Petitioners seek a public vote on development, traffic issues

The city is one step closer to having a law requiring a public vote before a large development that would increase traffic congestion is allowed.

A petition to control traffic and development in Thousand Oaks was submitted to the city with 15,542 signatures, more than enough to get the Right to Vote on Traffic Congestion Initiative on the June ballot, supporters said.

The city clerk's office has 30 working days to verify the signatures on the petitions delivered there on Dec. 10. A minimum of 10,540 signatures, or 15 percent of registered voters in Thousand Oaks, is needed for the measure to be placed on the ballot in June 2008.

Future commercial development with more than 75,000 square feet proposed or noncommercial development that exceeds 100,000 square feet will require voter approval if the initiative succeeds.

The petition was initiated after a new Home Depot store was proposed for Hampshire Road where Kmart used to be.

The initiative could also affect a Costco planned for Thousand Oaks and the specific plan development the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Association is working on.

- Nancy Needham