Commission approves indoor electric golf-car sales in Thousand Oaks industrial park

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission on Jan. 27 voted 5-0 to approve Special Use Permit SUP2024-70017, allowing Beachside Golf Cars, LLC to sell electric golf cars indoors from an existing one-story, 8,770-square-foot industrial building at 3559 Old Canal Road in the M-1 industrial park zone.

Assistant Planner Tabitha McAtee told commissioners the retail portion of the tenant space will occupy about 7,946 square feet, with 824 square feet set aside for office and ancillary uses. Staff confirmed all operations will be conducted indoors; the permit prohibits outdoor display of inventory, exterior signage or special events without separate permits.

Applicant representative Greg Kuzmatka described the business model as appointment-based retail: customers preorder a specific model and color online and then pick up in person or arrange home delivery. The operation expects six employees on-site daily. Staff said the site provides 20 designated parking spaces, exceeding the municipal code requirement by three spaces.

Kuzmatka confirmed limited test drives would occur only on private roads within the industrial condominium complex and that no public roads would be used. A building owner who testified in support, Todd Lorber, said he took the tenant because he supports the product and considers it environmentally beneficial.

Staff determined the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under Class 1 (existing facilities, section 15301(a)) and recommended approval subject to conditions that prohibit outdoor displays, automobile painting or body work and require compliance with code standards for parking and operations. The commission's motion adopted the findings and conditions and approved SUP2024-70017 by a 5-0 vote.

The decision may be appealed to the Community Development Department within 10 days.