cdd:440-35/nk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-10-13/Amgen Project/SP 2026-70001 Attach 3 Ordinance.docx/pz (FILE ID: SP 2026-70001)
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS AMENDING THE
AMGEN CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN (SP-16)
INCREASING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE HEIGHT
IN HEIGHT DISTRICT 2 FROM 55 FEET TO 75 FEET,
CONSISTENT WITH THE INDUSTRIAL FLEX
HEIGHT STANDARD ESTABLISHED BY THE 2045
GENERAL PLAN; MODIFYING THE HEIGHT
STANDARDS FOR MODERN ROOFTOP
EQUIPMENT; MODIFYING THE BOUNDARIES OF
THE HEIGHT DISTRICT MAP WITHIN THE SPECIFIC
PLAN AREA; MODIFYING GROSS FLOOR AREA
CALCULATIONS; MODIFYING INTERNAL PARKING
REQUIREMENTS; AND MODIFYING
ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS RELATING TO
SETBACKS AND MASSING (SP 2026-70001)
(APPLICANT: AMGEN INC)
The City Council of the City of Thousand Oaks does hereby ordain as follows:
Part 1
WHEREAS, local governments are authorized by Government Code Section 65450 et seq., to prepare Specific Plans for the systematic implementation of the General Plan; and
WHEREAS, Specific Plan No. 16 was adopted by the City Council on April 5, 1994, to provide for the comprehensive development of the Specific Plan Area; and
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 1 to SP-16 was approved by the Community Development Director on June 20, 1996, which increased the maximum number of exterior building colors in Height Districts 2 and 3 from a maximum of 3 colors to a maximum of 5 colors; and
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 2 to SP-16 was adopted by the City Council on May 24, 2016, which removed Planning Unit U from the Specific Plan area; and WHEREAS, this Specific Plan amendment application SP 2026-70001 has been prepared to facilitate the development of the Building 50 project; and ATTACHMENT #3
cdd:440-35/nk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-10-13/Amgen Project/SP 2026-70001 Attach 3 Ordinance.docx/pz (FILE ID: SP 2026-70001)
WHEREAS, the Specific Plan amendment implements the policies of the General Plan by providing an orderly, functional, and compatible land use pattern to guide the future development of the Amgen corporate headquarters within its planning area; ensuring that the type, amount, design, and pattern of land uses through the City and planning area serve to protect and enhance the character of Thousand Oaks while providing for a pattern of future development that will be both compatible with and beneficial to existing land uses; and WHEREAS, SP-16, as amended, contains the elements required by Section 6541 of the Government Code and Title 9, Chapter 2 of the TOMC, and the amendment was referred to all affected public agencies pursuant to Section 65453 of the Government Code; and
WHEREAS, the Specific Plan amendment was reviewed, studied, and found to be subject to CEQA, and an Addendum to the 2045 General Plan Update and Amgen Center Specific Plan EIRs has been prepared for the project in compliance with CEQA; and
WHEREAS, the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission held a noticed public hearing on September 14, 2026 regarding the Amgen Building Project and thereafter, based on the findings set forth in Planning Commission Resolution 12- 2026 PC, recommended that City Council consider and adopt the Addendum CEQA 2026-70003, and that the City Council approve Development Permit DP 2026-70002, Specific Plan Amendment SP 2026-70001, and Protected Tree Permit PTP 2026-70113 to regulate development standards for the Amgen Building 50 Project, approximately 4.27 acres of property located generally 701 Pauling Drive, and for the SP-16 area generally located in the westerly portion of Thousand Oaks, east of Rancho Conejo Boulevard and north of Hillcrest Drive and the 101 Freeway; and,
WHEREAS, upon notice duly given, a hearing was held at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Thousand Oaks on October 13, 2026, at which time evidence, both oral and written, including a Staff Report, the Addendum, oral and written testimony, and all other evidence, comments and arguments were heard from all interested parties appearing in the matter; and WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65453 permits a specific plan to be adopted or amended by ordinance, and the City Council has determined that adoption of this amended ordinance is appropriate because SP-16 was originally adopted by ordinance and this amendment modified its regulatory development standards and maps.
Part 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to Government Code Sections 65450 - 65456, and 65850; Article 4 of the Thousand Oaks Municipal cdd:440-35/nk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-10-13/Amgen Project/SP 2026-70001 Attach 3 Ordinance.docx/pz (FILE ID: SP 2026-70001)
Code; and the above recitals that are incorporated herein, the City Council of the City of Thousand Oaks does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. The Addendum (CEQA 2026-70003), is adopted as set forth in the Resolution approving the corresponding Development Permit and Protected Tree Permit applications based on the findings contained therein, which are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. After consideration of the above recitals, the findings within Resolution 12-2026 PC, the Resolution approving the corresponding Development Permit and Protected Tree Permit applications, and all the information received in relation to this matter, the City Council hereby makes the following findings in support of the Amgen Center Specific Plan Amendment SP 2026-70001:
1. The project is consistent with the Thousand Oaks General Plan and any applicable specific plan or redevelopment plan (TOMC Section 9-4.2803(c)(1)).
