TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Kelvin Parker, Community Development Director
DATE:April 14, 2026
SUBJECT: Mixed-Use Development Amendment (SP-2025-70003, DAGR- 2025-70005, DP-2025-70019); Applicant: Latigo Hillcrest LLC RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt resolution Denying Development Agreement Amendment (DAGR-2025- 70005), Specific Plan Amendment (SP-2025-70003), and Development Permit Major Modification (DP-2025-70019) applications, seeking amendments to Development Agreement (2022-70777-DAGR) and Specific Plan No. 24 (SP-24) (2022-70778-SP), as well as a major modification of Development Permit (2022- 70773-DP).
2. Find that denying the amendment to the Development Agreement, amendment to the Specific Plan, and major modification of the development permit is not a project subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(4) and 15270 which states CEQA does not apply to projects which a public agency rejects or disapproves and allows for an initial screening of projects on the merits for quick disapprovals prior to the initiation of the CEQA process where the agency can determine that the project cannot be approved.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: Yes
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Costs are limited to staff time to prepare this report and are offset by applicant application fees.
BACKGROUND:
On June 5, 2023, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the original 2023 project, as conditioned, to change the General Plan Land Use Element designation of Commercial to Commercial/Residential and the zoning designation of Community Shopping Center (C-3) to Specific Plan-24 (SP-24) as well as allow the demolition of an existing two-story commercial structure and construction of
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two new podium four-story buildings encompassing 629,437 total square feet of mixed-use building area that includes 333 multi-family residential units (including 30 very low-income affordable units and three moderate income affordable units), approximately 5,300 square feet of commercial space, surface and subterranean parking providing a total of 581 parking spaces, landscape, hardscape, and grading as well as the removal of 17 coast live oak trees and encroachment into the protected zone of eight coast live oak trees.
On June 20 and July 11, 2023, City Council considered and subsequently approved the original 2023 project, as conditioned, including:
General Plan Land Use Element Amendment (2021-70169-LU): To amend the General Plan Land Use Element designation of Commercial to Commercial /Residential (Resolution No. 2023-043).
Zone Change (2022-70776-Z): To change the zoning designation of Community Shopping Center (C-3) to SP-24 (Ordinance No. 1716-NS). Specific Plan (2022-70778-SP): To adopt SP-24 to establish specific development standards for the subject development areas [Ordinance No. 1716-NS].
Development Agreement (2022-70777-DAGR): To create a binding contract that vests the rights of the applicant to a specific project, set forth the time period to construct the project, and specify public and private benefits and responsibilities related to the project. Note that Resolution No. 2023-043 and Resolution No. 2023-044 included, per standard procedure, Conditions of Approval, which were incorporated into the final recorded Development Agreement and Specific Plan as exhibits and appendices, respectively. The plan set provided at the 2023 public hearings was also included as an exhibit to 2022-70777-DAGR and is referred to as the “entitlement plan set” (Ordinance No. 1717-NS).
Development Permit (2022-70773-DP): To allow the construction of a four- story mixed-use development encompassing 629,437 gross square feet (sf) of building area, that would contain 333 multi-family residential units (including 30 very low-income affordable units and three moderate-income affordable units), common areas and amenities, 5,300 gross square feet of commercial retail and restaurant space above semi-subterranean parking structures containing a total of 462 structured parking spaces, and surface parking areas with a total of 119 parking spaces (581 total parking spaces) (Resolution No. 2023-043).
Special Use Permit (2022-70779-SUP): To allow a California Department Mixed-Use Development Amendments
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of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Type 47 License (On-sale General – Eating Place) to accommodate a potential future commercial use (Resolution No. 2023-044).
Protected Tree Permit (2022-70780-PTP): To allow removal of 17 coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees, as well as the encroachment into the protected zone of eight coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees (Resolution No. 2023-043).
