Which Way Will We Grow, Camarillo?
What Are We Becoming? A Conversation Concerning Our Future Quality-of-Life & Sustainability
1 Springville ~ 1,450 Homes, West Ponderosa Drive. 2 Paseo Camino Real ~ Selleck Properties’ 44 acres of Retail, Restaurants, and Commercial Development.
(The first parcel of the 338 acres Airport North Specific Plan between the Airport and the 101 Freeway, north of Home Depot.)
3 Camarillo Commons ~ The “Pickwick Corridor”
Redevelopment area is bound by Arneill Road, Ponderosa Drive, Mobil Avenue and Daily Drive.
4 Dawson Drive ~ Lewis Road/Imation Redevelopment. 5 Village at the Park ~ Project Build-Out, 200+ Homes.
A Proposed Mini-City of 2,500 Homes?! 6 Conejo Creek Properties’ aka “The
Lakes” Development includes 2,500 Homes, 150+ Acres of Industrial, Retail and Commercial Development on a FARMLAND FLOODPLAIN, at the Bottom of the Conejo Grade,
Our City’s Entrance!
1 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010
C
amarillo
Dedicated to Promoting Sustainability And SustainableGrowth Enhanced Quality-of-Life.
Have you been wondering what all those bulldozers are up to? With five large developments and “in-fill” projects underway in Camarillo, we will soon realize unprecedented traffic congestion on our arterial intersections and the U.S. 101 Ventura Freeway Corridor. Traffic jams, water availability, open space views, local agriculture and farmland preservation are “quality-of-life” issues affecting us all — now. Once we pave over our prime farmland, it is lost forever. As a community we need to evaluate the various types of development under consideration, and discuss the cumulative impacts of this growth.
Five of the six Camarillo development projects are already approved-to-proceed… the sixth, the Conejo Creek Development project, is currently in the draft EIR stage, due to be submitted to the City Council in January 2011. DO WE REALLY NEED another 2,500 homes and 150+ acres of industrial, commercial, retail development (15,000 daily average car trips) to be built on our FARMLAND FLOODPLAIN... the open-space seen at the bottom of the CONEJO GRADE as we come home to Camarillo?
CUMULATIVE TRAFFIC INCREASES
DEVELOPMENT
Approved➟Springville~1,300 Home Development 05,000
Approved➟Paseo
Additional Average PROJECT daily car trips ❃
Camino Real~44 Acres Retail/Commercial part of the 338 acres of “Airport North Specific Plan” Development Approved➟Camarillo Commons Redevelopment Approved➟Dawson Drive~Lewis Road Redevelopment Proposed➟Conejo Creek~2,500 Homes, 150+ Acres of Retail, Commercial and Industrial Development Approved➟Oxnard’s River Park~2,500 Homes, Commercial and Retail Development Proposed➟Oxnard’s Jones Ranch~2,500 Homes ❃ADDITIONAL DAILY CAR TRIPS
2 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010
05,000 01,500 02,500 15,000 15,000 10,000
54,000
SPRINGVILLE
T
he Springville overpass construction is now underway, which will soon lead to the already approved-to-proceed Springville Development project. Between Las Posas Road and Central Avenue (on the Spanish Hills side of the freeway) this project includes a total of 1,440 housing units sited on the 174 acre strip of land along the North side of the 101 Freeway.
PASEO CAMINO REAL
S
outh of the 101 freeway, the Selleck Properties’ Paseo Camino Real Commercial Center is the first phase buildout of the 338 acre Airport North Specific Plan, filling-in the open land from Home Depot north along the airport. This first development will include 499,000 square feet of retail and dining space on over 44 acres. Offices will occupy 40,000 square feet with the remaining 429,469 square feet for more retail stores. Kohl’s has signed a lease for 96,000+ square feet at the east end of the center.
3 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010
CAMARILLO COMMONS REDEVELOPMENT
T
he Camarillo Commons Plan Area encompasses 55 acres, bound by Ponderosa Drive, Arneill Drive, Daily Drive, and Mobil Avenue, with Pickwick Drive bisecting the property. The Plan establishes a framework for development with the goal of creating a pedestrian friendly environment and sense of place in the heart of Camarillo. 1,000+ new residential units would result from the current mixed-use, 2-story redevelopment design.
BEFORE
AFTER
Redevelopment Improves Our Hometown, While Helping to Protect A Valuable Sector Of Our County’s Economy
“ Farming is not just a category of land use. According to a recent economic analysis, agriculture supports as many as 47,000 jobs in Ventura County, more than any other sector of the economy except services. It is responsible for nearly 5 percent of the region’s total economic activity, spinning off nearly $2 billion a year. Today, Ventura County farmers ship lemons to Japan and truck fresh strawberries to Manhattan. They grow nursery stock, oranges and avocados, peppers, field greens and celery — more than 100 crops in all, from artichokes to orchids, arugula to zucchini.” John Krist, Farming on the Edge series in the V.C. Star
4 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010
DAWSON, IMATION & TRAIN DEPOT REDEVELOPMENT
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ited along Lewis Road and Dawson Drive, from the Amtrack/Metrolink railroad station out to Pleasant Valley Road, this redevelopment project proposes: • New mixed-use area near the train station, • Business and Commercial development on the Imation site, • Upgrade to the industrial area along Lewis Road, • New business park development serving California State University of Channel Islands (CSUCI); on the 23.5 acre
farmland parcel at the corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Lewis Road.
