Topic
Civic Arts Plaza and Culture
The section below identifies goals and policies throughout the General Plan related to Civic Arts Plaza and Culture. Use the buttons below to jump to a specific chapter.
Goal LU-1: Create a land use pattern of development that preserves existing neighborhoods while providing opportunities for targeted infill projects in strategic locations to enhance the quality of life, preserve the natural environment, and ensure the long-term fiscal viability of Thousand Oaks.
LU-1.7 Quality “Third Places.”
Support the development and enhancement of “Third Places” (places people go after work or when not at home), including open space, recreation, art, and entertainment venues.
Goal LU-13: Create a Downtown Core that is a vibrant and welcoming place that serves as the “heart of the City.”
LU-13.1 Downtown.
Implement the vision and specific strategies in the Downtown Core Master Plan, Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan (SP-20), and Civic Arts Plaza Specific Plan (SP-11). The General Plan incorporates the primary components of these plans as follows:
- Amend the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan (SP-20) to create new active, pedestrian-oriented commercial and residential uses consistent with the General Plan land use designations.
- Redesign Thousand Oaks Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly street with street amenities and landscaping.
- Implement gateways and wayfinding signage that mark the arrival into the Downtown.
LU-13.2 Civic Arts Specific Plan.
Redesign the Civic Arts Plaza frontage, building and open space to provide intuitive entrances with pedestrian connectivity between the Kavli Theatre Plaza level and the new Town Square and redevelopment of the Westside Properties (Area C-1 Civic Arts Specific Plan). Implement the following policies:
- Integrate institutional, entertainment, commercial and civic uses on the Civic Arts Plaza and Westside Properties, as part of the Campus Master Plan.
- Retain existing healthy mature trees.
- Provide flexible performance and active public space. Create quiet, contemplative spaces.
- Improve the visual and physical connections from the Kavli Theatre Plaza level to the Town Square and Thousand Oaks Boulevard to encourage theatre patrons to stay and experience downtown.
- Reaffirm the development of civic gathering space within the Campus Master Plan.
LU-13.3 Cultural events and programming.
Transform the Downtown Core into a hub for culture, arts, and events that draws visitors from around Thousand Oaks and the wider Conejo Valley, offering numerous events and programming for participants of all ages, interests, and abilities.
LU-13.4 City-owned Westside property.
Develop the City-owned Westside Property with an outdoor paseo or new street that provides connectivity and opportunities for outdoor gathering, public art, and aesthetic landscaping.
LU-13.9 Programmable outdoor space.
Integrate both indoor and outdoor programmable spaces to develop robust calendar of events to attract residents and visitors to Downtown Core year-round.
LU-13.11 Prohibited uses.
Prohibit the establishment or expansion of the following uses within the Downtown Core, as they detract from creating a walkable and pedestrian-friendly corridor:
- Industrial, warehousing and large-scale manufacturing;
- Contractor’s yards and construction materials with outdoor storage;
- Used or new car sales (Note that the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall is not included in this area.);
- Auto-related businesses such as auto repair, tire sales, oil change, body shops and similar uses;
- Auto storage facilities, indoor and outdoor;
- Self-storage facilities;
- Drive through establishments
Goal C-11: Protect historical and culturally significant resources, which contribute to the community’s sense of identity.
C-11.1 Cultural resource identification and recognition.
Identify and, as appropriate, recognize significant cultural resources by identifying significant cultural resources with landmark designation plaques, directional signage, self-guided tours, programs, and events.
C-11.2 Cultural resource preservation.
Require that new development preserve or mitigate impacts to significant historic, archaeological, and paleontological resources.
C-11.3 Archeological site protection.
The preferred method for protecting any previously recorded archeological site shall be by deed restriction as permanent “open space”, in order to prevent any future development or use that might otherwise adversely impact these resources.
C-11.4 Native American consultation.
Conduct Native American consultation consistent with most recent regulations when new development is proposed in culturally sensitive areas.
C-11.5 Historic resource management.
Maintain, rehabilitate, and reuse significant historic resources, as feasible.
C-11.8 Public and private involvement.
Collaborate with private and public entities whose goals are to protect and preserve historic resources and important cultural resources.
