SANTA PAULA : Panel Rules House May Not Be Rebuilt
The Ventura County Transportation Commission recommended Friday that a Santa Paula man not be allowed to rebuild his burned house adjacent to the Santa Paula Airport because the location is unsafe.
Rafael Rodriguez owned one of two houses that were destroyed by a fire resulting from the crash of a light plane near the airport last Aug. 27.
Transportation commission officials said a safety zone they approved last November recommends that no new structures be built close to the airport. Rodriguez did not testify at Friday’s meeting.
Citing the same safety rule, the commission earlier rejected a reconstruction proposal by the owner of the other burned house, Joe V. Garcia.
Garcia appealed to the Santa Paula City Council, which had the authority to override the transportation commission’s decision. But the council denied the request in a 4-1 vote in December.
Santa Paula officials said they plan to apply for state funds that would allow them to buy the Garcia and Rodriguez properties.
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