Abstract
The conservation of large amounts of natural open space presents a significant challenge to local government, particularly in rapidly growing communities. In Thousand Oaks, California, over 12,000 acres of natural open space have been preserved within the City's planning area, while simultaneously accommodating approximately 116,000 residents.
The purpose of this paper is to describe the factors that have contributed to open space preservation by local government in Thousand Oaks. These factors include community initiative and support, open space conservation policies, diverse implementation techniques, creation of a local agency for open space stewardship, experience and commitment of staff, inter-agency agreements, large landholdings, and topography. This study highlights the need for a multi-faceted, integrated and long-term approach to open space conservation, based on public support. Many of the factors outlined in this paper may be applicable in other communities that are trying to balance economic growth with the conservation of natural landscapes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, L. and Love, L. (1989) Wildlife Reserves and Corridors in the Urban Environment: A Guide to Ecological Landscape Planning and Resource Conservation. National Institute for Urban Wildlife, Columbia, MD.
Bidwell, C. (1989) The Conejo Valley: Old and New Frontiers. Windsor Publications, Inc., Chatsworth, CA.
Boyle, S. and Samson, F. (1985) Effects of nonconsumptive recreation on wildlife: a review. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 13, 110-6.
California Department of Finance (1993) Report 93 P-1. Demographic Research Unit, April 1993.
California Department of Fish and Game (1992) Special Animals. The Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
California Department of Fish and Game (1994a) Special Plants List. The Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
California Department of Fish and Game (1994b) State and Federal Endangered and Threatened Animals of California and Listing Dates. The Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
California Native Plant Society (1994) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California. Special Publication No. 1/5th ed., Sacramento, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1971) Thousand Oaks Development Plan. Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1972a) Open Space Element, Thousand Oaks General Plan. Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1972b) Conservation Element, Thousand Oaks General Plan. Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1976) Conejo Canyons Study. Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1977) A Resolution of the City of Thousand Oaks Approving a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between the City of Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Recreation and Park District Forming the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency. City Council Resolution No. 77-383, Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1980) Arroyo Conejo Reforestation Report. Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1988) Report of the Open Space Subcommittee. City of Thousand Oaks General Plan Review Committee, Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1989) Conejo Valley Attitude Survey. Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1992) Housing Element, Thousand Oaks General Plan. Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1994a) Conejo Valley Attitude Survey. Thousand Oaks,CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1994b) Hillside Planned Development Zone. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code, chapter 4, Article 31, Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1994c) Residential Planned Development Zone. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code, chapter 4, Article 9, Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1994d) Protected Ridgeline Overlay Zone. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code, chapter 4, Article 35, Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1994e) Open Space Zone. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code, chapter 4, Article 36, Thousand Oaks, CA.
City of Thousand Oaks (1994f) Disposition or Lease of Property Held by the City for Open Space Purposes. City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code, chapter 13, Article 1, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Cole, D. (1982) Wilderness Campsite Impacts: Effect of Amount of Use. Research Paper INT 284, United States Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.
Collins, B. (1994) Personal communication.
Conejo Future Foundation (1974) Report of the Conejo Canyons Task Force. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Conejo Future Foundation (1992) Vision 2020 Project: Options for Our Endangered Environment. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (1984a) Bird Checklist. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (1984b) McCrea Wildlife Preserve: Resource Evaluation and Management Report. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (1988) Management Alternatives Study for the Lake Eleanor Parcel. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (1989) Management Policies and Guidelines. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Conejo Recreation and Park District (1967) General Plan Report. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce (1994) Where You Want to be. (video), Thousand Oaks, CA.
County of Ventura (1992) Thousand Oaks Area Plan. Ventura County Planning Department, Ventura, CA.
Dangermond, P. (1993) Parks and recreation: vital to a way of life. In California's Threatened Environment(T. Palmer, ed.) pp. 212-25. Island Press, Covelo, CA.
Davis, F. (1994) Gap Analysis of the Southwestern Region. Technical Report 94-04, National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Gruen Gruen and Associates (1973) The Costs and Benefits of Alternative Open Space Policies: A Report to the City Council of the City of Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Recreation and Park District.
Hasenauer, J. and Langton, M. (1993) Mountain Biking the Coast Range: The Santa Monica Mountains. Fine Edge Productions, Bishop, CA.
Holland, R. (1986) Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California. State of California, The Resources Agency, Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
Hoose, P. (1981) Building an Ark: Tools for the Preservation of Natural Diversity through Land Protection. Island Press, Covelo, CA.
International City/County Management Association (1993) Community Open Space: New Techniques for Acquisition and Financing. Management Information Service Report, vol. 12, December.
Jones and Stokes (1992) Reassembling the Pieces: A Strategy for Maintaining Biological Diversity in California. Jones and Stokes Associates, Sacramento, CA.
Lindsay, J. (1986) Carrying capacity for tourism development in national parks in the United States. Ind Environ, January/February/March 1986, pp. 17-20.
McHarg, I. (1969) Design with Nature. Doubleday/Natural History Press, Garden City, NY.
Meral, G. (1993) An action agenda for the future. In California's Threatened Environment(T. Palmer, ed.) pp. 258-70. Island Press, Covelo, CA.
Nature Conservancy (1990) Critical Wildlife Corridor/Habitat Linkage Areas between the Santa Susana Mountains,the Simi Hills, and the Santa Monica Mountains. Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, CA.
Shiffman, I. (1983) Alternative Techniques for Controlling Land Use: A Guide for Small Cities and Rural Areas in California. Institute of Governmental Affairs, University of California, Davis.
Smith, S. (1993) Wildlife and endangered species: in precipitous decline. In California's Threatened Environment(T. Palmer, ed) pp. 226-40. Island Press, Covelo, CA.
Soule, M. (1991) Land use planning and wildlife maintenance: guidelines for conserving wildlife in an urban landscape JAPA 5(3), 313-23.
Sturdevant and Company (1993) Securitizable Tax-Exempt Installment-Purchase Open Space Financing Program. Harvey Cedars, NJ.
University of California (1993) Open Space in Southern California: An Issue Book. Prepared for the Urban and Environmental Outreach Program Symposium “Land, Species, Development: Workable Policies in Southern California”, University of California, Riverside.
Washburne, R. (1982) Wilderness recreational carrying capacity: are numbers necessary? J. Forest, November, 726-8.
Weiner, R. (1991) Building Sustainable Communities; Open Space: Preservation and Acquisition. A report of The Global Cities Project of the Center for the Study of Law and Politics, San Francisco, CA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Towne, M.A. Open space conservation in urban environments: lessons from Thousand Oaks, California. Urban Ecosystems 2, 85–101 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009521413395
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009521413395