7 61.6 26.9 4.1 59.6 62.5 98.7 52.9 63.1

59.07 $86,332 11.1 60.9 42.3 37.0 0.0 33.6 74.4 42.4 11.8 11.8 81.5 22.0 83.0 0.0 38.7

59.08 $108,813 32.7 50.5 42.5 85.5 0.0 30.1 78.5 60.0 32.0 0.0 50.1 77.6 87.0 0.0 59.1

59.09 $81,927 19.5 51.9 42.5 84.9 0.0 28.4 82.8 60.0 9.3 0.0 0.0 28.3 87.0 0.0 36.3

59.1 $154,286 3.6 50.5 39.6 4.5 8.1 32.2 9.9 59.8 5.3 0.0 0.0 3.6 87.0 0.0 6.7

59.11 $106,250 14.9 55.4 40.4 30.9 11.0 29.0 95.1 58.8 13.4 17.1 0.0 56.4 87.0 0.0 38.9 60 $109,833 30.5 47.0 42.2 71.5 0.0 29.3 83.9 58.3 26.5 70.2 78.9 97.0 87.0 0.0 75.8 61 $102,717 61.1 47.4 41.5 54.6 23.9 25.9 88.0 57.5 26.2 76.7 95.4 99.0 96.8 0.0 82.2 62 $144,946 4.9 51.0 40.6 16.2 20.4 24.4 82.7 57.5 8.9 0.0 50.9 74.1 96.8 0.0 42.6

63.01 $111,500 7.6 52.1 39.7 4.3 64.6 22.6 19.8 67.1 11.3 0.0 0.0 51.7 97.5 0.0 25.3

63.02 $123,625 40.3 53.7 40.4 42.9 64.1 22.5 19.1 60.2 22.8 0.0 22.1 50.1 66.7 0.0 32.8 64 $118,750 16.7 58.2 40.2 24.6 45.1 21.6 63.3 66.4 13.1 0.0 22.1 24.7 91.9 0.0 34.1 65 $77,054 43.5 57.0 40.1 24.3 20.4 22.7 62.5 58.9 44.4 0.0 22.1 30.6 66.7 0.0 30.3 66 $110,000 22.5 53.7 40.3 21.8 0.0 23.0 35.1 65.2 27.0 0.0 49.8 77.0 66.7 0.0 29.3 67 $129,063 12.7 53.7 40.8 10.3 0.0 24.1 53.9 58.4 13.7 0.0 54.5 65.9 87.0 0.0 29.3 68 $95,179 28.6 57.0 40.8 48.1 10.2 24.4 73.1 58.9 27.6 0.0 61.5 59.1 87.0 0.0 49.1 69 $62,076 35.3 53.7 41.5 37.2 0.0 26.2 84.2 57.5 21.7 0.0 40.8 23.9 87.0 0.0 34.1 70 $77,292 57.6 57.0 42.3 60.8 0.0 26.4 89.2 58.9 41.4 4.1 22.1 69.4 87.0 0.0 52.8 3 Census tract 73 is only partially within city limits and includes some areas of housing. As such, CalEnviroScreen percentiles have been included here. Census tract 53.05 is also partially located within the City but only contains open space within City limits. As such, CalEnviroScreen percentiles have not been included here for this census tract.

Additionally, census tracts 75.07 and 75.14 are only partially within city limits and contains vacant land. CalEnviroScreen percentiles have been included here for these census tracts.

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CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-11
Census
Tract
Median
Household
Income
CES 4.0
Overall
Score Ozone PM2.5
Diesel
PM
Pesticide
Use
Toxic
Releases
Traffic
Impacts
Drinking
Water
Childrens’
Lead Risk
Cleanup
Sites
Groundwater
Threats
Hazardous
Waste
Facilities
Impaired
Water
Bodies
Solid
Waste
Sites
Pollution
Burden
Score
71 $60,104 51.1 59.7 41.1 81.7 0.0 26.0 86.7 59.8 33.6 0.0 22.1 40.1 87.0 52.9 59.0

72.01 $162,159 5.9 59.7 40.9 52.2 1.6 24.6 73.9 58.9 30.1 0.0 7.0 23.9 87.0 0.0 32.6

72.02 $150,844 10.8 59.7 41.3 35.1 0.0 25.6 65.8 60.4 10.7 0.0 10.6 53.5 87.0 0.0 29.0 73 $204,773 8.2 48.5 35.2 3.3 43.6 36.7 2.5 36.4 7.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 94.6 0.0 7.4

74.02 $138,201 16.6 63.6 42.4 14.1 16.6 28.2 61.3 5.2 3.3 32.2 31.5 59.1 98.1 52.9 36.8

75.08 $95,025 5.1 59.7 40.9 53.2 3.5 22.3 78.3 58.9 20.1 0.0 0.0 35.6 66.7 0.0 28.8

75.09 $129,132 10.8 62.7 41.1 4.6 0.0 23.6 46.0 59.9 10.3 0.0 0.0 26.7 98.1 0.0 15.6

75.1 $178,388 9.4 62.7 40.1 18.2 13.3 21.7 78.8 58.9 1.8 0.0 0.0 4.9 66.7 0.0 16.4 Table A.2 CalEnviroScreen 4.0, Population Characteristics Percentiles4 Census Tract Asthma
Low Birth
Weight
Cardiovascular
Disease Education
Linguistic
Isolation Poverty Unemployment
Housing
Burden
Population
Characteristics
Score

58.01 9.5 84.8 34.3 6.5 26.4 1.2 17.1 11.6 16.9

58.02 8.3 7.1 29.8 4.7 28.8 14.8 37.7 20.6 6.1

59.01 11.9 18.8 42.4 14.8 0.5 5.1 32.3 13.6 6.6

59.06 5.3 37.9 23.1 18.4 14.9 12.7 51.3 26.2 11.4

59.07 5.2 14.5 22.1 6.5 18.1 14.0 21.1 61.3 6.8

59.08 11.9 58.2 42.4 6.9 10.4 19.9 33.6 50.7 21.3

59.09 11.9 2.5 42.4 30.4 63.3 43.1 25.2 7.7 15.3

59.1 7.1 52.4 26.7 9.0 2.8 8.5 10.7 3.6 5.9

59.11 3.4 48.8 11.9 21.4 32.0 17.7 0.9 41.9 9.8
60 11.9 28.5 42.4 15.8 12.3 8.5 57.2 25.7 14.3
61 6.5 81.5 23.6 42.3 79.0 41.7 63.4 36.7 42.6
62 3.3 30.6 9.6 9.0 4.6 2.2 29.4 2.6 1.8

63.01 7.8 29.7 26.2 6.5 0.0 10.7 26.9 26.7 5.7
4 Census tracts 73 is only partially within city limits and includes some areas of housing. As such, CalEnviroScreen percentiles have been included here. Census tract 53.05 is also partially located within the City but only contains open space within City limits. As such, CalEnviroScreen percentiles have not been included here for this census tract.

Additionally, census tracts 75.07 and 75.14 are only partially within city limits and contains vacant land. CalEnviroScreen percentiles have been included here for these census tracts.

