Thousand Oaks launches comprehensive zoning-code rewrite to implement 2023 general plan; staff sets timeline

City staff and consultant Lisa Wise Consulting briefed the Thousand Oaks City Council on Aug. 26 on a comprehensive zoning code update intended to implement the city’s 2023 general plan, modernize land-use categories, and reorganize Title 9, Chapter 4 for clarity and usability. The council voted 5–0 to accept staff recommendations to proceed. Catherine Slama, director and project manager for Lisa Wise Consulting, said the city’s zoning code has not been comprehensively updated since the 1970s and described the project as an 18– to 20‑month effort. The firm completed an independent technical assessment this spring and summarized six key areas of recommended change: create new or modify existing zones to align each general-plan land-use designation with a corresponding zone; reorganize code structure (grouping content into divisions for usability and future amendments); consolidate and modernize the land-use table; refine objective design standards for multifamily and mixed‑use projects; reorganize administration and procedures so permit steps are clear and consistent; and update the sign regulations to address modern sign types and illumination while preserving content neutrality. Slama and planning manager Kristen Rice described public engagement to date: two community workshops in March and May, outreach to the planning commission, and additional meetings with stakeholder groups. The consultant said preliminary findings from the technical assessment echo public concerns heard in workshops: housing diversity and design, parking and mobility balance, open-space and ridgeline protection, and the need for user-friendly code text and structure. Staff outlined next steps: the drafting phase will follow the assessment and staff will seek public review of a full draft code in early 2026 with targeted adoption in spring 2026. The consultant recommended consolidating outdated specific plans where buildout is complete and retaining active specific plans that remain relevant. Councilmember Adam emphasized using the update to implement the general plan vision for Thousand Oaks Boulevard and to provide predictable, clear rules that incentivize appropriate redevelopment; Slama said the code can regulate building placement, ground-floor activation, access and parking to support walkable mixed-use corridors. On a motion to accept staff recommendations 1–3, the council voted 5–0 to continue the project into the drafting stage and to carry out the planned outreach and technical work. Ending: Staff and the consultant will proceed to the drafting phase, continue community workshops and bring a complete draft zoning code to the planning commission and council for review in early 2026.