FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS CRPD’S GOAL AT THE RANCHO POTRERO COMMUNITY EQUESTRIAN CENTER (RPCEC)?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
Our goal is to work with the neighbors, equestrian community, and CRPD’s non-profit partner, Ride On, to provide quality recreational opportunities at RPCEC which are available to the general public. 

HOW ARE CRPD AND RIDE ON GOING TO MEET THIS GOAL?  (Updated 4/7/2022)
Capital improvements are underway to remediate prior substandard construction and address deferred maintenance issues associated with the prior equestrian center operator. The vast majority of these capital improvements are internal to the center and within the existing Special Use Permit (SUP). 

Click here for the list of capital improvements.

On March 4, 2022, CRPD’s Rancho Potrero Ad Hoc Committee (Directors Lange and Nickles), three CRPD staff, two Ride On representatives, a boarder representative, and four representatives from the Estancia/Virazon/Haciendas HOAs reviewed the list of capital improvements and concur with the necessity and implementation of the projects (with the exception of the lighting project for the arena at the west end of the property).  The 12 members are referred to as the Working Group.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FOR LIGHTING THE ARENA AT THE WEST END OF THE PROPERTY? (Updated 2/22/2022)
The current proposed project includes six 50’ high light poles with 3 LED fixtures each to properly and sufficiently light the arena. 

ARE ARENA LIGHTS ALLOWED UNDER THE EXISTING SPECIAL USE PERMIT? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Eighteen foot (18’) high lighting is authorized in the existing SUP; however, 50’ light poles are not contemplated in the existing SUP, so CRPD is seeking input from the community (immediate neighbors and equestrians) and meeting with the Working Group to determine the nature of any modification application to the SUP from the City.

IS THERE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL LIGHTS AT RANCHO POTRERO?  (Updated 4/7/2022)
Much like any other recreational activity, facility usage during the winter months is severely restricted due to early nightfall. In the Conejo Valley, most of our community’s youth sports groups have some access to night-lighted facilities during the winter months. By providing an additional lighted arena at RPCEC until 8:00pm, boarders and lesson riders would have the opportunity to use the facility after work/school during the winter months.  With an additional lighted arena, it is estimated by CRPD and Ride On that there would be an additional 1,125 annual riding lessons and the opportunity for an additional 900 annual exercise sessions for the boarders at the facility.

IF LIGHTS ARE INSTALLED, WILL THERE BE LIGHT USAGE AFTER 8:00PM? (Updated 4/7/2022)
As allowed by the SUP, light usage is permitted until 8:00pm and there are no plans to seek approval from the City to modify the 8:00pm time that is specified in the permit.  The lights would not be necessary most of the Summer (May, June, July, August) and used for approximately 3 hours in the darkest of Winter (November, December, January, February).   

IF LIGHTS ARE INSTALLED, WILL LIGHTS BE SHINING IN MY BACKYARD OR ON LYNN ROAD? (Updated 2/22/2022)
Under the current proposal, the professional lighting engineer’s (MUSCO lighting) photometric study concludes light will stay within the RPCEC property and not spill over the property line to your backyard or Lynn Road.

WHY ARE THE PROPOSED LIGHTS RECOMMENDED AT 50’? (Updated 4/7/2022)
The current proposed project includes six 50’ high light poles with 3 LED fixtures each to properly and sufficiently light the arena.  The lighting engineer recommended the poles be at 50’ so no light spills over past the property line (as required by the SUP) and the candelas (intensity of the light) at the nearest residences are negligible/zero and the skyglow (light effect from fog/dust) is minimized to the fullest extent.

CAN THE PROPOSED LIGHTS BE LOWER THAN 50’? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Perhaps. However, light fixtures at a lower height would still need to reach the center of the arena. The lower the fixture, the greater the horizontal angle necessary to light across the arena, therefore, the light would more likely spill beyond the arena and over the property line. This would be in conflict with conditions set forth in the SUP as well as increasing the candelas (intensity of light) at the nearest residences and the skyglow (light effect from fog/dust).

ARE THE PROPOSED LIGHTS LIKE SPORTS STADIUM LIGHTS?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
No. Sports stadiums, such as SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Coliseum, and Newbury Park High School, have far more light fixtures, taller poles, and more intense illumination than a recreational venue.  A nearby recreational venue, Dos Vientos Community Park, has 16 sports light poles at 70’ (4 total), 80’ (7), and 90’ (5) with a total of 155 metal halide fixtures.

By comparison, the current proposed project has a total of 18 LED light fixtures (6 poles with 3 LED lights/pole).  LED light fixtures have better performance (directional/focused light, glare), reduced energy consumption, and reduced maintenance costs compared to metal halides.  

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO THE 50’ LIGHT POLES?   (Updated 4/7/2022)
The Working Group met on March 4, 2022 and March 25, 2022 and discussed various alternative lighting proposals to determine if there may be a preferred alternative that is reasonably feasible.

The Working Group has narrowed its focus on several options to provide an additional lighted arena at RPCEC:

• A lighted arena located on-site 200-300 ft from Lynn Road, using 20-25 ft light poles, or possibly covered.
• The currently proposed project – lighting the arena on the west end of the property with six 50-foot-high poles with three fixtures each
• The covered lighted arena project - constructing a structure to cover and light a portion of the arena on the west end of the property.  Potentially approximately 2/3^rd the length and width of the west arena, lights under the roof, open sides. 

These options are being further evaluated (costs, operations, infrastructure, aesthetics, impacts, etc…) by CRPD and Ride On and will be presented to the Working Group for continued positive dialogue and discussion in the near future (goal is mid-May 2022).