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CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-12
Census Tract Asthma
Low Birth
Weight
Cardiovascular
Disease Education
Linguistic
Isolation Poverty Unemployment
Housing
Burden
Population
Characteristics
Score

63.02 17.6 96.2 54.7 31.4 30.0 14.3 85.5 16.3 44.1
64 10.7 28.5 35.2 35.2 29.5 23.7 15.8 18.5 12.9
65 12.6 89.4 40.5 60.9 41.4 53.0 57.2 52.6 50.8
66 17.6 37.0 54.7 29.3 0.0 37.6 25.2 36.7 21.6
67 17.6 4.4 54.7 -999.0 21.4 14.3 18.3 22.1 10.1
68 14.2 18.4 46.2 34.4 -999.0 29.0 57.2 18.5 20.7
69 17.6 39.5 54.7 34.8 36.0 44.9 21.1 84.6 36.3
70 13.0 83.5 42.2 65.9 77.4 61.5 45.8 51.4 55.1
71 14.8 52.5 19.5 71.8 38.1 46.6 60.6 87.9 42.7

72.01 12.3 17.7 15.5 3.1 24.8 8.5 15.8 15.5 3.3

72.02 15.0 47.6 19.7 5.9 10.4 1.4 40.6 10.2 8.5
73 2.7 91.3 10.6 20.9 1.8 14.0 35.0 9.2 13.9

74.02 6.0 73.3 8.3 3.5 17.3 4.4 51.3 17.4 12.1

75.08 5.7 6.6 7.1 24.1 9.5 22.2 36.4 15.5 3.0

75.09 13.4 47.1 16.7 9.0 42.8 16.8 30.9 19.4 13.0

75.1 8.2 58.6 7.4 10.8 27.3 3.2 35.0 25.3 10.4
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CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-13
Definition of “Disadvantaged Communities”
An area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area that is a low-income area and is disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.

California Health and Safety Code Section 39711
(a) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall identify disadvantaged communities for investment opportunities related to this chapter. These communities shall be identified based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health, and environmental hazard criteria, and may include, but are not limited to, either of the following:
(1) Areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure, or environmental degradation.
(2) Areas with concentrations of people that are of low income, high unemployment, low levels of homeownership, high rent burden, sensitive populations, or low levels of educational attainment.
(b) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall hold at least one public workshop prior to the identification of disadvantaged communities pursuant to this section.
(c) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of the Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the identification of disadvantaged communities pursuant to this section.

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CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-14
Figure A.4 CalEnviroScreen Percentile Scores
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-15
Figure A.5 Income by Census Tracts
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-16

CURRENT HEALTH

CONDITIONS
Life Expectancy and Leading Causes of
Death
Residents living in the Thousand Oaks/Westlake area, identified by zip code 91361, have the highest life expectancy across Ventura County (88.7 years). Life expectancy drops slightly across other zip codes in Thousand Oaks: 91362 (84.4 years), 91320 (84.1 years), and 91360 (83 years).
5 Data on life expectancy by
race/ethnicity is not available at the City-level.

Based on data for Ventura County, life expectancy for the two largest population groups, Whites and Hispanics (any race), is

81.2 and 83.4 years respectively. The Asian population (93.5 years) lives nearly 15.4 years longer than Blacks (78.1 years), 12.3 years longer than Whites (81.2 years), and 10.1 years longer than Hispanics (any race) (Figure A.6). 6 Disparities in life expectancy underscore why improving community health is a critical longterm goal for the City.

Thousand Oaks’ leading causes of death are roughly like those in Ventura County (Table A.3). The top two causes – cancer and 5 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/ PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITAL_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf
heart disease – share some of the same risk factors, including poor diet and lack of physical activity.

Figure A.6 Life Expectancy in Ventura County
Source: Vital Records Business Intelligence System (deaths 2012-2014) and Nielsen Claritas population estimates (2013), analysis by Ventura County Public Health, February 2017. Retrieved from: Ventura County Community Health Assessment (2017)
Better access to nutritious foods and increased opportunities for physical activity could reduce Thousand Oaks residents’ vulnerability to these diseases. Poverty, low levels of education, and lack of access to health care also contribute to these causes of death.
6 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/ PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITAL_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf

93.5 81.2

83.4 78.1
70 75
80 85
90 95
Asian White Hispanic (Any
Race)
Black
Years
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CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-17
Table A.3 Leading Causes of Death
Source: California Department of Public Health (2014-2016); Ventura County 2040 General Plan (2018); California Leading Causes of Death – CDHP (2013) 7 Types of deaths considered included heart diseases, cancers, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD), unintentional injuries, pneumonia and influenza, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, intentional selfharm (suicide), hypertension and hypertensive renal disease, homicide, nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis, and chronic pulmonary disease. 8 Other causes of death include infections and parasitic diseases; endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (not including anemias and cholelithiasis); diseases of the nervous system (not Alzheimer's); other diseases of the blood, bloodforming organs, and certain immune disorders mechanism; and "other" causes of infant/child mortality.
9 Other causes of death are highest in zip code 91360 (216), compared to 91320 (121), 91361 (73), and 91362 (112).
10 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/ PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITAL_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf
Cancer
Cancer is the leading cause of death in the City and the County.

Within the County, the death rate due to cancer (140 per 100,000 persons) is slightly higher than the State (137.4 per 100,000 persons). Across the County, variations exist across gender, race and ethnicity. For instance, males are more likely to die from lung cancer than females, while females are more likely to die from lung cancer than breast cancer in Ventura County. 10
Hispanic/Latino residents in Ventura County have the highest average years of life lost per death to breast cancer (31.8) and all other types of cancer.11 Additionally, White (Non-Hispanic) females are twice as likely to die from breast cancer than Hispanic females. 12
Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer and causes a majority (90%) of lung cancer cases in the United States. 13 In
Ventura County, African American residents have the highest average years of life lost per death to lung cancer (28.5).14 Tobacco 11 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/ PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITAL_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf 12 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/ PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITAL_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf 13 American Lung Association. (2018). What Causes Lung Cancer. Retrieved from:
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lungcancer/learn-about-lung-cancer/what-is-lung-cancer/what-causes-lungcancer.html 14 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/ PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITAL_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf
Rank Thousand Oaks7 Ventura County California
1 Cancer Cancer Heart Disease
2 Heart Disease Heart Disease Cancer
3 Other8 9 Stroke Stroke
4 Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s
Disease
Chronic Lower
Respiratory
Disease
5 Stroke
Chronic Lower
Respiratory
Disease
Alzheimer’s
Disease
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CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-18
smoke contains various chemicals known to cause lung cancer.

Non-smokers are also susceptible to lung cancer with exposure to air pollutants, such as radon, secondhand smoke, diesel exhaust, air pollution, and asbestos.

Heart Conditions
Heart disease is a general term used to refer to a range of diseases that affect the heart. Some types of heart disease include diseases of the blood vessels (such as coronary artery disease); heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart conditions that people are born with (congenital heart defects). Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Thousand Oaks with 6.5 percent of adults over the age of 18 ever diagnosed with heart disease, compared to 5.6 percent in the County and 6.4 percent in the State. 15 According to Health Matters in Ventura County, the death rate due to coronary heart disease in Ventura County (2015-2017) was 82.3 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. A person’s genetics can predispose some individuals to the disease, but increasing age is the most powerful risk factor. The disease is most common among adults aged 65 and older, but the risk 15 California Department of Public Health (CDPH) (2016). California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).
16Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.) Causes and Risk Factors. Retrieved from:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/causes-and-riskfactors 17 Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.) Causes and Risk Factors. Retrieved from:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/causes-and-riskfactors doubles every five years beyond age 65. About one-third of adults 85 and older have Alzheimer’s disease.16 In Thousand Oaks, Alzheimer’s disease is the fourth leading cause of death.