Goal CFS-4: Encourage building and landscape design that conserves or recycles water.
CFS-4.7 Recycled water use.
Strive to reduce potable water use and use recycled water for landscaping on City-owned and operated properties, focusing initially on larger, water-intensive properties such as Los Robles Greens Golf Course and the Civic Arts Plaza.
Goal CFS-12: Provide high quality, safe, well-maintained, and sustainable facilities, and services for City operations.
CFS-12.3 Community programming.
Maintain and expand, free community programming available year-round at Thousand Oaks community centers, libraries, and the Civic Arts Plaza.
Goal AC-1: Embrace arts and culture as a key partner to Thousand Oaks’ economic development.
AC-1.1 Creative sector.
Continue to develop programs and support systems for Thousand Oaks’ creative sector, attracting new workers to the community and retaining current workers and businesses.
AC-1.2 Creative spaces.
Prioritize the development of arts and creative spaces and gathering places within mixed use, commercial, retail, and civic developments.
AC-1.3 Civic Arts Plaza Campus Master Plan.
Support and enhance the Civic Arts Plaza Campus Master Plan’s goals to develop arts and culture spaces and programming for the new Civic Arts Plaza.
AC-1.4 Competitive advantage.
Take steps to incorporate the arts and cultural vibrancy and vitality of Thousand Oaks as a distinct competitive advantage for the City as a place to live, work, and recreate.
Goal AC-2: Ensure the Civic Arts Plaza remains the vibrant cultural center of Thousand Oaks.
AC-2.1 Arts programming.
Continue to focus on the high quality of the Civic Arts Plaza facilities and programs while expanding and enhancing offerings.
AC-2.2 Finances.
Sustain the financial health of the Civic Arts Plaza operations and programming and explore new funding sources in addition to the TOArts policy related to BAPAC and the enterprise fund.
AC-2.3 Resident organizations.
Ensure longevity for the resident organization program, providing continued incentives and benefits, such as reduced theater fees, donated office space, and marketing assistance.
AC-2.4 Arts and business roundtable.
Develop an Arts and Business Roundtable to expand community partnerships, assist with programming of the new Civic Arts Plaza and other relevant topics for advancement of the arts for the City.
Goal AC-3: Enhance and expand arts, cultural, and creative experiences throughout all areas of the community.
AC-3.1 Public art.
Adopt a City Public Art Ordinance to develop a City public art program that creates permanent and temporary art works in locations and places throughout the City.
AC-3.2 Citywide arts experiences.
Through the Cultural Affairs Department, expand the current arts and cultural programming to extend to venues and spaces throughout the city, including informal places and experiences.
AC-3.3 Cultural facilities.
Take steps to identify partnerships and locations in Thousand Oaks for a large (10,000+ seat) venue for concerts, festivals, and other entertainment and cultural events.
Goal AC-4: Foster new generations of culturally literate and healthy residents.
AC-4.1 Lifelong learning in the arts.
Working with local organizations and the schools, support access to lifelong learning in the arts for all residents of all ages in community settings.
AC-4.2 Partnerships.
Further define and develop partnerships and collaborations among the CVUSD, California Lutheran University, the arts community, and other agencies in the provision of arts learning for youth.
AC-4.3 Cultural relevancy.
Continue to develop and expand arts and cultural programming that appeals to diverse cultural interests, including young adults, families, youth, seniors, and other specific audience groups.
AC-4.4 Program expansion.
Expand Cultural Affairs Department programming by developing partnerships, identifying satellite venues, and creating new programming for all communities and neighborhoods.
Goal AC-5: Assure effective arts and cultural leadership for the Thousand Oaks community.
AC-5.1 Creative sector leadership.
As part of the development of an Arts and Business Roundtable, convene and activate Thousand Oaks’ creative sector and facilitate their participation in civic leadership.
AC-5.2 Community leadership.
Activate the Arts and Culture Roundtable with specific responsibilities as a community advisory body.
AC-5.3 Shared leadership.
Continue and expand Thousand Oaks’ well-established practice of City collaborations with the Library, CRPD, California Lutheran University, CVUSD, and others to leverage these relationships for arts and cultural programming, information sharing and facilities.
