Thousand Oaks Auto Mall Freeway Sign Community Meetings on Wed, January 26th and Thurs, February 10th

Courtesy of City of Thousand Oaks Website:

Thousand Oaks Auto Mall Freeway Monument Sign - Community Meetings

Location: Los Robles Greens Golf Course – Banquet Center, 299 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks

Dates: 6:00 PM on Wednesday, January 26th and 6:00 PM on Thursday, February 10th

The Thousand Oaks Auto Mall lies on 54 acres along Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Duesenberg Drive, Packard Circle, and the 101 Freeway. The Auto Mall employs approximately 1,000 people, consistently generating almost one-quarter of the City’s annual sales tax revenues. In the past four years, the Auto Mall has generated more than $28 Million in sales tax revenue to the City.

In recent years, the dealerships have been working with the City to improve the appearance and navigability of the Auto Mall. Along with pedestrian amenities and aged streetscaping, the primary concern is the lack of available parking for both customers and employees. In fact, as a Top Priority for FY 2007-2008, the Thousand Oaks City Council directed staff to develop a plan to mitigate parking issues at the Auto Mall.

On January 12, 2010, City Council authorized design for the Auto Mall project. Due to the significance of this undertaking, the City Council formed an Ad Hoc Citizens Auto Mall Advisory Committee. The Ad Hoc Committee met five times between February and June 2010 to review conceptual designs and make recommendations. The final report by the Citizen Ad Hoc Committee contained recommendations on the angled parking, landscaping, way-finder signage, and a new freeway monument sign.

At the December 14, 2010 meeting, City Council approved all the necessary plans and permits for the project to move forward, with the exception the freeway monument sign. At the request of the Auto Mall Association, the monument sign was not considered by City Council at the December 14th meeting, in order to receive additional community feedback and insight regarding the sign before making a decision. After completing additional public outreach and receiving community feedback, the Auto Mall Association will bring the item to City Council on February 22, 2011. 

Selected Q&As

Who is paying for the new Auto Mall sign? The costs to construct, operate, and maintain the monument sign will be paid entirely by the Auto Mall Association. No City funds are being used to construct the Auto Mall monument sign.Previously, City Council committed $2 Million towards the other components of the project, (parking improvements, landscaping, etc.) none of which is to be used to construct the monument sign, if approved. Since 2001, the Auto Mall has generated $8 million in incremental property tax revenues for the Redevelopment Agency (RDA), with an additional $1.3 million expected in fiscal year 2010-11. The majority of the parking and landscaping costs ($6 Million) will be paid by the formation of a Community Facilities District (CFD) for the Auto Mall area. The property owners within the CFD will impose a special tax on themselves to finance the improvements in the Auto Mall.

Will the sign be precedent-setting? If approved, the monument sign will not set a precedent for digital reader boards in the City of Thousand Oaks. The approval is specific to the Auto Mall zone only; any other similar sign would require separate approvals by the Planning Commission and City Council. The existing Auto Mall sign was constructed in 1994 through the application of a special use permit. In a similar fashion, the proposed monument sign has undergone numerous iterations within the Advisory Committee, opened to public hearings, considered by the Planning Commission, and will eventually be considered by the City Council. In each stage, the necessity and appropriateness of the sign is evaluated.

More information and Q&As at www.toaks.org/government/depts/public_works/current_projects/auto_mall_improvement_project/default.asp

Also see www.conejovalleyguide.com/local-buzz/huge-electronic-billboard-for-to-auto-mall-removed-from-city.html

Roger is Dunn in Thousand Oaks Soon But Moving to Newbury Park

Roger Dunn is not done. It is moving on over to the old Zender's location at 2810 Camino Dos Rios in Newbury Park (next to the Wendy's for those of you who rely on fast food markers like me). Wow, it's about time something moved in there as it has been closed over a year since Zender's went out of business.

The Roger Dunn Golf Shop at 125 W. Thousand Oaks Boulevard on the east side of the recently closed Borders bookstore. Hmm, perhaps they are moving as part of that deal. In any case, a representative at the store today indicated they will be moving to their new home literally 4 miles away this Sunday! Good for them and I wish them the best at their new location!