Additionally, Latinos are about 1.5 times and African-Americans are about two times as likely to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias as older whites.17 While the factors contributing to the risk of onset differ from person to person, keeping the brain healthy can help avoid the disease. Routine exercise, nutritious diet, and enough sleep are important healthy habits. Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that cognitive stimulation and social engagement are also associated with brain and physical health.

Stroke
Stroke is a leading cause of death in the U.S. and third leading cause of death in Ventura County.18 A stroke is also a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease. In California, the prevalence of stroke among older adults is higher among men than women. While stroke frequency is similar among all levels of education and income, stroke is most common among multiracial and African American adults.19
A stroke can occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain, which can cause death or disability. The risk of stroke can be reduced through healthy 18 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/ PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITAL_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf 19 California Department of Public Health. 2019. Stroke. Chronic Disease Branch.

Retrieved from:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/CDCB/Pages/Stroke.aspx APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-19
lifestyles choices, such as eating a healthy diet, being active, limiting smoking and alcohol use, and maintaining a healthy weight. According to Health Matters in Ventura County, the percentage of adults in Thousand Oaks who had experienced a stroke (2.4) was slightly lower than the State (3.2).20 Health Status
How we plan and prioritize growth for the future can determine how healthy residents are in the long-run. Along with supporting the development of healthy and equitable communities,
Thousand Oaks must address direct measures of population health that impact quality of life. This section provides a general overview of the current health conditions related to weight status, levels of physical activity, diabetes, asthma, mental health and substance abuse, and heath care access in the City of Thousand Oaks.

Obesity + Overweight
Obesity is the most prevalent, chronic, and relapsing health disorder of the 21st century. It is a leading cause of the nation’s mortality, morbidity, disability, healthcare utilization, and healthcare costs and California has experienced a dramatic increase in obesity during the last few decades. In 1985, less than 20 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/
21 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/
10 percent of California’s population was obese; by 2010, over 20 percent of Californians were considered obese.

In Thousand Oaks, 21.9 percent of adults are obese, which is a lower than the County (27.5 percent). Adults should exercise at least 150 minutes per week; however, almost two-thirds of adults (64.1 percent) walk less than 150 minutes a week.21 Additionally, commute times in the City are slightly shorter for residents living in the City (26.2 minutes) compared to the County (26.6 minutes).22 However, only 4.1 percent of workers (16 years and older) commute to work by transit, walking, or cycling, which is slightly above 4.04 percent of workers in the County.23 Research shows that walking and bicycling to school or work, for daily errands, and for recreation include increased physical activity and stress reduction, and better respiratory fitness.

Fitness
Fifth-, seventh-, and ninth-grade students in California public schools are given the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) or FITNESSGRM.

It tests six fitness areas that link level of fitness to the prevention of diseases that come from inactivity. The six fitness areas are:
aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength,
endurance, and flexibility. Students that achieve all six fitness areas are considered “fit overall.” Students at Wildwood Elementary School (39.1 percent), Madrona Elementary School (36.2 percent), and EARTHS Magnet School (28.7 percent) have the highest percentage of 5th graders considered “fit overall.” On 22 American Community Survey. Selected Economic Characteristics (2013-2017) 23 Public Health Alliance of Southern California. (2018). Healthy Places Index.

Retrieved from: https://healthyplacesindex.org/
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the other hand, students at Glenwood Elementary School have no fifth graders considered “fit overall,” lower than 5th grade students across the Conejo Valley Unified School District (14.9 percent), as shown in Figure A.7. Three of the schools with the lowest percentage of fifth grade students considered “fit overall” are located in zip code 91360: Acacia, Aspen, and Glenwood Elementary Schools. Westlake Hills Elementary School, the fourth, is located in zip code 91362.

As shown in Figure A.8, seventh-grade students at Los Cerritos Middle School (49.2 percent) has the highest percentage of students considered “fit overall,” while Redwood Middle School has the lowest percentage of students (12.2 percent), followed by students at Sequoia Middle School. Redwood Middle School is in zip code 91360.

At the ninth-grade level, students at Newbury Park High School (57.3) have the highest percentage of ninth graders considered “fit overall.” As shown in Figure A.9, Thousand Oaks High School (46.5 percent) and Westlake High School (47.1 percent) have a lower percentage of ninth graders considered “fit overall” than across the Conejo Valley Unified School District (50.9 percent).

Data for Century Academy High School is not included in Figure A.9, as the collected data was too low to report as a percentage.

An important element of fitness is body composition, which is used to describe the percentage of fat, bone, water, and muscle in human bodies. Body composition impacts the exercise
performance and aerobic capacity of an individual – in other words, someone that has more body fat will likely perform more poorly than someone with less body fat. As a result, it’s important to not only assess overall fitness, but also body composition, one component of the FITNESSGRM.

Figure A.7 Fitness Overall, Fifth Grade Students
Source: California Department of Education (2018)

28.7 5.1 4.3

11.1 36.2

16.3 10.9

13.4 12.2
0 15.1

23.7 11.7

5.1 39.1

10.611.5

14.9 0
5 10
15 20
25 30
35 40
45 EARTHS Magnet SchoolAcacia ESAspen ESBanyan ESMadrona ESMaple ESWalnut ESConejo ESCypress ESGlenwood ESLadera Stars AcademyWeathersfield ESWestlake ESWestlake Hills ESWildwood ESLang Ranch ESSycamore Canyon MSConejo Valley USD 5th Graders
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-21
Figure A.8 Fitness Overall, Seventh Grade Students
Source: California Department of Education (2018)
Figure A.9 Fitness Overall, Ninth Grade Students
Source: California Department of Education (2018)
In assessing body composition, FITNESSGRM uses three different zones to determine fitness: Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ), Needs Improvement (NI) Zone, and Needs Improvement-Health Risk (NI-Health Risk Zone). Students in the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) are individuals who achieve a level of fitness that offers protection against diseases that result from sedentary living.

Students in the Needs Improvement (NI) Zone indicates a potential for possible health risk. Healthy habits, including regular physical activity and healthy diet can help mitigate, or even reverse this risk. Students in the Needs Improvement – Health Risk Zone indicates a likely potential for health problems and the recommendation for implementing healthy habits is more urgent.

