Thousand Oaks planning commission certifies EIR, approves Conejo Summit industrial park

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission voted 4-0 on Sept. 8 to certify the final environmental impact report under the California Environmental Quality Act and approve entitlements for the Conejo Summit project, an industrial business park of 15 buildings totaling about 755,000 square feet on roughly 50 acres in the Rancho Conejo area.

The commission’s action adopts a resolution that includes findings and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program. The project — led by Thousand Oaks Master LLC and Chappell Properties — would reconfigure existing parcels into condominium lots, construct 15 industrial buildings ranging from about 22,700 to 93,000 square feet, extend Academy Drive, and make roadway, grading, utility and landscaping improvements. The approval includes waivers for building height (from 35 feet to up to 41 feet in places) and reduced front setbacks on four parcels. The commission vote was 4 yes, 0 no; one commissioner was absent.

Staff summary and why the project matters

Senior Planner Scott Kollwitz told the commission the project is consistent with the city’s 2045 General Plan and Rancho Conejo Specific Plan No. 7 (SP 7) land‑use designation of Industrial Low, and that the final EIR identifies mitigation measures the city will require and monitor. "Based on all of that, we would request that the planning commission adopt the approval resolution tonight," Kollwitz said. City staff said on record that infrastructure capacity (water, roads, grading) is available and that the project is anticipated to be built in phases over about 10 years.

Commission and staff emphasized the project’s economic intent: add modern industrial space to support manufacturing, research and development, and other employment uses in a core job center for Thousand Oaks. Applicant and staff both cited the project as supporting the city’s economic development strategy and a regional shift toward larger, higher‑clearance industrial buildings that many existing properties lack.

Key approvals, design and conditions

- Entitlements approved include a development permit for phased construction of 15 buildings, two vesting tentative tract maps to reconfigure lots, a protected tree permit, a unified sign program and related administrative plan checks. The planning commission is the final decision maker unless the action is appealed to the City Council within 10 days. -…