CAMARILLO : Planner Opposes Farmland Project

A Los Angeles developer who wants to build 138 homes on prime agricultural land just east of Camarillo city limits has picked up an opponent in the Camarillo government.

Matthew Boden, Camarillo’s director of planning, said the request by Marlborough Development to rezone 63 acres of farmland comes years ahead of the time when the area should be developed. “We feel the project is premature,” he said.

At Boden’s request, the Camarillo City Council will decide Wednesday whether to send a letter to the County Board of Supervisors urging that Marlborough’s proposed amendment to the county general plan be denied.

The county, which has jurisdiction over the 63 acres because they are unincorporated county land, is accepting comments this month on the proposed amendment. County supervisors will then decide whether to approve the project for the next step, which includes more extensive study on potential impact of the development.

Marlborough has petitioned the county for the general plan amendment that would allow the development in an unincorporated county area. Two years ago, Marlborough asked the city of Camarillo to annex the land and rezone it so new homes could be built there.

But Camarillo denied the request then, and Boden said the county should deny the request now.

“It’s part of the greenbelt,” Boden said.

Greenbelts are areas of unincorporated county land that are set aside to be preserved as agriculture or open space through agreements among cities and the county.

In addition, the Marlborough property, located east of Conejo Creek and north of the Ventura Freeway, is not suitable for development because it sits next to to a working ranch, Boden said.