Auto dealers to use vacant lot near Civic Arts Plaza for storage
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

FUTURE PARKING LOT-This parcel next to the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks will soon become a place to store new vehicles for dealers in the city's Auto Mall. The site will eventually be developed, so the plan for vehicle storage is only good for up to three years. It would then need reapproval.

A vacant property adjacent to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza will be used for new vehicle storage by the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall.

The city council gave its approval to the plan last month. The deal is good for up to three years.

Councilmember Claudia Billde la Pea cast the lone vote against the proposal by Riverstone Enterprises, LLC, based in Thousand Oaks.

"It's not in keeping with what is proper use for this particular zone and the fact that we have no enforcement or monitoring in place at this time," Bill-de la Pea said. "It could proliferate. . . . It sets a dangerous precedent for other zones."

A development plan is in the works for the 21/2-acre property located just west of the Civic Arts Plaza and owned by Riverstone. Company representatives have been meeting with city staff for more than a year to create a plan for the parcel. The area immediately surrounding the Civic Arts Plaza has its own unique commercial zoning that does not permit automotive use, which is why Riverstone had to seek a municipal code amendment.

"This is an important piece of property and it's important that it has a well thought out, well-developed plan," said Frances Prince, a Riverstone investor manager and a former Thousand Oaks mayor.

Allowing auto mall parking is a winning situation in many ways, she added. The company can make use of the property while the development plan is created, and the auto dealerships have some much-needed space to park inventory.

Not everyone agrees with Prince.

The city's planning commission in June reviewed the proposal, which called for a fiveyear timetable. The result was a tie vote, which means it failed to pass in accordance with municipal code. Commissioners Daryl Reynolds and Mark Lunn were supportive but Commission Chair Janet Miller Wall and Commissioner Barry Fisher voted against the plan out of concern that a five-year time period was too long and that the property was not an appropriate use for vehicle storage. Commissioner Tina Grumney was absent.

"I don't think this property is a good fit for vehicle storage," Fisher said. "There are large paved spaces around the city that could be used."

Councilmember Jacqui Irwin suggested the three-year time period.

Riverstone purchased the parcel three years ago from Westcord Realty. The property was the former winter home of the Strong Family Circus, which at one time performed at Jungleland,where the Civic Arts Plaza now sits, according to Dave Gulbranson, another Riverstone manager. Riverstone cleaned up the site, which included an old house and barn, a pile of debris and weeds. Wood chips were put down and a fabric fence erected.

"It's such an improvement over what it was," Mayor Dennis Gillette said. "Having new autos stored there is more positive than what we had there."

At the front of the property is a wine-tasting facility, an architectural landscape business and a mobile auto glass firm. Also, a smog check establishment has been there for many years, prior to the creation of current zoning rules, according to Gulbranson.

Behind those businesses is just under 2 acres that will be used for up to 1,000 vehicles. Rusnak BMW has the greatest need, Gulbranson said, because it lost its storage facility due to construction of its new facility. Westoaks Dodge will store vehicles at the site and Riverstone is talking to other auto dealers.

"What we get out of this is some security on the property," Commissioner Tom Glancy said. "We're going to have a known neighbor there."