OTHER PENDING PROJECTS IN CAMARILLO 500 Room Hotel & Convention Center Complex ~ The
corner of Las Posas and Ventura Boulevard, across from the new Promenade Outlet Shopping Area. This site was purchased by the city of Camarillo for 10 million dollars; a 500-room hotel and convention center complex will be built on this land. Bids are now open to developers, talks with hotel chains are ongoing. Cultural Arts Center ~ The original Los Primeros school site in Old Town Camarillo is being reconsidered as a Cultural Arts Plaza. The former classrooms would be used as artists studios, the school auditorium would become a theatre and the playground an interactive arts area. The City of Camarillo has been in contact with the Pleasant Valley School District. Village Park Build-out ~ When the Calleguas Creek widening (flood control measure) is completed, the back South West section of Village at the Park, along Pleasant Valley Road, will subsequently be built-out; 200+ additional residential units. St. John’s Seminary, North of Upland Road/East of Somis Road. Rezoning requested for 76 acres from Agriculture to Residential/Quasi-Public Park. Airport North Specific Plan ~ 338 acres between the Airport and the U.S. 101 Ventura Freeway, north of Home Depot.
5 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010
T
he developments that have been “approved-to-proceed” will add over 25,000 daily car trips to our roads. The Conejo Creek Properties project would add another 15,000 cars… and if approved, Oxnard’s Jones Ranch will add another 10,000 cars to the 101 Freeway.
54,000 more car trips = GRIDLOCK!
CUMULATIVE GROWTH along the 101 Freeway through the Oxnard-Camarillo corridor.
CONEJO CREEK DEVELOPMENT, aka “The Lakes”
P
roposed for the 740+ acres of open farmland you see as you drive down the Conejo Grade into Camarillo, the Conejo Creek Development is currently in the Draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report), the final stage before approval. The EIR will be submitted this January 2011, and a vote by the Camarillo City Council will determine whether this Development is approved, or not.
6 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010
This FEMA map shows the Conejo Creek Prperties’ alluvial fan floodplain; the site of frequent and often severe flooding. Presently the floodwaters can spread and percolate down to replenish our local groundwater reserves. With decreased allocations of water coming from the Delta and the Colorado Rivers, we must protect our local water supplies. We have seen greater frequency and strength of rainstorms. Conejo Creek drains all of Santa Rosa Valley. Calleguas Creek drains all the storm water from the Somis Valley and Mission Oaks. As evidenced by the increased flooding worldwide, water flows will only become more extreme.
Is This A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN?
• 2Channel Lakes and By-Pass proposed
for flood control will disturb “legacy pesticides” such as DDT, in use on farmland back in the 1950’s.
• Rushing, dangerous
flood paths next to multi-family homes, a school, retail and commercial areas… are we engineering a New Orleans-type disaster if it should jump the banks?
• Urban runoff will flow directly to the
Point Mugu Lagoon Estuary, a critical nesting ground for the brown pelican and 600 species of migratory birds.
7 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010
The City of Camarillo’s motto is:
“The People Are The City”
We can afford to stop, think and be smart about our future.
H
ow many times have you driven down the Conejo Grade and been thankful that you didn’t see the urban sprawl of the cities to the south? How many times have you admired the beautiful vistas of farmlands, open spaces, and on a clear day the Channel Islands that are spread out in front of you? This is the first sight that one sees when coming upon our city and what sets us apart
from our neighbors. Is all this about to change? Now is the critical point in time for us to decide. The Conejo Creek Development that is being considered by the City Council will forever change the rural character of Camarillo. Once this Prime Agricultural Land is destroyed, there is no going back! This development is in addition to five large development projects already underway in Camarillo.
WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER SEE COMING HOME?
A
spectacular view of 740+ acres of farmland and open space at the base of the Conejo grade? This is the area that the city wants to develop with a mixed use of industrial buildings, condos, apartments, houses, commercial, and retail space. The proposal would add 2,500 residential units, 100+ acres of industrial buildings and 54 acres of office/commercial use.
The Conejo Creek Properties proposal-area is bounded by the Conejo Creek to the south and the Calleguas Creek to the north; this floodplain is historically known for frequent, severe flooding. By building homes and a school next to fast-moving flood channels, are we creating a “New Orleans-style” disaster in our own backyard?
FARMLAND or... MASSIVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION?
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raffic, congestion, pollution! Conservatively, over 15,000 daily car trips will be added to the Camarillo 101 Freeway corridor. This is in addition to 7,500 car trips from the “approved-to-proceed” Springville project north of Camarillo (1,440 homes) and the everincreasing commuter traffic as Oxnard continues to expand, specifically the huge River Park development at Vineyard and the 101 Freeway.
We have plenty of affordable housing... with more coming from the Springville development. We have plenty of available commercial and office space. The Airport North Specific Plan expansion will bring more in the near future. Camarillo is in an enviable fiscal situation. Our civic coffers are full. Once this 740+ acres of open space and Prime Agricultural Land is developed, it will be lost forever.
CONTACT our City Council, TALK with neighbors and friends!
Let’s improve our hometown, not pave over farmland
Camarillo SustainableG rowth, Inc. = Camarillo SmartG rowth Dedicated to promoting sustainability and enhanced quality of life Visit our website at www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org e-mail us @ CamarilloSmartGrowth@gmail.com
Post Office Box 782, Camarillo, CA 93011-0782 • 5700 Ralston Street, Suite 211, Ventura, CA 93003 California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation 501(c)(3) (pending) / corp.# C3308123/ initial IRS EIN# 27-3143926
8 ~ www.Camarillo-Smart-Growth.org ~ 2010