Calls for residents to rally against Home Depot

As one of the many residents of Thousand Oaks who happens to have a Westlake Village ZIP code, we're part of Thousand Oaks, too.

To all of those who oppose the proposal of the Home Depot on Hampshire Road, please write or contact the city of Thousand Oaks council members and planning commissioners. They have an obligation to protect the quality of life in our village and to protect us from urban decay. It's not too late. The Home Depot's plan to locate at Hampshire Road is not only a ridiculous proposal for all the obvious reasons, but the industrial nature of this business historically precedes a downward spiral of urban decay. The municipal code is intended to protect such areas as our beautiful village from such a plight. Home Depot's proper location is in a C3-zoned commercial area, not in a C1zoned area for which this property at Hampshire Road is designated.

The Home Depot is a threat to the beauty and integrity of our village and its residents who plan to live in Thousand Oaks for years to come, as well as an obvious threat to the existence of many of our small businesses who continually contribute to our community.

The effects of such a development would be irreversible. Home Depot has held this site in a sublease since '04. What's happening with their seemingly neverending occupation of the vacant Ventu Park Road location?

There are many possibilities for the appropriate development of the Hampshire Road property which would benefit and better our community. Home Depot would set our community up for the "perfect storm."

Let's not destine this property and its surrounding residential area to become a day laborer site with unbearable traffic and noise impacts. This property was never envisioned for a Home Depottype business, and my family and I certainly didn't move from the San Fernando Valley with the hope of sharing our beautiful and well-planned village with Home Depot. This is a gateway to Westlake Village. Carleen DeFranco Westlake Village