In Thousand Oaks, Glenwood (43%), Conejo (40%), and Walnut (31%) Elementary Schools have the highest percentage of fifth graders at risk to health issues due to their body composition (Figure A.10). For comparison, 21 percent of 5th graders statewide and 23 percent countywide are at risk for health issues. At the seventh and ninth grade levels, a greater number of students are in the Healthy Fitness Zone across all schools and are generally at a lower risk compared to the County and the State, as shown in Figures A.11 and A.12. 47.1

57.3 46.5

50.9 0
10 20
30 40
50 60
70 Westlake HS Newbury Park HS Thousand Oaks HS Conejo Valley USD 9th Graders

12.2 22.7

49.2 17.9

34.1 26.4
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 Redwood
MS
Colina MS Los Cerritos
MS
Sequoia MS Sycamore
Canyon MS
Conejo
Valley USD
7th Graders
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-22
Figure A.10 Body Composition, Fifth Grade Students
Source: California Department of Education (2018)
Source: California Department of Education (2018)
76%
49%
71%
62%
68%
56%
55%
40%
78%
38%
66%
53%
48%
79%
83%
83%
58%
60%
12%
29%
16%
20%
15%
23%
15%
19%
14%
20%
15%
24%
42%
10%
11%
11%
19%
19%
13%
22%
13%
19%
17%
21%
31%
40%
8%
43%
19%
24%
11%
11%
6%
7%
23%
21%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
EARTHS Magnet School
Acacia ES
Aspen ES
Banyan ES
Madrona ES
Maple ES
Walnut ES
Conejo ES
Cypress ES
Glenwood ES
Ladera Stars Academy
Weathersfield ES
Westlake ES
Westlake Hills ES
Lang Ranch ES
Sycamore Canyon MS
County
State
Grade 5 Students in Healthy Fitness Zone Grade 5 Students in Needs Improvement Grade 5 Students in Needs Improvement - Health Risk
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-23
Figure A.11 Body Composition, Seventh Grade Students
Source: California Department of Education (2018)
73%
68%
69%
65%
79%
60%
61%
14%
16%
17%
19%
12%
19%
19%
13%
15%
14%
16%
9%
21%
20%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Redwood MS
Colina MS
Los Cerritos MS
Sequoia MS
Sycamore Canyon MS
County
State
Grade 7 Students in Healthy Fitness Zone Grade 7 Students in Needs Improvement Grade 7 Students in Needs Improvement - Health Risk
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-24
Figure A.12 Body Composition, Ninth Grade Students
Source: California Department of Education (2018)
80%
84%
75%
67%
63%
13%
11%
13%
17%
19%
8%
6%
12%
16%
18%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Westlake HS
Newbury Park HS
Thousand Oaks HS
County
State
Grade 9 Students in Healthy Fitness Zone
Grade 9 Students in Needs Improvement
Grade 9 Students in Needs Improvement - Health Risk
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-25
Diabetes
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Since the 1970s, the risk of developing diabetes has increased by over 50 percent for American adults. There are two types of diabetes: Type I is less prevalent and most often occurs during childhood or adolescence, Type II is the most common and preventable, affecting 90–95 percent of those with diabetes.

About 5.9 percent of Thousand Oaks adults over the age of 18 reported having been diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by a doctor, which is lower than the County rate (7.8 percent).24 In Ventura County, diabetes disproportionately impacts the Medicare population (26.4 percent) aged 65 and older.
25 As shown
in Figure A.13, emergency room visits due to diabetes in Thousand Oaks are consistently lower than in the County. However, variation in emergency room visits exists across zip codes. The highest emergency room visit rate is for residents living north of the Highway 101 and areas west of State Route 23 (zip code 91360).
24 California Department of Public Health (CDPH) (2012). California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Figure A.13 Age-Adjusted ER Rates due to Diabetes (Per 10,000) Source: California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (2015- 2017). Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org 25 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/

8.4 11.2

6.4 7.6

19.4 0
5 10
15 20
25 91320 91360 91361 91362 County
Emergency Room Visit Rate
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-26
Asthma
Diseases of the respiratory system are an important public health issue; in the U.S., 26 million people have asthma. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that includes inflammation and intermittent narrowing of the airways. Asthma can cause repeated episodes of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing.

Asthma attacks are triggered by several factors, including smog, dust, pollen, and smoke. Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be managed with appropriate treatment and medication. Based on data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the percentage of adults diagnosed with asthma is 16.7%, slightly higher than the Ventura County rate (15%). Asthma rates for children under the age of 18 (8.7%) in Thousand Oaks are lower than the State (14.6%).
26 As shown in Figure A.14, children are more than two times as likely to end up in the emergency room than adults across zip codes. Generally, higher rates of asthma-related emergency department visits indicate both asthma prevalence and possible lack of access to quality preventative care and management. 26 California Department of Public Health (CDPH) (2016). California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

Figure A.14 Age-Adjusted ER Rates due to Asthma (Per 10,000) Source: California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (2015- 2017). Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org

12.4 18.5
ND

18.9 29.6

5.3 6.7

4.4 6.4
13 0
5 10
15 20
25 30
35 91320 91360 91361 91362 County
Pediatric Adult
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-27
High Volume Roadways
Living near high volume roadways and freeways and industrial areas increases exposure to a mixture of air pollutants, including diesel and ozone from vehicle exhaust. Ozone is the main ingredient of smog and comes from trucks, cars, planes, trains, factories, farms, construction, and dry cleaners. Diesel PM comes from the exhaust of trucks, buses, trains, ships and other equipment with diesel engines.

Fine particulate matter can cause asthma attacks in children, in addition to impaired lung function, premature death and death from cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular morbidity.

Children, the elderly, people who live and work in industrial areas and near heavy truck or train traffic, and people with existing cardiovascular or lung diseases are most impacted by exposure to air pollutants. The California Environmental Protection Agency recommends sensitive uses maintain a minimum distance of 500 feet from high volume roadways, including freeways, urban roads with 100,000 vehicles/day, or rural roads with 50,000 vehicles a day.27 Figure A.15 illustrates this 500-foot buffer over the existing land use pattern in the City.

High levels of traffic density exist along State Route 23, Highway 101, and the industrial hub on the western side of the City. Sixty one percent of the population lives in census tracts with high (top 50%) traffic density (Figure A.16). Despite this, the City does not have high levels of diesel particulate matter concentration (Figure 27 Sensitive land uses include areas where vulnerable populations may most likely spend time, including schools and schoolyards, parks and playgrounds, daycare centers, nursing homes, hospitals, and residential communities.

A.17). As shown in Figure A.18, there are elevated levels of ozone concentration throughout the City, which may be due to daily traffic spread around the City.28 However, ozone concentration is below the EPA ground level ozone standard of 70 ppb, averaged over an 8-hour period.29
28 Diesel particulate matter and ozone concentration levels are assigned a percentile based on the Statewide distribution of values, per CalEnviroScreen 3.0 29 Ventura County Air Pollution Control District. 2015. Air Quality. Retrieved from:
http://www.vcapcd.org/air_quality.htm
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-28
Figure A.15 High Volume Roadways (500-foot buffer)
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
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Figure A.16 Traffic Density
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-30
Figure A.17 Diesel Particulate Matter Pollution
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-31
Figure A.18 Ozone Pollution
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-32
Mental Health + Substance Abuse
Mental illness encompasses various behavioral health problems, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and addiction to alcohol, illegal drugs (methamphetamine, heroin, hallucinogens, hazardous chemicals, etc.) or prescription drugs.

