Chapter
Parks and Open Space
The Parks and Open Space Element supports the Thousand Oaks vision to protect natural open spaces, provide convenient access to well-maintained parks, and maintain the community’s character and enviable quality of life. This Element identifies goals and policies to preserve open space resources as well as to provide diverse opportunities for recreation throughout the City. The City actively partners with the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) and Conejo Open Space and Conservation Agency (COSCA) to ensure parks, trails, and open spaces are well-maintained and located equitably throughout the community. This Element should be implemented through detailed master plans and strategic plans prepared by CRPD and COSCA.
Goals and Policies
Open Space
Goal POS-1: Preserve open space lands for future generations of Thousand Oaks residents.
POS-1.1 COSCA Strategic Plan.
Actively collaborate with CRPD and COSCA during their regular updates to the COSCA Strategic Plan to ensure the plan’s open space management objectives and implementation actions are consistent with the City’s Parks and Open Space Element.
POS-1.2 Transfer ownership.
In order to preserve open space in perpetuity, coordinate with COSCA to transfer ownership of natural open space parcels owned by the City and CRPD to COSCA for consistent planning and management.
POS-1.3 Privately-owned open space.
Ensure privately-owned open spaces are subject to appropriate conditions of approval, deed restrictions, or easements with the City or COSCA as a beneficiary.
POS-1.4 Privately-owned golf courses.
In the event private golf courses that are designated as open space are no longer economically viable, a public referendum is required to determine any future non-open space allowed use.
POS-1.5 Public agency ownership.
Continue the transfer of private open space lands to public agency ownership as conditioned during the entitlement process to provide consistent management, linkage with other components of the open space system, and appropriate recreational and educational opportunities.
POS-1.6 Thousand Oaks City Urban Restriction Boundary.
Comply with the restrictions of the 2016 Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR) and Parks Initiative Ordinance known as Measure W to the extent required by its terms. A copy of Measure W is included in Appendix E.
Goal POS-2: Complete the connected ring of natural open space around the developed portions of Thousand Oaks.
POS-2.1 Preserve public parks and open space.
Strategically acquire undeveloped parcels that contribute to completion of the ring of open space around developed areas.
POS-2.2 Regional trail planning.
Participate in cooperative regional trail planning with public and private organizations, such as California State Parks, NPS, SMMC, County of Ventura, MRCA, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, other adjacent municipalities, CRPD, and COSCA to identify and develop new regional trail connections, including beyond the City’s Planning Area boundaries.
POS-2.3 Greenbelt agreements.
Participate in cooperative regional planning efforts, such as greenbelt agreements, which reinforce and extend the ring of open space, which may include low intensity rural agricultural land use, beyond the Planning Area boundaries.
POS-2.4 Funding opportunities.
Seek grants and other special funding sources for prioritized trail easements and habitat restoration or enhancement projects.
POS-2.5 Restoration of new open spaces.
In areas to be dedicated as natural open space, remove ground disturbances, such as unauthorized roads and trails not part of the trail system, and remove debris and improvements foreign to the natural environment.
POS-2.6 Regional advocacy.
Support regional planning efforts which promote infill development within cities, avoid sprawling development, and preserve large open area buffers and wildlife corridors between cities.
POS-2.7 Ring of open space in planning documents.
Regularly review and ensure that local and regional planning documents appropriately describe and depict the ring of open space.
Goal POS-3: Manage and regulate open spaces to protect the natural environment.
POS-3.1 Public service facilities.
Locate and design emergency facilities, or other necessary public service facilities such as trail heads, access roads and parking lots and restrooms, to minimize impacts to open space areas.
POS-3.2 Roads in open spaces.
Limit the development of roads, either unimproved or improved, within or traversing natural open space areas. Any proposed road easements potentially affecting open space lands shall be carefully reviewed to avoid or minimize impact on open space resources. Management of existing access roads shall seek to minimize impacts on adjacent natural areas.
POS-3.3 Restricted hunting.
Prohibit all forms of hunting or trapping, except hunting conducted under the auspices of a public agency for public safety purposes and live trapping which is necessary for purposes of scientific study conducted by, or under the auspices of, a public agency and which does not result in injury or death to the animal. Prohibit use of anti-coagulant baits, which are known to be harmful to non-target species.
POS-3.4 Stream water quality in open space areas.
Promote efforts to protect water quality of streams located within open space areas from the adverse effects associated with unpermitted recreational use and stormwater runoff.
POS-3.5 Agency partnerships.
Work cooperatively with utility companies, water agencies, and the Ventura County Watershed Protection District to ensure that facilities subject to their jurisdiction are planned and designed in a manner which provides effective public service and protects the natural environment.
POS-3.6 Natural drainage courses in open space areas.
Discourage use of concrete or other flood control improvements in natural drainage courses within open space areas, unless no reasonable alternatives can be found that would maintain natural hydrological and ecological functions.
POS-3.7 Groundwater recharge in open space areas.
Allow groundwater recharge areas if they are beneficial to regional water conservation and groundwater replenishment efforts and not detrimental to the function and resources of the open space system.
POS-3.8 Fuel modification zones.
Protect open space vegetation by restricting new development that expands fuel modification zones onto designated open space properties.
Goal POS-4: Design trails and open spaces to encourage outdoor recreation and education while protecting natural resources.
POS-4.1 Diversity of trail experiences.
