Ministry, County Agreement Might Keep Drug Center Open

An Oxnard church that ran into a legal roadblock when it opened a residential drug facility at a Santa Paula ranch may be allowed to operate the site as a farm, according to an agreement worked out with county planners.

Victory Outreach, an Oxnard-based Christian ministry praised for its work with jail inmates, violated numerous health, building and safety codes after the church opened what it called a retreat facility in March at the ranch east of Santa Paula, said Todd Collart, the head of Ventura County’s zoning administration.

But an agreement between the facility and the county may end the impasse and allow the church to continue its work at the Santa Paula farm, Collart said. “It took a while, but I think we’re all headed in the same direction now,” he said.

During a series of meetings with Victory Outreach beginning in May, county officials ruled that the program, which housed 20 participants in a barn, was not permitted in the open-space zone where the ranch is located. The officials also said the center failed to qualify as a retreat or seminary, uses that are allowed by open-space zoning.

Other violations concerned improper disposal of waste water, inadequate exits and windows and lack of a room heater and sanitation facilities.

But the county has held off on prosecuting the church, which has demonstrated success in treating drug addicts and gang members with a regimen of hard work, prayer and fasting.

Under terms of an agreement signed by the Rev. Robert Herrera of Victory Outreach, the church will apply for permits to build a second dwelling unit and housing on the 34-acre ranch on South Mountain Road.

But approval is by no means guaranteed, said Collart, who added that Victory Outreach must prove that it will engage in farming and needs enough labor to justify the request for more housing.

“There is a concern that they will simply continue what they have done in the past,” Collart said.

While the agreement would have allowed the residents to live in temporary quarters at the ranch, Herrera said a benefactor’s donation has allowed the church to rent living space elsewhere.

To avoid prosecution for the alleged zoning and health violations, the church must reconvert the barn and a garage to their original uses, apply to build a new sewage disposal system and submit an agricultural plan for the property.

In a telephone interview Monday, Herrera said the church has met with business and farming consultants and is preparing a plan to farm the property.

“Part of our vision from the beginning was to one day farm the property, and it just came about sooner than we anticipated,” Herrera said. Church leaders are considering farming seasonal crops such as cilantro to begin with, planting orange and lemon trees for future harvesting, and possibly building stables and a corral to board horses.

“Farm activities will be something to help support us financially, keep the people busy and also teach something about agriculture,” Herrera said.

By moving the residents from the ranch, Victory Outreach has reduced the urgency in fulfilling the timetable of the compliance agreement, which extends through March 15, 1993, Collart said. Inspectors are scheduled to visit the ranch today to confirm that the barn is no longer being used as a residence, he said.

Herrera expressed gratitude that a solution appears possible.

“Even in the darkest moments, I knew that ranch was the place for us,” Herrera said. “And now that we’ve arrived at the gate, we’ll be walking in soon.”

Last month, county officials expressed support for a Victory Outreach proposal to lease the U. S. Forest Service work camp north of Ojai, but that plan is on hold while Victory Outreach officials negotiate with the county.