Lang Ranch Park strikes out in court

Residents opposed to plans for Lang Ranch Park were celebrating last week when Ventura County Superior Court judge Glen Reiser ruled that the 44-acre park plans violate the California Environmental Quality Act and the city's general plan.

Reiser found that Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) violated state environmental law by failing to look at solutions to light and noise problems. The district also failed to protect Braunton's milkvetch, a federally endangered plant.

According to the judge, the park project is too big to be considered a community park.

The district, Reiser ruled, should have applied to amend the general plan but didn't.

"We are not opposed to having a neighborhood park; we are opposed to the size and scope of the park—with lighting, noise and traffic—and who was going to be able to use the park," said Lang Ranch resident Ron Siegel.

The first phase of the park, the only phase currently funded, would be the site of six baseball fields for the Thousand Oaks Little League. Tennis courts, park benches, playgrounds and picnic tables would be part of a later phase, Siegel said.

Those amenities, along with walking trails, a community center and roller hockey and basketball courts, were planned for a portion of the 124 acres between Erbes Road, Avenida de Los Arboles and Westlake Boulevard.

The park received $5 million from the Thousand Oaks City Council. City spokesperson Andrew Powers said the judge's ruling doesn't change the city's commitment to build the park.

"We are certainly disappointed with the ruling," said CRPD general manager Jim Friedl.

Their next move is to meet with their board of directors and attorney to consider their options of either accepting the ruling or appealing it, he said. "No matter what we decide to do, the judge's decision delays the opening of a park," Friedl said.

CRPD will continue to take core and soil samples of the site over the next few weeks to help them better understand what's going on underground regarding earth movement in the area. That information will be useful regardless of the direction the project takes, Friedl said.