Greens at Camarillo Springs senior housing project won't move forward
The Greens at Camarillo Springs senior housing project was dealt a seemingly fatal blow on Wednesday.
The City Council unanimously voted to rescind an application by a developer to redesignate a portion of the Camarillo Springs Golf Course to build the homes.
A resolution will go before the council at its Dec. 13 meeting to formally rescind the referral application.
Council members cited the project's impacts on safety and open space as well as the availability of land for housing throughout the city.
“I do not believe that this is in the best interest and welfare of our city and its residents,” Vice Mayor Tony Trembley said at the meeting.
Developer New Urban West Inc. submitted paperwork in 2017 to reclassify 31 acres of the 182-acre golf course from its current quasi-public designation to low-medium density residential. As part of the referral process, the City Council must review such applications every three years. The council can direct staff to continue studying a referral or rescind it.
The application went before the council at its Oct. 25 meeting for its second triennial review.
New Urban West raised concerns about how the item was presented on the agenda, so the vote was postponed until Wednesday. However, the council still heard input from dozens of residents on Oct. 25.
Residents who opposed the project criticized it for an inadequate flooding and drainage system and its effect on evacuation times. Those in support praised it for the additional homes it’d bring to Ventura County and its revitalization of the area.
The project would have shortened the 18-hole golf course to 12 holes to make room for 248 single-family homes for residents 55 and older. The developer would have also made improvements to the golf course and the remaining recreational areas.
During their deliberations, council members were in agreement over their concerns for the project.
Councilmember Martita Martinez-Bravo, who represents Camarillo Springs, said changing the land use could open the door to more houses than originally planned.
While the developer intends to build 248 homes, the low-medium density residential land use allows up to 10 units per acre. Potentially, the new land use could bring 310 homes to the 31-acres plus accompanying accessory dwelling units, city attorney Rachel Richman said Wednesday.
"I do not believe that this is in the best interest and welfare of our city and its residents."
Vice Mayor Tony Trembley
To add that many units to an area that has historically dealt with wildfires, mudslides and flooding would make evacuations much more difficult, Martinez-Bravo noted.
“I would have a very hard time living with myself if a grandparent or an abuelito would be harmed or killed because of my decision,” she said.
Additionally, the open space that would have been filled with homes and buildings would likely never return, Councilmember Kevin Kildee said. The area is often filled with all types of wildlife and provides scenic views and recreation, residents said.
The council noted the project isn’t needed to meet state housing requirements.
Through its Regional Housing Needs Assessment program, the state has directed Camarillo to support the construction of 1,376 units through 2029, staff said in a report. Camarillo’s housing element, which helps the city identify and address housing needs, has listed land open to development.
The available land exceeds Camarillo’s state requirements for housing, staff said.
Additionally, the Camarillo Springs Golf Course was never considered or identified as a site for residential development in the housing element.
Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Greens at Camarillo Springs housing project won't move forward