The U.S. Surgeon General identifies positive mental health with allowing “people to realize their full potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.30 Mental illness can affect persons of any age, race, ethnicity, or income, but it is generally treatable. In Thousand Oaks, 9.69 percent of adults identified that their mental health was not good during two or more weeks of the year, compared to 11.7 percent in Ventura County.31
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 47,000 deaths per year.32 In Ventura County, the suicide rate is slightly higher (10.8) than in the State of California (10.4), per 100,000 people. As shown in Figure A.19, youth (ages 10-17) emergency room visit rates due to suicide and intentional self-inflicted injury in Thousand Oaks, are on average, higher than those of adults (18 and older) across the City and the County.
30 Surgeon General. (n.d.). Mental and Emotional Well-being. Retrieved from:
https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/priorities/prevention/strategy/mental-andemotional-well-being.html Figure A.19 Age-Adjusted ER Rates due to Suicide & Intentional SelfInflicted Injury (Per 10,000) Source: California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (2015- 2017). Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org 31 Centers for Disease Control. (2016). 500 Cities Project: Local Data for Better Health. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/500Cities/ 32 National Institute of Mental Health. (2017). Suicide. Retrieved from:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml

24.6 46.4

25.1 33.3

39.2 11.6

21.1 14.5 13.3
18 0
10 20
30 40
50 91320 91360 91361 91362 County
Youth Adult
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-33
In 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 in the United States. 33 Among adults in the United States, the prevalence of serious suicidal thoughts is highest among two groups: adults aged 18-25 (10.5 percent) and adults reporting two or more races (8.9 percent). While suicide is confounding, it is preventable, given effective education, services, and support. Prevention for suicide should be focused on risk detection and reduction through a variety of means. The earlier treatment is sought, generally the better the outcome.

Mental illness and substance abuse are problems that severely compromise social and emotional health. A variety of health problems are associated with alcohol and drug abuse, including unintentional injuries, violence, birth defects, acute alcohol poisoning, stroke, heart disease, cancer, and liver disease.

In the period between 2012-2014, 358 drug-induced deaths occurred in Ventura County, 29 of which were residents younger than 25 years of age. Drug overdose caused individuals to lose an average of 46.5 years of life across Ventura County, followed by motor-vehicle crashes (45.2), firearm-related deaths (44.7), and suicide (42.1).34 It is also important to note that in the United States, of over 64,070 drug overdose deaths, 75% are from 33 National Institute of Mental Health. (2017). Suicide. Retrieved from:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml 34 Ventura County Public Health. (2017). Community Health Assessment. Retrieved from:
http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/content/sites/ventura/PH_CHA_Booklet_DIGITA L_4_2017-05-12_2.pdf
35 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Addressing the Challenges of the Opioid Crisis and Serious Mental Illness. Retrieved from:
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/ default/files/2018-cadca-flyer-final.pdf opioids.35 In Ventura County, the death rate due to prescription opioid overdose was 6.9% per 100,000 and has been on an upward trend over the last few years.
36 Access to Health Care
Affordability, proximity to facilities, and limited transportation options can pose significant barriers for the City’s population of older adults and residents currently living at or below the poverty line. As shown in Figure A.20, over a quarter of adults in Thousand Oaks and the County report difficulty accessing medical care they felt they needed.37 Additionally, 7.3 percent of adults in Thousand Oaks do not have health insurance.38 Across Ventura County, 13.4 percent of all people experienced a delay or difficulty in obtaining care, compared to 14.4 percent of people 18-24, 25.1 percent of people 25- 44, and 16 percent of people 45-64.39
The Los Robles Regional Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente are private hospitals that provide a range of medical services to residents of Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, and surrounding areas. The County also offers important medical and mental health services in the City. The Ventura County Health Care Agency operates the Ventura County Medical Center which provides a variety of services, 36 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/
37 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/
38 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/
39 Health Matters in Ventura County. (2017). Ventura County Public Health.

Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org/
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-34
including: mental health, pediatric care, dental care, immunizations, HIV/AIDS programs, and other community services. Additionally, the Conejo Free Clinic offers primary care, mental health care, and legal services. No portion of the City of Thousand Oaks is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area40 for primary care, mental health, or dental health.

A community’s ability to access comprehensive, quality health care services is vital to promoting health, preventing disease, and improving overall quality of life. Access to health care professionals is a critical need for low-income individuals and families, particularly the elderly, uninsured, those with chronic conditions and disabilities, and pregnant women.41 Language can also be a significant barrier to health care access. These barriers can be amplified for community members that lack access to high-quality public transportation. The General Plan can propose strategies to increase access to medical services that promote the health of all City residents.
40 A Health Professional Shortage Area is a Federal designation given to areas that demonstrate a shortage of healthcare professionals, including primary care, dentists, and mental health providers, within certain geographic areas, population groups, or facilities.

Figure A.20 Adults Delayed or Had Difficulty Obtaining Care Source: California Health Interview Survey (2013-2014). Source: California Health Interview Survey (2013-2014). Retrieved from: http://www.healthmattersinvc.org 41 Paradise, Julia. (2017). Data Note: Three Findings about Access to Care and Health Outcomes in Medicaid. Retrieved from: https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issuebrief/data-note-three-findings-about-access-to-care-and-health-outcomes-inmedicaid/

29.1 28.7
ND

27.2 26.7
0 5
10 15
20 25
30 35
40 91320 91360 91361 91362 County
Adults
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-35
Built Environment and Health
The built environment consists of a community’s streets, homes, parks, and other spaces residents, workers, and visitors use. The physical design of all these components affect a community’s health, and, chronic disease, life expectancy, and quality of life.

Also, differences in neighborhood conditions that contribute to health, such as pollution or park access, are often highly correlated with race and/or income. Other chapters in the existing conditions report provide additional information.

Exposure to Lead
In 1978, the United States government banned the manufacture and consumer use of lead-based paint. Lead is commonly found in paint, gasoline, and water pipes. Lead poisoning is preventable but can easily go unnoticed. Early signs of lead poisoning can include low IQ, hyperactivity, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and behavioral problems in children. The U.S. EPA estimates that more than 80 percent of homes built before 1978 contain leadbased paint. In addition, in homes built before 1950, the risk of lead exposure is greater due to paint that may contain even higher concentrations of lead.

In Thousand Oaks, approximately 57.6 percent of the City’s housing stock was built before 1980 and 42.4 percent was built after 1980. As shown in Figure A.21, older residential homes are concentrated east and west of North Moorpark Road, east of State Route 23, south of South Westlake Boulevard, and in an area north of Borchard Road and east of North Reino Road.

Exposure to Pesticides
Various environmental concerns also negatively impact the health of residents. Pollution from agricultural fertilizers and pesticides are primary sources of air, ground, and water contamination in Thousand Oaks. While contaminants can be naturally occurring or manmade, these can impact both the environment and human health. Pesticides, for instance, are used to prevent and control pests, weeds, and other plan pathogens.

Exposure to pesticides can happen by touching treated surfaces (skin contact), eating or drinking contaminated food or water (ingestion), or by breathing it in (inhalation).

A single or short-term high-level exposure can result in poisoning or illness. Children and pregnant women are at greater risk from the health effects of pesticide exposure. Similarly, chronic, or long-term exposure, can result in serious illness, including some types of cancers, pregnancy issues, abnormal births, and poor brain development. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, and allergies to chemical burns on the skin, unconsciousness, and death.

In Thousand Oaks, elevated levels of pesticide use include 1,3- Dichloropropene, Chloropicrin, and Chlorpyrifos in census tracts 61 and 62, as noted in Table A.1. In addition to these three pesticides, elevated levels of Chlorothalonil and Acephate are found in the vicinity of Wildwood Park (census tract 63.01). These pesticides are associated with industrial manufacturing, agricultural run-off, and wastewater discharge.

APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-36
Figure A.21 Percentage of Homes Built Before 1980
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-37
Healthy Homes
One component of the built environment includes residential homes. These structures can impact a person’s health due to various physical and environmental factors, such as secondhand smoke, radon, fire hazards, fall hazards, allergens, lead, pesticides, moisture, volatile organic compounds, and drinking water. These factors can lead to various health impacts like asthma attacks, low IQ, difficulty sleeping, behavioral problems, and death.

Additionally, low-income residents that live in substandard housing conditions can experience increased risk to an asthma attack. For instance, common indoor triggers for asthma include secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, cockroaches and other pests, and household pets.

Housing Burden
Housing burden or housing “cost-burdened” is defined as households that pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Severely cost-burdened is identified as households paying 50 percent or more of their income on housing. For many families, housing is the single largest expense for households and the number of households paying more than 50 percent of their income on housing is on the rise. Housing burden impacts the ability of households to pay for basic needs, including food, 42 U.S. Census Bureau; 2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25095; using Explore Census Data, https://data.census.gov/cedsci/>; (12 February 2020).
transportation, and medical care, particularly low-income households.

In Thousand Oaks, 52 percent of homeowner households face a housing cost-burden, compared to 55 percent in the County.42 For renters, over half (52 percent) of Thousand Oaks households face a housing cost-burden, compared to 55 percent in the County.43 As shown in Figure A.22, cost-burdened populations are largely concentrated north of Lynn Road, along the 101, in areas east of North Lynn Road and west of North Moorpark Road, along a stretch west of Erbes Road south and east of State Route 23, a pocket west of State Route 23 and east of North Moorpark Road, and a large swath along the eastern boundary of the City.

In Thousand Oaks, there is also a concentration of renters and homeowners who experience severe housing cost burden, paying more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Nearly 11.6 percent of low-income homeowner households face severe
housing cost-burden, compared to 24 percent of low-income renter households. The high cost of housing impacts overall cost of living and magnifies income disparities, forcing individuals to spend less on food, medical care, childcare, and other necessities.

In Thousand Oaks, low-income and households of color who face significant housing cost-burdens are forced to choose between other important expenses, including health care, savings, and long-term investments. Addressing the severe housing burden can help mitigate other housing-related problems, including 43 U.S. Census Bureau; 2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B25070; using Explore Census Data, https://data.census.gov/cedsci/>; (12 February 2020).

APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-38
limited access to a variety of housing options and adverse health effects.

Homelessness
A close connection exists between rising housing costs and homelessness. In 2019, the Ventura County Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey reported a total homeless population of 103 in the City, including sheltered (22) and unsheltered (81) persons;

37.5 percent of whom identified as experiencing chronic homelessness; and 72.9 percent who identified as male.

Food Access + Security
Healthy communities provide access to affordable and healthy food at grocery stores, produce markets, community gardens, and farmers’ markets. “Food access” is defined as physical access to a food store (e.g., supermarket, large grocery store, etc.).

While there are various food stores in Thousand Oaks, food access disparities exist in some areas of the City. As shown in Figure A.23, food access is most limited in northern areas of the City, east and west of State Route 23. The map shows the percentage of population (by census tracts) living more than 1 mile from a supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store.

Residents of communities with access to a full-service grocery store tend to eat more fruits and vegetables, have lower body weights, and lower rates of chronic diseases. Local food production can also reduce the distance food is shipped, lowering the environmental footprint of food production and distribution. “Food security” is defined as having access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all people at all times. Food insecurity can lead to undernourishment and malnutrition, which coincide with fatigue, stunted child development, and other health issues.

In Thousand Oaks, households that lack “food security” are eligible for supplemental assistance from government programs, such as the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women Infants and Children (WIC) program; the State CalFresh program, based on food stamps assistance; and local emergency programs, including the Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank. For seniors, the City also offers a Meals on Wheels Program. For youth (18 and under), the City and Conejo Valley Unified School District offers a free summer lunch program that includes healthy, nutritious, and tasty food.

In Ventura County, 7.6 percent of the population experiences food insecurity at some point during the year, a rate (15.4 percent) which doubles for children (under 18 years of age). In Thousand Oaks, only 3.3 percent of households receive food stamps/SNAP benefits. The majority of these households (65.4 percent) do not include anyone over the age of 60.

APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-39
Figure A.22 Percent of Cost-Burdened Households
APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-40
Figure A.23 Percentage of Population with Low Food Access APPENDIX A: PUBLIC HEALTH + EQUITY EXISTING CONDITIONS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |A-41
Crime + Public Safety
A variety of factors can impact community safety, including aggression and violence, underemployment, and lack of youth and family activities.

The perception of crime can also impact individual health, businesses, and social cohesion. Real and perceived crime can have health, social, and behavioral implications for victims and their families, resulting in negative impacts on the neighborhood and community.

Community safety has improved in recent years for Thousand Oaks residents. The number of property crimes in the City has generally decreased over the last ten years, as shown in Figure A.24. 44 Violent
crimes in the City, on the other hand, have been on an upward trend, particularly in the last five years, as shown in Figure A.25. It is common for city-level crime rates to fluctuate – these may be impacted by the local economy, policing, and social discord.
44 “Cleared offenses” refer to when an arrest and charge are made.

Figure A.24 Property Crime
Figure A.25 Violent Crime
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (2007-2017)
1942
1769 1793
2036
1788 1838
1604 1599 1577 1686 1687
327 296 319 340 285 277 266 289 267 232 302
0 500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Reported Cleared
146 148
163
139 137
157
139 128 136
164 172
82 62
74 57 65 61
80 70
92 79 79
0 50
100
150
200
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Reported Cleared
Appendix B
Emergency Evacuation
Analysis
APPENDIX B: EMERGENCY EVACUATION ANALYSIS
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE |B-1

INTRODUCTION
This supplemental evacuation analysis was prepared in support of the Thousand Oaks General Plan Update. This study is intended to provide Thousand Oaks (the City) with a broad planning level assessment of the capacity of the transportation system during a citywide evacuation event. It identifies residential developments with a single entrance and exit road, and evaluates the potential consequences of large evacuation events on the roadway system under various hazard scenarios in compliance with the following two statutes:

Senate Bill 99 (SB 99) requires that the Safety Element of the General Plan identify any residential developments in any hazard area that does not have at least two evacuation routes. This is a requirement for all safety element updates included upon the revision of the housing element on or after January 1, 2020.

Assembly Bill 747 (AB 747) requires that the Safety Element be reviewed and updated to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios. This will be a requirement for all safety elements or updates to a hazard mitigation plan completed after January of 2022. Since this requirement has recently gone into effect, there is no established standard methodology.

These scenarios are intended to model a potential range of different evacuation scenarios, but not all possible scenarios.

Emergency evacuations can occur due to any number of events 1 2019 California Fire Code, Title 24, Part 9 with July 2021 Supplement. Accessed at:
https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/CFC2019P4/appendix-d-fire-apparatus-accessroads and at any location, beyond those specifically identified in this report. In addition, emergency movement is unpredictable and the specific conditions of an emergency evacuation could result in evacuation behavior that diverges from the assumptions used in this analysis. This analysis serves only to represent informed estimates of likely potential evacuation scenario footprints and capacity constraints based on available data and does not guarantee that evacuations will follow modeling that is used for analysis purposes. Emergency evacuation assessment is an emerging field and, as noted above, there is no established standard methodology. The methodology utilized in this
evaluation is based upon best practices and the professional experience and knowledge of Rincon staff. Rincon is not responsible for any damage to life or property that might occur following the City’s emergency evacuation management
techniques based on the results of the evacuation analyses herein, and any accompanying recommendations.

