Revised Preservation Law Considered

The City Council--which broke away from Ventura County oversight and appointed itself as the city’s cultural heritage board last summer--will consider adopting a revised historical preservation ordinance Tuesday.

The ordinance outlines the Thousand Oaks council’s powers to preserve buildings as landmarks and designate Conejo Valley locations as monuments and points of historical interest.

Council members considered the ordinance last month and sent it back to City Atty. Mark Sellers because they wanted him to add a provision requiring a 180-day waiting period before any structure deemed to be of historical value could be demolished.

Slow-growth advocates and preservationists have criticized Thousand Oaks for breaking away from the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board, saying the City Council has neither the experience nor the interest needed to watch over historical landmarks.

Some have even accused the city of assuming responsibility to remove roadblocks to growth--specifically a proposal to redevelop the former Thousand Oaks City Hall property on Hillcrest Drive.

But those who voted to become the city’s historical watchdogs say they were simply trying to ensure Thousand Oaks had more control over historically significant places within city limits.