Provide a range of scenic experiences and degrees of difficulty on trails and regulate trail use as necessary in order to maintain and protect both the natural environment and trail improvements.
POS-4.2 Visitor facilities.
Locate visitor facilities such as signs and kiosks, principally at trailheads to limit impact on natural resources and maintain the natural appeal of trails.
POS-4.3 Natural materials.
Design trail facilities to blend unobtrusively with the natural setting by using natural building materials, native plant materials, and earth-tone colors to the greatest extent possible in all fencing, trailheads, kiosks, and other open space improvements.
POS-4.4 Outdoor programming.
Promote outdoor recreation activities and programming within open spaces that avoid adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources.
POS-4.5 Educational materials.
Emphasize the importance of natural resource protection as well as trail etiquette and visitor rules in educational materials related to recreational use of open space.
POS-4.6 Fencing and barriers.
Install fencing and barrier materials where appropriate to direct public access to specific entry points, control off-road vehicle access, and provide public safety and resource protection. Preclude individual residential lots from direct access to open space.
Goal POS-5: Manage open spaces to reduce risk of natural hazards and promote the safety of the public.
POS-5.1 Natural hazards.
Flood plains, areas of unstable slopes, and fuel modification zones should remain in an undeveloped state for the purposes of maintaining public safety.
POS-5.2 Fuel modification zones.
Ensure the ongoing implementation of defensible space maintenance by the property owners, as required by the Ventura County Fire Department.
POS-5.3 Fire protection access.
Continue to accommodate fire protection access, including helipads and fire roads, within natural open space areas in a manner which provides effective protection to the public and minimizes disturbance to natural resources.
POS-5.4 New developments.
Plan new developments to avoid direct and secondary impacts on valuable open space resources, including visual impacts from the trail system, appropriate access control, location, and maintenance of fuel modification areas.
Parks
Goal POS-6: Create and maintain beautiful and accessible parks and recreational facilities that meet the needs of all residents of Thousand Oaks.
POS-6.1 Preserve public parks and open space.
Restrict future development in areas designated for public parks and open space on land owned by the City or other public agencies. Development or maintenance of supportive structures and recreation facilities within these designations is permitted, as allowed by each agency.
POS-6.2 Enhance existing facilities.
Enhance and update facilities and amenities at existing public parks to meet the recreational needs and interests of residents of all ages.
POS-6.3 Environmental stewardship.
Incorporate low impact and sustainable building practices in the revitalization and development of parks, trails, open spaces, and recreation facilities.
POS-6.4 Public safety.
Consider the safety of park uses with the design of new and expanded park facilities.
POS-6.5 Equitable park access.
Ensure that new parks and recreational facilities are placed equitably throughout the city to maximize access to parks for all residents.
POS-6.6 Accessible parks.
Park design should consider usability by and safety for children, seniors, and those with mobility, sight, hearing or other special needs.
POS-6.7 Community and regional parks.
Encourage the development of community or regional parks, to address expanded demand for organized sports activities and community functions.
POS-6.8 Neighborhood parks.
Support enhancing existing neighborhood parks and developing future neighborhood park sites.
POS-6.9 Joint use.
Pursue and expand joint use of public lands that are available and suitable for recreational purposes, including school district properties, as well as flood control district, water district, and other utility properties.
Goal POS-7: Provide diverse and affordable recreational programs and services for all Thousand Oaks residents, regardless of age, activity level, physical ability, or income level.
POS-7.1 Expansive programming.
Offer diversified programs and services that meet the recreational needs of community members.
POS-7.2 Active recreational programs.
Encourage recreational programs that provide active and health-promoting opportunities for residents of all ages.
POS-7.3 Culturally relevant programming.
Encourage culturally relevant programming at various recreation facilities to serve the City’s population.
POS-7.4 Older adult programming.
Expand recreational programs, such as socialization classes and adult daycare, that meet the needs of older adults of all ages and abilities.
POS-7.5 Fee discounts.
Consider fee discounts for low-income families, such as families with children who participate in the National School Lunch Program, so that all residents have access to the City’s recreational programming.
POS-7.6 Partnerships with private entities.
Explore opportunities to cooperate with private, for-profit recreation, and leisure businesses to expand and enhance recreational programming.
POS-7.7 Educational amenities.
Promote public awareness and use of the significant educational facilities owned by CRPD, such as the Oakbrook Chumash Indian Museum, the Stagecoach Inn Museum, and the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden.
Goal POS-8: Expand and fund parks to keep pace with the City’s long-term growth.
POS-8.1 New parks.
Work with CRPD to achieve a goal of 10 acres of parks, accessible open space and recreational facilities for every 1,000 residents in the City as follows:
- A goal of 5 acres of community parks, playfields, and neighborhood parks per 1,000 residents.
- A goal of 5 acres of district-wide parks, including accessible open spaces, per 1,000 residents.
POS-8.2 Parks fees.
Maintain and amend as needed, ordinances imposing impact fees and Quimby Act fees on new development.
POS-8.3 On-site parks.
Require development projects of greater than 10 acres in size to provide parks on-site.
POS-8.4 Funding sources.
In partnership with CRPD, explore new potential funding sources to enhance programming, property acquisition, park improvements, operations and maintenance, and capital facility replacements.
POS-8.5 Parks long-term planning.
Collaborate with CRPD on their 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan, 30-Year maintenance plan, and long-term master plan.
Maps
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