PIRU : Affordable-Housing Project Discussed

More than 100 Piru residents turned out Tuesday night to learn more about an affordable-housing proposal for their community.

The plan by Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. calls for 70 to 80 residences to be built on Main Street between California 126 and Via Fustero. The residences would be built by the buyers.

Questionnaires to gauge public interest in the project were mailed to some Piru residents and circulated at a local citrus packing plant. A door-to-door survey has been announced but has not yet been conducted.

Cabrillo officials said at the meeting, held at San Salvador Catholic Church, that they have received about 100 applications for the housing program.

John Young, president of the Piru Neighborhood Council, said he plans to meet with other council members to decide if a door-to-door survey is still necessary. The council is expected to meet in mid-May to discuss the project.

Cabrillo wants to buy two five-acre lots zoned for agricultural use, which would require the nonprofit Saticoy agency to get a General Plan amendment from the county, officials said. In February, Supervisor Maggie Erickson Kildee, whose district includes Piru, asked the Board of Supervisors to delay the decision until Piru residents were told about the proposal.

Young has said he is concerned about bringing a low-income housing project into the 1,600-resident community, which is already “very unbalanced on the low side.”