OJAI : Environmental Panel to Examine Golf Course Study

Emblazoned with a fresh stamp of approval from county planners, an updated environmental impact report for a controversial golf course east of Ojai will be examined by the Ventura County Environmental Report Review Committee today.

Backed by a Japanese businessman with a passion for golf, the 204-acre course has been the subject of intense debate since its initial proposal more than four years ago.

At the first review committee hearing in July, environmentalists and Ojai Valley residents contended that the EIR did not address a number of crucial water, traffic and development issues.

Project developers have since introduced revisions aimed at quelling those concerns, and county staff has recommended that the draft report be allowed to graduate to final form.

The review committee, which is not a policy-making body, is responsible for determining whether an EIR adequately addresses all possible environmental issues.

Backers of the project predict that the EIR will make it to final draft, clearing the way for review by the county Planning Commission.

“It’s always difficult to know what (the review committee) will do, but it is our position that the environmental issues have been mitigated,” said Steve Craig, an environmental consultant for Farmont Corp., developers of the project.

“This project has been more fully mitigated than any comparable project in the Ojai Valley.”

Opponents of the golf course contend that Farmont has long-term plans to build homes or a luxury hotel on land near the course, and point to the fact that the developer will not cede 160 adjacent acres for an open-space preserve proposed as part of the development.

“We have suggested that they take appropriate steps to prevent future urbanization of that area,” said Phil Moncharsh, president of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, which would manage the proposed preserve.

“Their response was to make no commitment.”

“The remaining controversy over the project really concerns long-term planning issues, not environmental ones,” Craig said.

Those issues will be addressed by the Planning Commission, not the review committee, he said.

The Environmental Report Review Committee will meet today at 1:30 p.m. in the County Government Building in Ventura.