Goal AC-6: Utilize arts and culture as a policy tool for other civic goals.
AC-6.1 Equity, inclusion, access.
Utilize art to provide a unique opportunity for engagement and programming content strategies to develop relationships with the Thousand Oaks community.
AC-6.2 Community health.
Utilize arts and cultural programming to support community health policies (teen suicides, crisis response), and social service initiatives.
AC-6.3 Creatives in City government.
Develop artist-in-residence or an artist-in-residence on demand program within City government to provide creative perspectives and services in planning, design, communications, community engagement, and other functions.
AC-6.4 Cross-departmental.
Convene City departments on a regular basis to explore cross-departmental initiatives with Community Development, Public Works, Police, and Library Services.
Goal AC-7: Secure diverse and sustainable arts and cultural funding.
AC-7.1 Expanded impact.
Allocate City funds to support arts and cultural programming and functions outside the Civic Arts Plaza and its enterprise fund.
AC-7.2 TOArts.
Support the Thousand Oaks Alliance for the Arts (TOArts) to continue and expand its funding partnership with the Cultural Affairs Department in support of programming in places other than the Civic Arts Plaza.
AC-7.3 Dedicated funding source.
Explore development of a dedicated revenue source for arts and culture.
Corresponding Implementation Actions
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Action | Goal | Chapter | Timeframe | Lead Responsibility | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.1 Comprehensive zoning code update. Following the adoption of the General Plan, prepare a comprehensive update to the Citywide zoning code. | LU-1 | Land Use | Short | Community Development | |
| 2 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.2 Create new mixed-use zoning district. Following the adoption of the General Plan, create a new mixed-use zoning district, including performance standards for infill development on parking lots and commercial structures. | LU-5 | Land Use | Short | Community Development | Parking, Mixed-Use and New Development |
| 3 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 16/12/2024 10:39 PM | LU-A.3 Inclusionary Housing Program. Adopt and implement an Inclusionary Housing Program. | LU-3 and LU-4 | Land Use | Short | Community Development | Equity, Mixed-Use and New Development |
| 4 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.4 Campus Master Plan. Implement vision of the Downtown Core Master Plan by redesigning the Civic Arts Plaza. | LU-13 | Land Use | Medium | City Manager’s Office | Civic Arts Plaza and Culture |
| 5 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.5 Creation of a downtown core. Initiate public/private partnerships to redevelop Thousand Oaks Boulevard as a “main street” with public, retail, lodging, entertainment and/or multi-family uses. | LU-13 and LU-14 | Land Use | Long | City Manager’s Office | Jobs and Economic Development, Mixed-Use and New Development |
| 6 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.6 Update specific plans. Update Specific Plans where policy changes are required pursuant to the 2045 General Plan policies, starting with the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan. | LU-1, LU-13, and LU-14 | Land Use | Short | Community Development | |
| 7 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.7 Specific plan or master plan preparation. Coordinate with property owners of key opportunity sites to prepare Specific Plan or Master Plan efforts for the following areas: The Oaks, Moorpark Road/Janss Marketplace, Highway 101 Corridor/Borchard Property | LU-15, LU-16, LU-17, and LU-18 | Land Use | Medium | Community Development | |
| 8 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.8 Mixed-use and adaptive reuse parking requirements study. Conduct a study to investigate modifying parking requirements for new mixed-use development and adaptive reuse projects. Revise the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code accordingly. | LU-5 | Land Use | Short | Community Development | Sustainability, Health, Parking, Mixed-Use and New Development |
| 9 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.9 Municipal code review for healthy housing. Review, revise, and update the municipal code (as well as other relevant plans, procedures, regulations, guidelines, programs, and design manuals) to promote healthy housing quality. | LU-4 | Land Use | Long | Community Development | Residential Neighborhoods, Health |
| 10 | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | christian | 13/12/2024 05:44 PM | LU-A.10 Affordable housing linkage fee. Study and determine nexus to implement a fee program where new commercial and/or industrial developments pay a fee to fund affordable housing units. | LU-3 and LU-4 | Land Use | Short | Community Development | Equity, Mixed-Use and New Development |