Oak Park water tank report released
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@yahoo.com

PROPOSAL- The A-8 water tank site near is near Doubletree Road and Clearhaven Drive. Oak Park wants to replace the Conifer Street water tank.

The Conifer water tank replacement project in Oak Park is finally moving forward with the release this week of an environmental impact report. The study analyzes the sites under consideration, the pros and cons of placing the tank under or above ground, and related costs.

The report is available for review at the Oak Park Library, 899 N. Kanan Road, Oak Park, or online at the Triunfo Sanitation District website at triunfosanitationdistrict.com.

The report had been delayed several months due to residents' concerns about the sites under consideration. Two alternate sites suggested by residents were explored by a geologist, an environmental consultant and staff members of the Ventura Regional Sanitation District, which oversees Triunfo operations.

Both sites were dismissed as inappropriate, according to Mark Capron, Ventura Regional senior engineer.

The current sites being considered are A8, located near Doubletree Road and Clearhaven Drive just inside the entrance gate to the Palo Comado hiking trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and A-7, near the intersection of Kanan Road and Churchwood Street. The tank would be placed to the north on the side of the ridge facing Oak Canyon Community Park.

Signs, poles and string in both areas indicate where the tank would go.

Oak Park resident Dean Fountaine asked officials to take a look at another location inside the Palo Comado area about 200 yards from the trailhead entrance off Smoketree.

Fountaine is concerned about the A8 location, which is close to homes in the Ridgefield and Country Glen tracts. The tank would be at the entrance to national recreation land heavily used by hikers, runners, equestrians and bikers. It is in view of homes and near a water source for wildlife and a major gas line that runs through the area.

"This impacts us and doesn't serve us," Fountaine said.

To make residents aware of the project, Fountaine created a website at www.fountaines.com/ oakpark that provides information about why site A8 is not a good one for Oak Park. Fountaine is collecting signatures for a petition against the location.

`"There seems to be a real agenda for this site," Fountaine said. "It feels like they're just going through the motions."

Another site, suggested by resident Bob Coutts, is located on trails between Pesto Way and Conifer Circle. Although not in view of homes, the site is on a "higher than necessary" spot and would incur additional energy and construction costs.

Wherever it ends up, the new 2.1-million-gallon tank will be twice the size of the current storage unit located at the western end of Conifer Street. Officials have said the 41-year-old tank needs to be replaced due to deterioration and seismic concerns.

There are five water tanks in Oak Park. The Conifer tank serves the southern portion of the community. It is an above ground, steel structure, as are the Savoy tank, off Savoy Court above Indian Springs Park and Red Oak Elementary School, and the Kilburn tank, above Kilburn Court off Lindero Canyon Road near the north end of Oak Canyon Park.

The Deerhill tank, above Deerbrook Road and Deerhill Park, is partially buried. Half of the ridge is national park land so an easement to bury the entire tank could not be obtained, according to Capron.

A buried concrete tank containing recycled water for irrigation is located next to the Savoy tank. That tank is owned by the Calleguas Municipal Water District, which serves Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, according to Capron.

The public may comment on the report at the next Triunfo board meeting on Mon., Sept. 24 in the Oak Park Library. The meeting begins at 5:15 p.m. The public hearing on the tank is expected to begin at 6:15 p.m.