WILL THESE OPTIONS HAVE TO GO TO THE CITY FOR APPROVAL?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
Yes.  In order to light the arena with poles greater than 18’, CRPD must apply for a modification to the existing SUP with the appropriate land use authority, which is the City of Thousand Oaks (CRPD is a separate governmental agency from the City of Thousand Oaks).  CRPD will consider the project (or an alternative) at a CRPD Board of Directors meeting before any such application for a SUP modification.

HASN’T ALL THIS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
CRPD has not yet made any decision about submitting a SUP modification application for approval of an arena lighting project.

CRPD staff met with the RPCEC Ad Hoc Committee (CRPD Directors Lange and Nickles) last week and last month to better understand the proposed project, the community concerns, and how to best work with the HOAs to discuss potential alternatives to the 50’ pole lighting concept.

When/if decisions are to be made, they will be made in an open public forum (i.e. CRPD Board meeting) which you will be appropriately notified of the time, place, content, and process/avenues to comment.

When/if the decisions are made to submit an application to the City of Thousand Oaks for a site lighting improvement, you will be appropriately notified of the City of Thousand Oaks’ process.

WILL THERE BE PUBLIC INPUT DURING THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS? (Updated 4/7/2022)
The Working Group met on March 4, 2022 and March 25, 2022 and will continue to meet for further discussion.  It is the intent of the Working Group to hold additional public input to assist with the decision-making process.  The additional public input prior to review of a lighting project at a CRPD Board meeting would include HOA meetings and a meeting open to the general public.

Should CRPD consider submitting a SUP modification application, there will be notification and an opportunity to comment at a CRPD Board meeting.

WHEN IS WORK GOING TO START? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Uncertain.  Work would not start until a final project proposal is made to the CRPD Board (which would occur after the Working Group/public outreach process is complete), an application is filed and approved by the City, and a construction contract is awarded. 

ARE THERE PLANS FOR EXPANDING THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT OF THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER? (Updated 2/22/2022)
The RPCEC is approximately 20 acres.  There are no plans for expansion of the footprint of the existing equestrian center.

WILL THERE BE AMPLIFIED NOISE?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
There are no plans for loudspeakers or amplified noise beyond what is currently allowed in the SUP.

WHAT KIND OF EVENTS ARE PLANNED AT RPCEC? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Future events may include low-key horse shows, camps, open houses, horsemanship clinics, and Trailfest (trail ride for kids with disabilities held one time per year).  There are no plans for events beyond what is currently allowed in the SUP.  There are no plans for for-profit commercial events, such as weddings and similar rentals. 

WILL THERE BE RODEOS?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
There are no current plans for rodeos on the property.

WILL THERE BE CATTLE STABLED ON THE PROPERTY?  (Updated 4/7/2022)
There are no plans for cattle to be stabled on the property; the infrastructure used for cattle is being removed.

WILL THERE BE MORE HORSES BOARDED ON THE PROPERTY?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
There are no current plans to permanently expand the number of horses being boarded on the property.  

ARE YOU BUILDING MORE HORSE STALLS?  (Updated 4/7/2022)
As part of the proposed overall improvements to the property, replacement stalls are to be constructed in accordance with the SUP to properly stable some of the current horses.

Currently, there are a total of 116 existing stalls.  At the end of the planned upgrades, there will be a total of 122 stalls (for further clarification – not all stalls are for boarding), 42 of which will be housed in 2 mare motels.  The mare motels will be centrally located on the property and will be very similar to the existing structure (see photo below) on the east end of the property.

Some of the current horses will be moved to these new stalls. The empty stalls will remain vacant unless necessary as temporary/evacuation stalls for other horses from the community in the event of an emergency situation (such as a wildfire).

WITH THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS, WILL THERE BE SUFFICIENT PARKING FOR THE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AT RPCEC? (Updated 4/7/2022)
Yes.  There will be sufficient parking available in accordance with the SUP.    

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS?  (Updated 2/22/2022)
You can email CRPD project manager Andrew Mooney at amooney@crpd.org to get on our email distribution list for the latest updates.  You can also contact your respective HOAs with your input.  Please check this website on a regular basis for any updates.

Project Status as of 4/7/2022:
A Working Group, compromised of CRPD’s Rancho Potrero Ad Hoc Committee (Directors Lange and Nickles), three CRPD staff, two Ride On representatives, a boarder representative, and four representatives from the Estancia/Virazon/Haciendas HOAs), was formed and has met several times. 

Project Status as of 1/26/22:

CRPD staff will be meeting with the Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center Ad Hoc Committee (CRPD Directors Lange and Nickles) in the near future to review concerns regarding the proposed project.

As previously stated, we will not be starting any work in the coming months until all concerns are reviewed in more detail and sufficiently addressed.

We will provide future updates on the project as new information is available and update this project page as necessary.

Project Description:

The proposed project includes lighting the westernmost riding arena. The goal of the project is to provide community access during the winter months when lighting is needed to safely utilize the facility. Staff has been working closely with our lighting design consultant to provide the best options for community use of the facility and adjacent neighbors. See below for design plan information.

Design Plans:

Site Plan

Not recommended 30’ pole design

30' Pole Lighting Plans

-Not properly designed
-Generates off-site light
-Creates off-site glare to neighbors and open space areas

Recommended 50’ pole design

50' Pole Lighting Plans

-Properly designed to limit light trespass
-Keeps light on-site
-Cuts glare to neighbors and open space areas

Lighting Example at Walnut Grove Equestrian Center - 401 Ronel Court, Thousand Oaks

Property Background Information:

Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center - Final MND

Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Approval

Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Final MND

Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Final MND with appendices

Rancho Potrero Specific Plan 19 - Land Use Exhibit

Special Use Permit Approval - Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center