Landscaping Praised

I reside on Long Shadow Court in the North Ranch community of Thousand Oaks. I want to express my strong support of the City Council majority’s overturn of the Planning Commission’s absurd decision disallowing the Probst family landscaping proposal.

The biggest drawback to living in the Conejo Valley is that for nine months each year we must view the burnt brown “natural vegetation” comprised of dead tumbleweeds and other highly flammable and unsightly growth.

After Mr. Probst completed building his home and planted the initial landscaping, I often thought how breathtakingly beautiful it would be if he would landscape the entire hillside. I was astonished to learn that some of his neighbors and the Planning Commission stood in his way. Now, because of the high visibility of the property, many residents will be able to share in the visual enjoyment of 16 acres of park-like grounds without cost to our city.

Unfortunately, we will always be confronted by the diehard “naturalists” who would have us believe that the natural vegetation should never have been replaced at the Huntington or Descanso gardens. Such misconceptions must result from a steady diet of trail mix.

GERALD COLLIER

Thousand Oaks