Opposes new store at proposed site in Thousand Oaks

Opposes new store at proposed site in Thousand Oaks

Along with our neighbors and many residents, we strongly object to the Sport Chalet complex proposed for the Conejo Valley Plaza on Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Squeezing such a huge store into a neighborhood shopping center is inappropriate and is a gross violation of the city of Thousand Oaks C-1 Neighborhood Shopping Center zoning ordinance, as described in Section 9-4.1200.

We find it very difficult to understand why this enormous project emerged intact from the planning department and was then approved by the planning commission.

If it goes forward, the many negative effects will far outweigh the one positive effect of increased sales tax revenues. Traffic flow during busy hours within the shopping center will range from terrible to horrible and Moorpark Road, already clogged much of the time, will be even more so.

Many mature trees in "Tree City USA" will be destroyed and the existing green areas will be greatly reduced to make way for more parking spaces.

The residents whose homes border the shopping center will be subjected to another tall two-story building, more car and truck noise, more light pollution and the new noise and activity associated with the outdoor scuba diving and kayaking instructional pool.

We wish the developer and the city had been more forthcoming in divulging earlier the many components of this project which will have such a detrimental effect on the surrounding neighbors. Common courtesy indicates that all of the residents in the affected area should have been more fully informed concerning the details.

A Sport Chalet would be a welcome addition to the Thousand Oaks retail shopping scene and would be more appropriate and convenient in a different location. The Oaks regional mall, the Janss Marketplace or the former Home Depot building are not surrounded by single family homes and the addition of a Sport Chalet would have little impact on residential areas.

Thomas and Jeanne Stapp

Thousand Oaks