SB 99 Analysis – Single Entrance/Exit
Neighborhoods
Per SB 99, the Safety Element of the General Plan is required to identify neighborhoods in any hazard area that does not have at least two evacuation routes. For this analysis, a neighborhood is defined as 30 or more dwelling units that only have a single route to access a collector or arterial road based on California Fire Code Appendix D107.1
We have identified 33 neighborhoods in the city
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that have a single entry or exit point. See Figure B.1. About half of the neighborhoods are located in the western portion of the city, predominately in the Newbury Park area and along Lynn Road, with the other half of the neighborhoods located in the eastern portion of the city, near Sunset Hills Country Club and areas along Thousand Oaks Boulevard on the eastern side of State Route 23 (SR 23). In the case of an evacuation event, these single entry/exit neighborhoods would likely utilize north/southbound Highway 101 and/or SR 23 to evacuate, depending on the location of the evacuation area. Some neighborhoods could also use alternative evacuation routes, such as Potrero Road and Kanan Road, depending on the severity of traffic congestion on traditional evacuation routes and/or the location of the evacuation area.

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Figure B.1 Single Entry/Exit Neighborhoods
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AB 747 Analysis – Evacuation
Scenarios
In accordance with AB 747, the following analysis and results outline the potential outcomes of a variety of hazard events requiring emergency evacuation.

EVACUATION ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY
In accordance with AB 747, a range of potential hazard scenarios has been presented in this evacuation analysis. Hazard scenarios were selected through a review of past hazard assessments, and by considering the potential likelihood, magnitude, and spatial extent of various hazards. With nearly all of Thousand Oaks in CAL FIRE’s Very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VFHSZ), and recent wildfires in Thousand Oaks and Ventura County, hazard scenarios included in this analysis evaluate the potential evacuation effects of three varied wildfire scenarios in addition to a baseline scenario:
1) Baseline – Typical traffic volumes within Thousand Oaks on Monday at 5:00 PM.
2) Wildfire approaching the city from the north, resulting in immediate evacuation southbound on SR 23 towards
north/southbound Highway 101.
3) Wildfire approaching the city from the southeast,
resulting in immediate evacuation northbound on
Highway 101 and/or northbound on SR 23.
4) Wildfire approaching the city from the southwest,
resulting in immediate evacuation southbound on
Highway 101 and/or northbound on SR 23.

Data Sources and Data Processing
Transportation Network
The transportation network was created using ESRI’s StreetMap Premium . StreetMap Premium is a comprehensive dataset that provides enriched network data based on commercial street reference data from leading global and local street data suppliers:

HERE and GeoTechnologies, Inc. The dataset includes detailed basemap data and a network dataset for routing, both of which were used in the evacuation analyses. This dataset is well-suited for emergency evacuation analysis because it includes a comprehensive network of roads, baseline traffic data, and is regularly updated to ensure that it remains accurate and current.

Further, the network data models the movements of automobiles by obeying one-way roads, speed limits, avoiding illegal turns, and other rules specific to automobiles, and finds solutions that optimize travel time.

Population Modeling
The population of Thousand Oaks was modeled using ESRI’s Enrich Layer Tool. The Enrich Layer Tool appends demographic and landscape variables to any input polygon feature class for further analysis, modeling, and reporting. The input polygon layer used for Thousand Oaks was a tessellation of hexagons ¼ mile in diameter that covered the entire city. The Enrich Layer Tool was then used to add daytime population data to the hexagonal tessellation. Daytime population data was taken from APPENDIX B: EMERGENCY EVACUATION ANALYSIS
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ESRI’s daytime population data estimates, which are generated using a mix of inputs from ESRI's U.S. Updated Demographics, the decennial census, the American Community Survey (ACS), and business data from Data Axle, a full-service data provider. ESRI’s daytime population is an estimate of the population that includes residents and workers in the city on weekdays during standard workday hours, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Daytime
population was used to best represent the number of individuals in the city at the time of an evacuation scenario, which was 152,397 in each scenario.

After the values of daytime population were assigned to the hexagon tessellation, The City’s 2045 General Plan Land Use Update (GPLU) data was used to concentrate the daytime
population into places where the population would typically exist.

Residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional land uses were selected from the GPLU data. The hexagonal tessellations with the daytime population data were clipped to areas with the previously listed land uses. The total daytime population value from the tessellation was generated into randomly placed points within the selected land use areas for each hexagon. The daytime population points that intersect the evacuation area represent the individuals that are evacuating, and where they start their evacuation from. These points served as evacuation origin points, which change based on the evacuation area used for each scenario.

Evacuation Modeling
Evacuation routes and traffic volumes during an emergency evacuation event were modeled using ArcGIS’s Closest Facility tool included in the Network Analyst extension. The Closest Facility tool enables finding the closest facility (e.g., hospital, fire station, or gas station) to a given location or set of locations. The Closest Facility tool can also be customized to include other factors that affect travel time, such as speed limits and road closures. For this evacuation analysis, the “facilities” analyzed were points outside of Thousand Oaks city boundaries located on roads along expected evacuation routes, Highway 101 and SR 23.

After distributing the daytime population throughout the city, the evacuation model was run to simulate the level of traffic volumes on roads and major highways during each hazard scenario assuming simultaneous departure of all populations from the evacuation area to the nearest evacuation points within the transportation network.

To depict the level of traffic volumes, average daily traffic (ADT) was assigned to arterial streets and highways within the city. ADT for the streets was provided by the City from their General Plan Traffic Analysis. In a few instances, some roads used in the model did not have ADT values. If a road did not have an ADT value, a value was estimated based on ADT of intersecting roads with ADT values. The number of evacuation routes that traveled along a particular road—moving from the evacuation origin to the nearest evacuation point outside the City Limits—was combined with baseline ADT to depict total traffic volume during an evacuation. For example, SR 23 has an ADT level between 60,001 and 120,000 during the baseline scenario. In the southeastern fire evacuation scenario, additional evacuation routes utilizing SR 23 pushed the SR 23 ADT level to greater than 120,000.

Assumptions and Limitations
The results of this analysis are intended to show roads that could experience increased traffic volumes during an emergency evacuation event. This model assumes that the daytime
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population within the evacuation area is going to exit Thousand Oaks city limits at the nearest evacuation point during typical traffic conditions, Monday at 5:00 PM. It is assumed that the locations of the exit points for each scenario change depending on the original direction of the fire, and it is not possible to exit the city where the evacuation area meets the City Limits. While the daytime population was concentrated in residential and
industrial/commercial land uses from GPLU data, some
individuals may be located in different land use areas.

Evacuation Assessment Results
Baseline
The baseline scenario evaluates typical traffic volumes in the city at 5:00 PM on a Monday. Baseline traffic data, depicted as ADT, was derived from the City’s General Plan Traffic Analysis and is used as the basis of comparison for each modeled evacuation scenario. As shown in Figure B.2, the largest traffic volumes, greater than 120,000 ADT, occur along north- and southbound Highway 101. Traffic volumes at levels between 60,001 and 120,000 ADT can be found along SR 23. Smaller traffic volumes below 30,000 ADT—aside from some instances at Highway 101 onramps/offramps —can be found throughout the rest of the city.

