Be good keepers of the land

Through-traffic to Dos Vientos could have gone through Borchard Road, but Borchard was "too steep," so it was redirected. It could have gone through Kimber Road, but I guess it was "too noisy," so Kimber was cut off altogether. The story goes that it would have gone through the same Portrero Road that issues from Hidden Valley and comes to a dead end alongside Pt. Mugu State Park, but residents there uncovered a previous council decision precluding such through-traffic. Anyone who knows this area knows what an atrocity that would have been.

So, where did all this through-traffic go? It proceeds in a straight line across Reino Road toward Dos Vientos and Camarillo on what most people call Lynn Road, but some refer to as "Portrero" Road when obfuscating development issues.

Intensely beautiful land borders the south of Lynn Road, presided over by Mt. Boney in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is the very last of the Old West. In fact, Lot I, the land at the very end of Lynn/"Portrero" and at the edge of this most western plateau, is oceanview.

Soon, it will be oceanview only for the three privileged kajillionaires who can afford to buy the mega-estates planned to be built there.

At the city council meeting May 6, speaker Mary Weisbrock of Save Open Space pointed out various protections available for Lot I and the land south of Lynn Road that was fortunately not annexed that night and is not out of danger yet. With empty buildings all around town, I think there is no harm in very carefully considering what we are doing before we permit further Brazilian-style exploitation of our land by developers. I am glad that the city council has taken this direction, and we owe each councilmember a great debt of gratitude for their fine service.

Moreover, letting Lynn Road be the line curbing urban sprawl is a way to allay the growth and impact of already city-limit-exceeding traffic noise and air pollution rippling through the Hickory Park neighborhood. Lynn Road has become the prime thoroughfare into Dos Vientos, and the only route for construction trucks. People who appreciate this the least are the residents whose bedrooms back up not fifty feet to it. Not too many of us would want our bedrooms to share that same distinction.

Gratefully, local residents have hope. In the Dos Vientos Development Agreement (88-69, section F) the city council prescribes sound mitigation for this specific problem. Money remains, the job’s not finished, and the need is as obvious today as it was years ago when it was written.

A May 15 Acorn opinion, written from a quiet cul-de-sac within the Kimber cul-de-sac, appears to be campaigning to pave more San Fernando Valley south of Lynn Road, suggesting it be "put on the ballot." Bring it. I agree with her that her position does not "represent the majority."

Most people have had enough overdevelopment and want to stop the urbanization of every last square inch of land left in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park—rare, ocean-view land like Lot I, no less.

Well, now is your chance. Stewardship of the land is everyone’s responsibility, and we all have to pitch in. You can help by writing a letter to your public officials to let them know how you feel. Su voz y su voto son poder.

Raymond Moccia

Newbury Park