My lousy shot of the entrance to the soon-to-be new Roger Dunn Golf Shop location in Newbury Park where Zender's used to reside.

Calleguas Water District to Relocate Water Supply Pipeline in Thousand Oaks

Calleguas MWD to Relocate Vital Water Supply Pipeline in Thousand Oaks

On January 3, the Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) will begin construction activities to relocate a 48-inch diameter pipeline that provides water service to much of the Thousand Oaks area. Originally installed in 1965, the Conejo Valley Feeder delivers water to residents and businesses in the central and western portions of the valley.

Under the $1.4 million project, Calleguas will construct 500 feet of pipe within a new steel casing paralleling the existing pipeline along Olsen Road under the State Highway 23 bridge. In recent years, the California Department of Transportation made seismic related improvements to the highway bridge. The location of these improvements on top of Calleguas’ pipeline require that a segment of pipe be relocated to ensure continued water supply reliability and public safety.

During construction, vehicular traffic will be constrained in both directions to allow construction crews adequate space to install the new pipe and connect it with the existing pipeline beyond the bridge’s support columns. The left of the two eastbound lanes will be closed for the duration of the project, scheduled for completion by May 2011. The right eastbound lane will remain open and be modified to allow vehicles to either continue along Olsen Road to Simi Valley or access the northbound highway onramp. The left westbound lane on Olsen Road will also be closed between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. Project updates will be posted to Calleguas’ web site at www.calleguas.com.

View Larger Map

“Maintaining flow through this regional supply pipeline is essential for reliable water service to literally tens of thousands of water users in the area,” said Susan Mulligan, Calleguas General Manager. “We are working closely with Caltrans and the City of Thousand Oaks to design a traffic control plan that minimizes impacts on local commuters while enabling our contractor adequate space to work. We apologize for any inconvenience for area residents and are committed to completing the project as
quickly as possible.”

Calleguas is one of twenty-six member agencies of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the primary urban water supplier in Ventura County, providing water service to a population of over 600,000. Through a variety retail water agencies and companies, Calleguas provides water to the cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Port Hueneme as well as surrounding unincorporated areas.

Thousand Oaks Public Works Department's Street and Drainage Preparation Pays Off

Last year public works employees were out in the rain clearing a fallen tree limb. So far, during the recent rains, that's not happened. That may change if wind starts blowing as some predict.

The millions of dollars Thousand Oaks has put into its drainage and streets system was put to the test over the past week with record rainfall. The public works department of 200 workers directed by Mark Watkins passed with an excellent grade. There was only an occasional pothole reported and quickly filled. The city pays more to pave streets with asphalt rubber made out of recycled tires. The rubber pavement wears better as proven after recent rain storms. Now, with windy weather predicted, the public works department is ready with chainsaws and woodchippers to clear any downed trees that might fall on public property due to roots not getting a good grip in saturated ground. To report any service needs call (805) 449-2499.

Chick-fil-A Plans in T.O., Camarillo Are Being Carefully Scrutinized by City Planners

Thousand Oaks City planners are still reviewing the design of the 2,200 square foot Chick-fil-A building proposed to replace Weinerschnitzel, 3771 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard. There will be no date set for it to go before the planning commission until issues of drainage and grading are settled. There's not a lot of flexibility on the site to make new building requirements work. For a while Chick-fil-A looked around at other sites in Thousand Oaks that would also offer a drive-thru, but came back to the Weinerschnitzel site, a city official said. Maybe some time next year fried chicken breast sandwiches will replace hot dogs, chili and cheeseburgers.

In Camarillo, city planners are suggesting Chick-fil-A take a look at other sites than where the company has applied to build. The Camarillo Promenade is a carefully designed environment that has been tirelessly developed to meet a standard that is pedestrian friendly. The drive-thru proposed conflicts with the village retail setting described in the area's specific plan. The retail center is at Ventura Blvd. East of Los Posas. The city's community development department has not accepted the restaurant's application, saying it's incomplete. Planners like the company, just not the drive-thru in the Promenade.

