Supervisors OK Controversial Park
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave final approval to the development of a 12.5-acre park that has been debated by Oak Park residents for the past 10 years.
The board voted 5 to 0 to deny an appeal of the county Planning Commission’s decision to approve development of Deerhill Park. The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District had proposed developing the park at Deerhill and Doubletree roads in Oak Park.
The vote came at the end of a three-hour public hearing at which at least 40 Oak Park residents and environmentalists testified, said Doug Johnson, administrative assistant to Supervisor Maria VanderKolk.
While denying the appeal, the supervisors approved some minor amendments to the development proposal.
The amendments, which were proposed by VanderKolk, include eliminating electrical lines that would have allowed Rancho Simi to install stadium lights around the park’s two ball fields, VanderKolk said.
In addition, the board required the district to allow only one league sports game at a time and to ensure that Oak Park residents get first priority in using the park, the supervisor said.
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