Planning commissioners approve Raising Cane’s drive‑through with parking reconfiguration and oak‑tree encroachments

Thousand Oaks planning commissioners voted 4‑0 Aug. 25 to approve a special‑use permit and a protected‑tree permit that will allow Raising Cane’s to reestablish a double‑lane drive‑through restaurant at 400 North Moorpark Road.

The decision, made after a staff presentation and public comment, allows a small, 60‑square‑foot pay‑window addition, relocation and reconfiguration of parking and minor encroachments into the protected zones of three young oak trees. The commission found the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under the CEQA guideline classes cited by staff and approved the entitlements as conditioned. Commissioner Lanson made the motion; the record shows the vote as Commissioners Bus, Lanson, Tyler Kettlehut and Chair Ferris voting yes and Commissioner McMahon absent.

Staff said the permit is necessary because the prior drive‑through use ceased operations for more than 90 days and the property is now zoned mixed‑use, which requires planning‑commission review for drive‑throughs. Senior Planner Carlos Contreras told the commission the applications include a special‑use permit to reestablish the drive‑through (including a requested 12% parking reduction), and a protected‑tree permit…