Council Just Picks the Law It Likes Best

Your Jan. 5 article, “Thousand Oaks All Part of the Plan,” was most welcome.

I suggest, however, the headline is misleading; that our city is not all “part of the plan.” You accurately state that Councilman Mike Markey regards “a city master plan [as] only a general blueprint to be altered when it makes sense.” This interpretation of state law gives the council majority free reign to do much as they please with our open space, when they choose to do so.

The California Planning and Zoning Law, however, does not suggest such freedom. Among its explicit provisions are that cities shall “take positive action to carry out such plans by the adoption and strict administration of laws, ordinances and regulations. . . . “

I hold, and have said so at a public meeting, that our council has violated this law (specifically with regard to the Adventist property), but apparently they’re able to do so with complete impunity. Given the attitude expressed by Mr. Markey, it’s reasonable to expect, unfortunately, that they will continue to do so as long as they remain in office.

More positively, it was nice to see “The Relics” recognized publicly. Having had the experience of working with some of these people I’ve seen at firsthand their dedication--and their collective encyclopedic memory. We’re lucky to have them.

BOB BOND, Thousand Oaks. Bob Bond has twice served on the city’s General Plan Review Committee, was a member of the Committee of 107, and currently serves on the Tree and Landscape Advisory Board.