VENTURA : Agricultural Land Deal to Receive Vote
A Ventura City Council subcommittee on Wednesday recommended considering the rezoning of 87 acres of city-owned agricultural land to permit residential construction.
Ventura-based developer Ron Hertel wants to swap agricultural land that he owns with the city’s land and put up single-family houses on the city land at Telegraph Road and Petit Avenue. In exchange, Hertel would give Ventura $2 million to build a park on 92 acres of celery fields that he owns at Telephone and Kimball roads.
Such an agreement would contradict the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which calls for both areas to remain agriculturally zoned. If the council wishes, it can amend the Comprehensive Plan to accommodate Hertel’s land proposal.
Some council members said they like Hertel’s idea, but no deal has been finalized yet.
On Wednesday, the housing subcommittee of the council recommended with little discussion that the council consider changing the zoning on the city’s property. The council is scheduled to vote on the zone change Feb. 14.
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