On Jan. 26, the Thousand Oaks planning commission met to vote on the Home Depot project on Hampshire Road.

The auditorium was virtually full; there were about 400 interested parties in attendance. Approximately 90 percent wore a "No Home Depot" sticker.

The planning commission allowed interested parties to speak to express their concerns and for commissioners to deny or support the project.

According to the planning commission, about 50 speaker cards were submitted, including those by paid consultants of Home Depot.

As the evening wore on, the Home Depot support team made its presentations. After intermission, the other speakers began.

One speaker of note represented the Agoura/Oak Park/ Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and presented a petition with 3,400 signatures against the project.

An independent traffic consultant spoke about the lack of compliance and potential for flawed analysis. The traffic study was admittedly flawed, as it did not take into account the intersections of Westlake Boulevard with Townsgate and Hampshire roads. That was subsequently passed off as not being significant, even though, it appears, it was required.

Even as late as 11 p.m., speakers were addressing the planning commission, expressing their concerns for traffic, noise and lack of compliance to the spirit, if not the letter, of the city charter by not following C-I zoning.

In the end, some 90 percent of the speakers were against the project, even though about a dozen requested speakers had left due to the late hour. Otherwise, the percentage of nonsupporters would have been even greater.

The saddest part of the process is the people's voice held little impact, as the project, with its numerous flaws and lack of support by the community, was approved.

An appeal has been sent to the City Council.

Time will tell if the electorate has any say in the matter. Michael and Jeri Wolpert Westlake Village