The SP-16 area has General Plan Land Use designations of “Industrial Low” and “Industrial Flex” and is located within the “Rancho Conejo North Sub-Area” as specified by the Land Use Element. The specific plan area is not located within a redevelopment plan. The project requests amendments to SP-16 to modify development standards pertaining to height, parking, and architectural design. The following amendments are proposed in detail as follows:
• Exclude portions of buildings below grade from the gross floor area calculation
• Reconfiguration of the Height District map
• Increase maximum height of Height District 2 to 75 feet to be consistent with the City’s General Plan
• Increase height limitations for rooftop equipment
• Remove requirements for siting parking/distribution of parking within Land Use districts
• Removing requirements for parking loading shafts, restroom facilities, and building system support areas
• Allowances for decreases in structural setbacks adjacent to public roads, streets, and highways
• Removing requirements for structural step backs for certain buildings As such, SP 2026-70001 updates the gross-floor-area definition, Height District map, building and rooftop-equipment height standards, parking location and calculation standards, street setback waiver provision, and selected architectural standards. The amendment allows a maximum building height of 75 feet in Height cdd:440-35/nk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-10-13/Amgen Project/SP 2026-70001 Attach 3 Ordinance.docx/pz (FILE ID: SP 2026-70001)
District 2, consistent with the Industrial Flex designation, and does not authorize development above the General Plan limit. The parking revisions recognize the campus as an integrated site while retaining the requirement to provide the total parking supply required for each project. The remaining amendments provide standards suited to modern technology and life sciences buildings while retaining SP-16 requirements for coordinated design, circulation, landscaping, infrastructure, and compatibility with surrounding uses. Furthermore, the amendments implement the General Plan and remain consistent with the following goals and policies as follows:
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. • LU-1.1 Overall City structure: Expanding and diversifying the employment uses in the City with a focus on biotech, high tech, research and development, and office uses and supporting new development with sufficient sewer, water, electrical, and other critical infrastructure. • LU-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.
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 viability. • LU-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. • LU-6.7: Emerging industries: Attract and retain innovative and emerging businesses in the fields of research and development, technology, life sciences, aerospace, and medicine.
Goal LU-8: Support high-quality and visually interesting design and construction of all buildings throughout the City.
• LU-8.1 Quality design and materials: Require simple, urban building forms made with permanent, high-quality materials and architectural detailing.
Goal LU-17: Reinforce the Rancho Conejo North area as an innovation campus and research park that offers supportive commercial, and hospitality uses. cdd:440-35/nk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-10-13/Amgen Project/SP 2026-70001 Attach 3 Ordinance.docx/pz (FILE ID: SP 2026-70001)
• LU-17.1 Biotech and technology hub: Support the continued expansion of the biotech and technologies industries.
• LU-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. • LU-17.5 Building heights: Allow buildings of up to 75 feet in the Industrial Flex land use designation.
• LU-17.7 Amgen coordination: Coordinate with Amgen to maintain their headquarters and campus.
2. The project complies with all applicable laws, regulations and policies, including the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code (TOMC Section 9-4.2803(c)(2)).
SP 2026-70001 was processed under Government Code section 65450 through 65457 and the applicable Municipal Code procedures. It amends limited provisions of SP-16; all provisions not expressly amended remain in effect. The amendment establishes development standards for the specific plan area and remains subordinate to and consistent with the City’s General Plan and establishes regulations for a specific geographic region. As such, the project complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies, including the TOMC.
3. The project will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare (TOMC Section 9-4.2803(c)(3)).
The amendment will not authorize uses, floor area, or building heights beyond those allowed by the General Plan. Future development will remain subject to the discretionary review, applicable development standards, CEQA review, and project-specific conditions. For Building 50, the Addendum concludes that the amendment and related approvals will not create new significant effects or substantially increase previously identified effects. The amendment therefore will not be detrimental to public health, safety, or general welfare.
4. The project has been reviewed in conformance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (TOMC Section 9-4.2803(c)(4)).
As set forth in Section 4 of this Ordinance, the proposed project was reviewed for conformance with the provisions of CEQA.
cdd:440-35/nk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-10-13/Amgen Project/SP 2026-70001 Attach 3 Ordinance.docx/pz (FILE ID: SP 2026-70001)
SECTION 3. Based on the above findings and record in this matter, the City Council of the City of Thousand Oaks hereby approves and adopts Amgen Center Specific Plan Amendment SP 2026-70001, amending the language of Specific Plan 16 as set forth in Exhibit A to this Ordinance, which identifies the additional language by the use of red type and deleted language indicated by the use of a strikethrough of the language also in red, with all other language remaining the same, with said amendments reflected in a clean copy of Specific Plan 16 in Attachment 4 to the Staff Report, subject to updating Height District Maps and SP -16 exhibits as required under the conditions of approval accompanying Resolution No. XXX, and to any other minor, conforming and clarifying changes consistent with the terms thereof as may be approved by the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney prior to execution thereof, including completion of references, completion and conformity of all exhibits thereto as approved by the City Council.
SECTION 4. The City Council’s adoption of this Ordinance is based and incorporates its prior consideration and adoption of Addendum CEQA 2026-70003 through Resolution No. XXX
Part 3
(Uncodified)
Severability
If any section, subsection, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this title; it being hereby expressly declared that this title, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase hereof, would have been prepared, proposed, adopted, approved, and ratified irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Part 4
(Uncodified)
Effective Date
This ordinance shall become effective on and after the thirty-first (31st) day following its adoption, provided, however, that if the actions referred to in Section 4 hereof are not effective on such date, then the effective date of this Ordinance shall be the date on which all of said actions become effective, as certified by the City Clerk.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 13th day of October, 2026, by the following vote:
cdd:440-35/nk/H:COMMON/City Council/Agenda Packet/2026/2026-10-13/Amgen Project/SP 2026-70001 Attach 3 Ordinance.docx/pz (FILE ID: SP 2026-70001)
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Mikey Taylor, Mayor
City of Thousand Oaks City Council
ATTEST/CERTIFY:
________________________________
Laura B. Maguire, City Clerk
Date Attested: ___________________
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Office of the City Attorney
Tracy M. Noonan,
City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO ADMINISTRATION:
Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
Introduced: XXXX XX, 202X
Published: XXXX XX, 202XX
Ordinance No.: XXXX-NS
The presence of electronic signature certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy as approved by the City of Thousand Oaks City Council on the date cited above.