Vacant site on Thousand Oaks Boulevard could grow 328 apartments

One of Thousand Oaks’ highest-density development proposals has moved one step closer to approval.

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission voted 4-0 last week to recommend the City Council grant a special use permit for the project, which would include 328 apartments and 8,500 square feet of commercial space in three buildings at 500 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Commissioner Mic Farris abstained from the April 22 vote.

The council is scheduled to consider the project at its May 21 meeting, said Fabiola Zelaya Melicher, senior planner with the city.

The development would rise on a vacant 6-acre site that now features large oak trees and wild grasses. It's on the south side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, east of Lombard Street.

The project, which is being built by Newport Beach-based Cherry Tree Capital Partners, is located within the area covered by the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan. The plan allows a base density of 30 apartments per acre, Melicher said, but state law allows for more because 44 affordable units are included.

The development has grown since an earlier proposal was considered. The City Council originally approved 236 residential units for the property in March 2022, Melicher said.

The goal is to create a Main Street-like setting with internal streets, architect Keith McCloskey told commissioners during the meeting. Exteriors will be a modern blend of brick, stucco and metal panels, he said.

As part of its vote last week, the planning commission agreed to a concession that buildings may stand as tall as five stories instead of the three currently allowed. Commissioners also agreed one of the buildings could be 365 feet long, exceeding the city's maximum length of 200 feet.

City staff didn't have any concerns about building heights or sizes, Melicher said.

Commissioners agreed to all of Cherry Tree’s requested changes, which included a larger setback for one building because of a flood plain. The building may stand 98.5 feet from Thousand Oaks Boulevard instead of 15 feet, Senior Planner Carlos Contreras told commissioners.

The property will feature an approximately 21,000-square foot park along the boulevard, Contreras said. Two mature oak trees on the boulevard will be preserved.

The proposed development is denser than other projects previously approved by the city, Melicher said via email on Friday. State law requires cities to grant concessions to developers to avoid barriers to affordable housing.

The City Council also realizes there's a need for housing, Melicher previously said when discussing the project, including for people who work in the biotech industry, a sector the city would like to see grow.

Residents and representatives of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Conejo Climate Coalition spoke at Monday's meeting in favor of the project. No opposition was expressed during public comments.

Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at dave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Vacant site on Thousand Oaks Boulevard could grow 328 apartments