DEVELOPER GOES EXTRA MILE : BUILDER OF DOS VIENTOS HOUSING PROJECT TO FURNISH EXTRA PARK SPACE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

One of the developers of the massive Dos Vientos housing project has agreed to complete a community park several years ahead of schedule and include more baseball and soccer fields.

Going beyond terms of a Development Agreement reached with the city of Thousand Oaks in 1988, the Operating Engineers Pension Trust has proposed the changes as part of the second phase of home sites that Operating Engineers plans to develop. The 29-acre park could be completed in spring 1998 if approved this summer by the city and the Conejo Recreation and Park District.

Councilman Mike Markey sought the changes, saying the Newbury Park area needs more youth sports facilities.

``What I was doing was trying to get ballfields. I think what's unusual is what they're willing to do beyond what they're actually mandated to do,'' Markey said Wednesday.

Parks are an important element of the agreement reached between the city and both the Operating Engineers and Courtly Homes Inc. Operating Engineers plans to develop 800 housing sites and Courtly plans to build 1,200 homes, with more than one-half of the 2,388-acre Dos Vientos site set aside as natural open space or developed parks. The project also could include 350 senior apartments.

The developers agreed to complete three parks, totaling some 50 acres, rather than dedicate sites or pay park development fees. The three parks will be taken over by the park district.

The revised community park plan adds two youth baseball fields to the three lighted baseball fields already planned, adding enough turf to lay out three soccer fields, said Eric Taylor, a senior partner with the project designer, VTN West.

Taylor said the park also would be developed after grading is completed for the second phase of home sites planned by Operating Engineers rather than waiting for the sites to be sold to a home builder.

``The biggest change is the timing,'' Taylor said. ``If everything goes well and we get our projects approved this summer, it should be open in 1998.''

Tom Sorensen, the Conejo park district planner, said developing such a large park on the project's front end was unusual.

``We're pleased, of course, because the people in the community need the facilities,'' said Sorensen, who noted that more playing fields are needed to keep pace with growing youth sports leagues.

Markey said the improved community park plan would be a boon to the city and especially youth sports leagues in Newbury Park, which pack games onto fields at three schools in the area.

``The issue was seeing whether they were willing to do something,'' he said. ``I think (the developer) understands the needs for the fields.''

Sorensen said Courtly also has agreed to park improvements. This week, Courtly proposed installing lights for the three softball fields, basketball and tennis courts the developer is required to complete within another park.

The Conejo park board is scheduled to meet June 27 to consider the changes to the Dos Vientos master park plan.

The city Planning Commission also must approve the changes. The commission has scheduled a public hearing for July 1 for the second phase of home sites planned by the Operating Engineers.

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Photo: Mike Markey

``Was trying to get ballfields''