Update on 2010-12-24 01:06 by Nancy Needham

Thousand Oaks City Planner Pam Leopold said a new application was filed with the city today that appears to overcome several obstacles slowing down the previous application from Chick-fil-A. Now, the chicken sandwich restaurant wants to build a 2,197 square foot building with only outdoor dining and a drive-thru. The parcel did not accommodate interior dining, Pam said. Watch out for the wrecking ball, little Weinerschnitzel guy.

Say Good-bye to Chili, Cheese, Hot Dogs, Sausage and Logo With Worried Look

Wienerschnitzel in Thousand Oaks will be demolished if a proposed planning and development project goes forward and gains approval. Then it will be replaced with the construction of a Chick-fil-A restaurant built on the same spot, 3771 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, next to the Do-it Center.

If the project proposal goes through there will be no more double chili cheeseburgers or kraut dogs served at that location. Forget about a 79 cent corn dog on a stick.

Get ready for whole-breast chicken,  fresh fruits, vegetables and lemonade made from squeezing lemons. Chick-fil-A employees will be chopping cabbage each day for the cole slaw and making carrot and raisin salad. The breaded chicken that goes on buns and the waffle fries are cooked in peanut oil.

At dinnertime, 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, there were no cars in the drive-thru at Wienerschnitzel Thousand Oaks. There were seven cars lined up at the McDonald's drive-thru a few yards away on the other side of the Do-it Center parking lot. Well, if residents want delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers or fries with or without chili they better get over there before the Thousand Oaks landmark is rubble.

Lowe's Home Improvement Wants to Build in Newbury Park Where Costco Tried to Go

Seems like not long ago Costco wanted to put a warehouse store at 915 Estates Drive/12 Academy Drive in Newbury Park. Now, it's another retailer that wants to construct a big store on the Newbury Park land owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The T.O. Planning Commission will have a public hearing tonight, Monday, Dec. 13, to decide whether or not to allow Lowe's to build a 153,000 square foot home improvement store and garden center. They also want to put a 40,000 square foot commercial building with a restaurant and bank.

The public hearing will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Scherr Auditorium, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Cronies Sports Grill, 1620 Newbury Road, has also applied to be considered to sell alcoholic beverages. That issue is also on the planning commission agenda for tonight's meeting.

Borders Thousand Oaks Will Be Closing in January 2011

Update 11/28/10: Today we stopped by Borders for their going out of business sale. Most everything was 30% to 40% off and there was quite a bit of merchandise in the store at this point. We got there at 11 a.m. and by the time we left around noon it was PACKED. So stop by ASAP if you're looking for a deal. An employee indicated the store will be open through the holidays/new year and there is no new location planned. 

As we left, we passed by the old, vacant Black Angus and Armstrong Nursery. Black Angus closed in April 2008, following the closing of Hungry Hunter in 2007 and Marie Callender's in 2008. Enough of that. Go get a bargain!

Original Post Date 11/15/10: Just a reminder that the Borders Bookstore at 125 West Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks will be closing sometime next January. This VC Star article from July confirms this with a Borders representative.

To me this comes as no surprise ad this 40,630 sq ft store is over 15,000 sq ft larger than the typical sized Borders and the company has experienced net losses for 5 years straight. Borders' stock price (BGP) hovers near an all-time low at just over $1 per share these days.

There's still hope for Borders with recent changes in management but among the ailing economy, a trend towards online sales and plenty of competition (Amazon.com's market valuation is roughly 900 TIMES Borders'...ouch!). While I would hope that Borders opens up another, smaller location somewhere else in town, I won't hold my breath.

On July 13, 2010, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to relocate three county medical services* an co-locate them into the Borders space. They approved a 15 year lease, starting with 9 months of "free" rent (while $6.5 million of tenant improvements are put in place) and subsequently $1.95/sq ft.

*The county medical services to be relocated to the Borders building will include:

Conejo Valley Family Medical Group (Ambulatory Care), currently located at 223 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

Conejo Valley Clinic (Behavioral Health), currently located at 72 Moody Court.

Public Health, Women, Infants and Children program currently located at 80 E. Hillcrest Drive.