CAMARILLO : Public Forum Slated on Economic Future
A public forum on a study of Camarillo’s economic future will be held at City Hall on May 21.
The study, written by consultant David Wilcox of Economics Research Associates of Los Angeles, says Camarillo needs more retail development if it is to stay economically viable.
Wilcox will be at the forum to answer questions. However, officials stressed that the meeting is not a public hearing.
The city commissioned the report last year and presented it in January.
The two-part report also evaluated and endorsed a proposal by the Sammis Co. to build a large mall with factory-outlet stores on 87 acres of agricultural land south of the Ventura Freeway east of Pleasant Valley Road at the foot of the Conejo Grade.
Because Camarillo is surrounded by cities with regional malls that capture the majority of retail sales, Camarillo ranks last among the five largest cities for per-capita retail sales.
The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks, the Esplanade in Oxnard and the San Buenaventura Mall in Ventura draw customers from Camarillo’s individual shops and neighborhood centers, it said.
“We came to the clear understanding that Camarillo would be ill-advised to go head-to-head with the retail malls,” Wilcox said.
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