Environmental Impact Report (2022-70774-EIR): To certify the Final Environmental Impact Report in accordance with CEQA.
On July 18, 2023, ordinances to adopt the related Zoning Change (Z) 2022-70776- Z, Specific Plan (SP) 2022-70778-SP, and Development Agreement (DAGR) 2022-70777-DAGR, were adopted following second reading.
On September 27, 2024, building permit applications were submitted for Buildings A and B, commencing Community Development Department, Public Works Department, and outside agency review.
On June 16, 2025, demolition of the previously existing office space commenced.
Site preparation and foundation installation are currently underway.
On December 17, 2025, the applicant submitted complete applications to process the requested major design revisions (Development Permit Major Modification, Development Agreement Amendment, and Specific Plan Amendment).
On February 23, 2026, the Planning Commission considered the subject requests at a regularly scheduled public hearing and provided its recommendation to City Council.
On March 10, 2026, City Council considered the subject requests at a regularly scheduled public hearing and, following deliberation, unanimously declined the applicant’s request to make changes to Development Agreement 2022-70777- DAGR, SP-24, and Development Permit 2022-70773-DP.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Applicant requests amendments to Specific Plan No. 24 (SP-24) and Development Agreement (2022-70777-DAGR), as well as the Major Modification of Development Permit (2022-70773-DP) originally approved by City Council on July 18, 2023, that would accommodate ten major modifications to the project design, as approved, including:
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A. Removal of approved trellises and non-compliance with the requirement to provide additional trellises.
B. Installation of external downspouts rather than internalizing those downspouts visible from prominent corners, Hillcrest Drive, or Rancho Conejo Boulevard, as required by Condition of Approval.
C. Provide painted metal doors rather than the French glass doors shown on the entitlement plan set, as recommended for approval by Planning Commission.
D. Substitute painted accent headers in a complementary color in place of the previously specified wood-look trim headers.
E. Reduce the total amount of transparency on the commercial storefront façade of Building A.
F. Substitute wood-framed trim for the residential window awnings at certain locations on the fourth floor.
G. Reduce the number of third-floor awnings from the number required by Condition of Approval, as recommended for approval by Planning Commission.
H. Remove vertical wood-look slats cladding from prominent elevator tower façades.
I. Provide additional brick veneer on Building B Sub-Buildings B1 and B2 only.
J. Provide vinyl-framed windows exclusively, rather than the non-vinyl windows required by Resolution No. 2023-043 and SP-24, as recommended for approval by Planning Commission.
Conclusion
The resolution (Attachment #1) is provided to formalize the motion made during the meeting held on March 10, 2026, stating that City Council has determined that the requested modifications would degrade the quality of the proposed project, and is therefore denying the requests to amend the existing development agreement, specific plan, and development permit.
LEVINE ACT (California Government Code § 84308):
This item is subject to the Levine Act. City Councilmembers who have received a Mixed-Use Development Amendments
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campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) within the preceding 12 months from a party or their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; or if applicable (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $500 within 30 days from the time the official knew or should have known about the contribution, and participate in the proceeding.
All parties and their agents/representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any aggregated contribution of more than $500 made to any Councilmember within the preceding 12 months. Councilmembers are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) from a party, their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. In addition, a party, their agent/representative, or a financially- interested participant is prohibited from contributing more than $500 (aggregated) to a Councilmember during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner 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.
G. Continue City's commitment to community and cultural programs and services (such as Performing Arts/Theatres, Libraries, TOTV, Visual Arts, Youth and Senior Programs).
J. Implement high quality revitalization projects within Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Newbury Road Areas; develop a pedestrian-oriented, viable, and self- sustaining "Downtown;” and, continue to support production of long-term affordable housing.
PREPARED BY: Justine Kendall, Senior Planner
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – City Council Resolution
cdd:420-46/jk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-04-14/Latigo Hillcrest/Staff Report-City Council/pz/(FILE ID: DAGR-2025-70005)