Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Lands Transfer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council Authorizes Negotiation to Transfer 524 West Jans Road to Conejo Recreation and Park District
Summary
Council directed staff to pursue negotiation to transfer a roughly 1‑acre city parcel at 524 West Jans Road to the Conejo Recreation and Park District for development and operation as a neighborhood park; the resolution declares the parcel exempt under the Surplus Land Act and the action passed 5–0.
Thousand Oaks City Council on Oct. 7 authorized staff to negotiate terms to transfer the city‑owned parcel at 524 West Jans Road to the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) for conversion to a neighborhood park. The motion passed 5–0.
Deputy public works director Ted Gerber described the parcel as a roughly 1‑acre tree‑filled open space dedicated to the city in 1983 and located west of Lynn Road between residential homes. After the city’s 2022 Water Conservation Ordinance, which prohibited irrigation of nonfunctional turf, the city limited irrigation on the parcel to preserve trees and shrubs. Gerber said the property’s turf qualifies as nonfunctional and state law (AB 1572) will prohibit nonfunctional turf irrigation on commercial or institutional properties beginning Jan. 2027.
Staff told council that transferring the property to CRPD would allow the district to reactivate turf irrigation where appropriate, pursue park improvements, and operate the site as neighborhood parkland. The council was asked to declare the parcel exempt from the Surplus Land Act because the proposed transferee is another local public agency; staff said the declaration would be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development after council action.
Gerber noted an adjacent sliver of city right‑of‑way (outlined in the staff presentation) is not titled and was not part of tonight’s action; that small piece may require separate legal instruments if it is later included in park planning. Staff also said additional steps will follow, including Planning Commission review for general plan consistency and public outreach to neighbors.
Staff concluded the transfer was categorically exempt from CEQA under Guideline 15325 (transfer of land to public agencies when no changes to land use are proposed). The council approved a motion directing staff to proceed with negotiations, make the Surplus Land Act exemption finding contingent on a negotiated transfer to CRPD, and return final agreements to council for approval.
Next steps: Staff will continue outreach to neighbors, finalize negotiations with CRPD, submit the Surplus Land Act exemption declaration to HCD as required, and bring the final transfer agreement back to council for approval if CRPD elects to proceed.
