Nearby residents prefer less intense Lang Ranch Park

Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) was to consider approval of the largest and final park to be constructed within the city of Thousand Oaks on Thurs., Jan. 17. The final EIR had been completed and the board was expected to approve at that evening's meeting.

After 30 speakers, those who supported the park "as is" and those who wanted the scope of the park to be reduced, finished speaking, CRPD was scheduled to begin its discussions.

Many of the speakers had pointed out that the park with 475 parking spaces, coupled with a heavy event calendar, would create intolerable air pollutants. The dangers to pedestrians at the proposed Westlake Boulevard vehicle entrance and the Avenida de Los Arboles pedestrian entrance were discussed.

Cars traveling down Westlake Boulevard would have a difficult time stopping for pedestrians who might be tempted to dart out without looking. The planned pedestrian entrance on Arboles could have families, who had decided to park on the Brock Collection streets, having to cross six lanes of traffic at speeds at or above 50 mph.

Many speakers in favor of the park wanted it built without the proposed 38 light poles, measuring from 40 to 70 feet. Many argued that these industrial poles would create an eyesore during daytime and would create an unsightly bright glow in the evenings that would be visible throughout all of Lang Ranch and beyond.

Other speakers were concerned that amplified sound generated from the public address system would echo within the natural bowl that lies within the area that's surrounded by hills that encompass Lang Ranch.

When CRPD began to deliberate one board member, Joe Gibson, began to enumerate what he believed were unanswered questions in the EIR that had been voiced by many of the evening's speakers.

Mr. Gibson questioned his staff and consultants present at the meeting and decided that he'd make a motion to delay approval of the EIR until his concerns and those of the public were met.

The vote of the board members was unanimous. They agreed that answers to the public's concerns and those that Mr. Gibson raised that evening be addressed in a revised EIR due for completion within four months.

Residents of Lang Ranch and surrounding areas desire a balanced park, a park that's safe for our children and a park that hasn't been industrialized with bright lights and noise.

We hope our comments and suggestions will be both considered and taken seriously. Mark Evans Thousand Oaks