All expected evacuation routes, Highway 101 and SR 23, are available to individuals for evacuation, with most onramps for each evacuation route showing traffic volumes of less than 30,000 ADT.

Fire from Southeast
This scenario assumes a wildfire southeast of the city. This scenario assumes that exiting the city to the east and southeast using Kanan Road, Westlake Boulevard, Thousand Oaks
Boulevard, and southbound Route 101 would not be viable.

Consequently, evacuation would need to occur northbound on Highway 101 and northbound on SR 23. Figure B.3 shows the extent of the proposed southeast wildfire evacuation area and expected increased traffic volumes resulting from simultaneous departure throughout various points from the evacuation area.

The largest traffic volumes, where traffic levels are expected to be greater than 120,000 ADT, occur along nearly all of northbound Highway 101 and northbound SR 23 as individuals evacuate away from the fire area. Traffic volumes between 30,000 and 60,001 ADT are expected at northbound 101 onramps Westlake
Boulevard, Hampshire Road, Moorpark Road, and Lynn Road, as individuals use these connector roads to reach Highway 101 and vacate away from the evacuation area. With few exceptions, it is likely that the northern half of the city would utilize SR 23 to evacuate, and the southern half of the city would utilize Highway 101 to evacuate, because both offer the largest evacuee capacity and are the closest options for their respective (i.e., northern or southern) populations. Consequently, northbound SR 23 onramps Sunset Hills Boulevard and Janss Road, both depicting traffic volumes between 15,001 and 30,000 ADT, and the previously mentioned northbound Highway 101 onramps, would be critical to maintain in this scenario, as these are expected to experience increased traffic volumes. Evacuation responders could consider activating evacuation traffic management at these onramps and contra-flow lane reversal on northbound Highway 101 and northbound SR 23 to allow both lanes to be used for evacuation.

Alongside the roads listed above, other roads to consider monitoring in this scenario include Kanan Road, Thousand Oaks Boulevard, and Erbes Road as increased traffic volumes are expected on these connector roads as individuals vacate northbound onto Highway 101 and SR 23.

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Figure B.2 Baseline Traffic Conditions
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Figure B.3 Fire from the Southeast Evacuation Results
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Fire from the Southwest
This scenario assumes a wildfire southwest of the city. This scenario assumes that exiting the city to the west and southwest using northbound Highway 101 and Potrero Road are not viable.

Figure B.4 shows the extent of the proposed southwest wildfire evacuation area and expected increased traffic volumes resulting from simultaneous departure throughout various points from the evacuation area. The largest traffic volumes, where traffic levels are expected to be greater than 120,000 ADT, occur along all of southbound Highway 101. Traffic volumes between 60,001 and 120,000 ADT can be expected along northbound SR 23 as some individuals in the northern part of the city vacate using northbound SR 23. Roads and their associated highway onramps exhibiting between 30,001 and 60,000 ADT include Borchard Road, Lynn Road, Ventu Park Road, Olsen Road, Moorpark Road, and Westlake Boulevard. The critical areas to maintain in this scenario would include previously listed connector roads/highway onramps in the fire evacuation area to ensure evacuees coming from the westernmost portion of the city can quickly and safely access the major evacuation routes. Similar to the previous scenario, evacuation responders could consider activating evacuation traffic management at these highway onramps/connector roads and contra-flow lane reversal on southbound Highway 101 to allow both lanes to be used for evacuation if necessary.

Fire from the North
This scenario assumes a wildfire north of the city. This scenario assumes that exiting the city on northbound SR 23 is not viable.

Figure B.5 shows the extent of the proposed north wildfire evacuation area and expected increased traffic volumes resulting from simultaneous departure throughout various points from the evacuation area. The largest traffic volumes, where traffic levels are expected to be greater than 120,000 ADT, occur along Highway 101 as individuals evacuate north- and southbound away from the fire evacuation area. Traffic volumes between 60,001 and 120,000 ADT can be expected along southbound SR 23 as individuals proceed towards Highway 101. Increased traffic volumes, exhibiting ADT levels between 15,001-30,000 ADT, can be found on portions of Erbes Road, Janss Road, and E. Avenida de Los Arboles, Olsen Road, and Moorpark Road. The critical areas to maintain in this scenario would include the southbound SR 23 onramps within the fire evacuation zone, southbound SR 23 as it merges with Highway 101, and previously listed connector roads as they feed individuals onto SR 23 or directly onto Highway 101. Like the previous scenarios, evacuation responders could consider activating evacuation traffic management at these onramps and contra-flow lane reversal on southbound SR 23 to allow both lanes to be used for evacuation if necessary.

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Figure B.4 Fire from the Southwest Evacuation Results
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Figure B.5 Fire from the North Evacuation Results
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Evacuation Strategies
The following lists evacuation strategies that city may consider to improve future evacuation events. Ventura County conducted The Hill & Woolsey Fires Emergency Response After-Action Review2 in January 2020, which also details the County’s recommended solutions to challenges that occurred during those events.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
• Reverse one or more lanes of a highway (SR 23 or Highway 101) to accommodate an increased flow of traffic in one direction.
• Redirect all lanes of a designated evacuation route to accommodate rapid evacuation from a city or region.
• Temporarily close inbound travel lanes on selected
unlimited access arterials (such as parkways and
boulevards) to allow outbound traffic to utilize these lanes during evacuation.
• Close inbound lanes on highways (SR 23 or Highway 101) utilized for evacuation routes to prevent drivers on these routes from entering the city while evacuation is
underway.
• Minimize left-turn movements along evacuation routes
and on roads leading to evacuation routes.
• Signage: Use variable message board equipment and
targeted installation of permanent dynamic message
2 http://vcportal.ventura.org/BOS/District2/Hill_Woolsey_Fires_Emergency_Respons e_After_Action_Review_01.21.2020.PDF
signs on evacuation routes to improve communication
and reduce public confusion.
• Consider how to stage tow trucks at key bottleneck
locations along evacuation routes to help detect and clear minor crashes and maintain traffic flow.
• Increase the green time and/or progression band for
through movements leading out of an evacuation zone.
• Install signal battery backups in case signal operations need to be maintained during a power outage. Consider
using channeling devices, static signs, and coning
strategies to manage intersection flow during power
outage if the signals lack power.
• Identify and communicate with communities that have at least two access points. Prioritize adding additional access to communities which are currently served by only one or two access points.
• Develop transportation solutions such as the use of a bus system for evacuating individuals with special needs
(such as those with mobility limitations).
• Establish traffic control points (i.e., locations along designated evacuation routes with emergency
management personnel) to maintain a greater degree of
evacuation management. These locations could enhance
the efficiency of an evacuation, reduce public confusion, and allow increased operational flexibility during an
evacuation.

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COMMUNICATIONS
• Strengthen and maintain communication among
coordinating emergency event agencies. This could be
achieved through systems such as the Public Information Emergency System and Emergency Satellite
Communications.
• Implement a traffic control center to coordinate all
evacuation activities. This center would have up to the minute reports on traffic patterns and can communicate
directly with the broadcast media to let drivers know
about roadway congestion and conditions and direct them to alternate routes.
• Install counters and/or CCTV cameras to assess traffic flow, volume of vehicles evacuating, and monitor
incidents.
• Develop communication plan to provide information
regarding primary and secondary evacuation routes and
incidents to the public.