Dos Vientos Backers Tour Building Site

THOUSAND OAKS — A caravan carrying about 70 supporters of the Dos Vientos Ranch housing project moved through the western part of the city Wednesday, with passengers getting a tour of the massive development’s construction site.

Packed in five passenger vans, members of Dos Vientos Amigos viewed the unfinished project, where about 2,350 homes are scheduled to be built among the rolling hills of Newbury Park.

At the wheel of one van was Arlen Miller, managing partner of Courtly Homes Inc., which is building about half the project’s houses. Rumbling along temporary dirt roads, Miller pointed out sweeping views and talked about hiking trails that are planned. As they passed bulldozers grading vast tracts of land, he said he has paid attention to the “environmental aspects, the business aspects, the social aspects” of the development as it has begun to take shape.

With the project’s first homes scheduled to go on sale late this summer, Miller is rallying support for Dos Vientos, which has stirred controversy since it was approved by city officials in 1988.

Environmentalists have charged that Dos Vientos Ranch will bring traffic and noise to one of the most beautiful areas in Thousand Oaks.

In January, Courtly Homes agreed to pay the city nearly $1 million for principal and interest on builder’s fees due since 1993.

Members of Dos Vientos Amigos, a group of Thousand Oaks business and community leaders who have met since early this year, said the public has not heard enough positive things about Dos Vientos Ranch.

“I really think it is going to put Newbury Park on the map,” said local Realtor Sandy Humphrey, co-president of Dos Vientos Amigos. She said the development will attract interest in western Thousand Oaks.

“Actually,” Humphrey said, “this is one of the most wonderful things that can happen to Newbury Park.”