COUNCIL SAYS NO TO ROAD PROJECT.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

For the second time in less than a month, the City Council bent to public outcry over proposed road changes and shelved two street expansions.

The council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to keep stretches of Old Conejo Road and Wendy Drive two lanes rather widen them to four lanes.

The city's original traffic plan called for widening five streets west of the Moorpark Freeway. Residents, concerned over two changes proposed in southwest Newbury Park, handed out fliers over the weekend, called their councilmembers and spoke at Tuesday night's council meeting.

``Residents are thrilled that the city has decided not to go ahead with the expansions,'' said Michelle Koeke, chairwoman of Residents to Preserve Newbury Park. ``These changes would have made a huge difference in quality of life here. About 25,000 residents would have been affected.''

The city's original traffic plan, written more than 20 years ago, shows Wendy Drive between the Ventura Freeway and its southern terminus at Potrero Road as a four lane street. The street was built to accomodate four lanes of traffic, but is currently only striped for two lanes. The plan also recommended widening Old Conejo Road between Reino Road and Wendy Drive from four lanes to two lanes.

Adding lanes would reduce congestion and improve freeway access, city traffic planners said.

But residents along the two roads feared increased traffic, noise and pollution would lower property values and make streets less safe, Koeke said.

Residents also complained that widening Old Conejo Road would require the removal of mature pepper trees lining the street. The trees were one of the few remnants of Thousand Oaks' early, rural character, Koeke said.