VENTURA : Land Condemned for New Overpass

The Ventura City Council on Monday voted to condemn several parcels of farmland and vacant lots to construct a new overpass over California 126 and put in a road for an affordable housing project.

Different landowners of the parcels have rejected offers to buy rights of way across the parcels, city officials said. Negotiations are continuing, but by condemning the land, the city can later seize it through their power of eminent domain, officials said.

Councilwoman Cathy Bean cast the dissenting vote in one project that would secure a right of way across a 50-acre lemon orchard so developers can extend North Bank Drive beyond Petit Avenue. The land is located south of the Southern Pacific railroad tracks.

In an interview Monday, Bean said she is worried that the proposed 151 houses will be too close to the Santa Clara River and have negative environmental impacts. The developer, Ventura Affordable Homes Ltd., plans to put the houses in an undeveloped area bounded by Cabrillo Village, the railroad tracks, the Sudden Barranca irrigation ditch and the Santa Clara River.

William Selby, owner of the lemon orchard, has denied access to his property. “We’re not holding out for more money, we just don’t want them there,” Selby said.

But Lynn Jacobs, president of the development company, said she had met with Selby about the project in 1986, and he had verbally approved it then. “I totally screwed up, because he said fine, but I didn’t get it in writing,” Jacobs said last week.

The second project involves building a new overpass over California 126 at Kimball Road, and widening Kimball Road from Telegraph Road to Thille Street. The project is scheduled to begin in the spring and will improve traffic flow in the area, city officials said.

The city wants rights of way from two undeveloped properties on the west side of Kimball Road. The owners, Thille Ranch No. 4 and John Nicholl, have rejected city offers, officials said. Nicholl and officials at Thille Ranch No. 4 could not be reached for comment Monday.