Oxnard OKs 4,575-Acre Greenbelt Along Coast : Agriculture: The vote reinforces the city’s rural commitment. Ventura has also vowed not to let the land be developed.

Saying its vote did more to protect Oxnard’s image than to save open space near the city, the Oxnard City Council has voted to establish a 4,575-acre coastal greenbelt between Oxnard and Ventura.

While the land is already protected from development by zoning laws that designate it only for agriculture, the resolution was seen as a way to reinforce Oxnard’s commitment to protect the rural character of the land.

The vote clears the way for an informal agreement with the city of Ventura and the county. Both cities have now pledged not to annex the land or allow development there. The County Board of Supervisors is expected to take up the issue next week.

But the agreement is non-binding and does not guarantee protection.

“This is about perceptions,” Oxnard Councilman Thomas Holden said before voting for the resolution Tuesday. “We’ve already had the foresight to protect this area in our General Plan. We just didn’t call it a greenbelt. If we vote against it, the perception will be that we don’t support protecting the area.”

Supporters of the agreement said that if the vote were just about perceptions, it would not have garnered so much attention.

“This is not just about perceptions,” said Eileen McCarthy, a farm-worker advocate and attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard. “Anytime a government entity takes a stand on something as significant as a greenbelt, their commitment is on record and they’re less likely to break their pledge.”

Councilman Andres Herrera said he did not feel it was necessary to make another pledge to support the preservation of agriculture. Although he voted for the resolution, Herrera said he felt it was redundant.

“It’s obvious that (Oxnard) is concerned about protecting open spaces,” Herrera said, pointing to the General Plan protections for the area. “I don’t believe we should have to make a statement saying so.”

Herrera said he hoped that the council’s action Tuesday night would “rectify misconceptions” that Oxnard recklessly approves development of agricultural land.

“What is important is the perception,” Herrera said before voting for the measure.

But for opponents of the resolution, more than Oxnard’s image was at stake. While the greenbelt is intended to protect agricultural land, farmers said the resolution would hurt them by limiting future options.

“We intend on farming there for as long as we’re able,” said Jurgen Gramckow, a sod farmer who owns 438 acres in the greenbelt area. “But farming is an economic proposition. You can’t regulate farming into existence, but you can regulate it out of business.”

Oxnard city staff members, who recommended passing the resolution, said the agreement would not add bureaucracy. They said it was merely a strong policy statement reinforcing existing protection for the land, and a commitment by the city to work with Ventura and the county.

Supporters agreed, saying that the measure would protect agricultural jobs as well as land.

“I went to the council meeting to ask the members to protect agricultural land because we need the jobs,” said Frances Guzman, who works at a lemon packinghouse in Oxnard. “I hope this helps protect the farms. I can’t see how they would want to develop the area when there are a lot of buildings in Oxnard already empty. Even in the malls, there are a lot of shops going out of business.”

Most of the council members had indicated before Tuesday’s meeting that they were against the plan. Their approval surprised many who expected defeat of the resolution. Councilman Michael Plisky said his vote for the resolution might have caught some of his supporters off guard.

He said he still supports development and property rights but also believes in limits on development. “I’m not supporting this because the Sierra Club or the city of Ventura, or the county said so. I’m supporting this because I think this will help preserve the quality of life in Oxnard.”

Proposed Greenbelt A proposed 4,575-acre greenbelt between the cities of Ventura and Oxnard would restrict development for at least five years. Some landowners in the affected area are against the proposal because they want to develop their property.