City receives assessment for comprehensive zoning code update; draft code targeted for early 2026

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission on Aug. 25 received a department report and technical assessment for a comprehensive update of the city’s zoning code and sign regulations, a project intended to implement the city’s 2023 general plan.

Planning Manager Kristen Rice introduced the consultant team from Lisa Wise Consulting, which presented findings from a six‑month analysis phase and proposed recommendations. The commission voted 5‑0 to find the report “not a project” under CEQA and to receive the assessment memo; Commissioner McMahon moved the action.

Consultant Catherine Slama said the code update will focus on Title 9, Chapter 4 (zoning), including land‑use regulations, development standards, procedures and sign rules. The consultant recommended creating or modifying zones so there is one implementing zone for each general‑plan land‑use designation (for example, adding a medium‑density residential zone), modernizing and consolidating the land‑use table to group like uses, improving objective design standards to better manage transitions between new and existing buildings, reorganizing permit procedures, and updating the sign code to be content neutral consistent with federal case law. Slama said the draft code is expected to be released for public review in early 2026 with a target adoption next spring.

The consultant characterized the current zoning chapter as dated and sometimes difficult to use; the team recommended user‑friendly changes such as more tables, graphics and clearer organization so applicants and decision makers can find applicable standards. The assessment also identified opportunities to consolidate or clarify older specific plans that predate current planning practice and to create clearer thresholds for administrative versus discretionary review.

At public comment, resident Wendy Zimmerman urged stronger protections for single‑family neighborhoods, said she was concerned about reduced parking assumptions and called for better public‑engagement tools (including mediation or an ombudsman). Rice and the consultant team responded that the assessment is a first step, that specific recommendations will be drafted and vetted in the public process, and that staff will address sign illumination, transitions and specific‑plan relationships in the draft code. Rice also noted the city has 18 adopted specific plans and that staff will recommend which of the older plans could be consolidated or otherwise addressed.

Rice and the consultant said the update launched with staff work in December 2024, moved to a technical analysis and community outreach phase in early 2025 and will enter a drafting phase after the consultant’s recommendations are finalized. The scope includes four public workshops (two of which were held in March and May), meetings with elected and appointed officials, and multiple review opportunities. The consultant emphasized balancing predictability with flexibility — clearer objective standards for multifamily and mixed‑use projects, but not overly prescriptive rules that would prevent new uses or innovation.

The commission’s receipt of the assessment memo advances the zoning‑code project to the drafting stage. Staff said the next steps include preparation of a public‑review draft to be released in early 2026 and additional public workshops and hearings prior to final adoption.