VENTURA : City Moves Toward Deal With Developer
The Ventura City Council has taken the first step toward allowing a park to be built in a greenbelt on the city’s east end in exchange for a developer constructing more than 400 single-family residences on city-owned agricultural land.
Ventura-based developer Ron Hertel is proposing to swap his 92 acres in the greenbelt for 87 acres of city land at Telegraph Road and Petit Avenue. Hertel hopes to build single-family houses on the land and give the city $2 million to build a park on the land he owns at Telephone and Kimball roads.
Despite opposition from residents who live near the city-owned parcel, the council on Monday voted 4 to 1 to allow Hertel’s proposal to go forward. Councilman Steve Bennett dissented, and Councilmen Gary Tuttle and Gregory L. Carson abstained because of possible conflicts of interest.
Council members said Hertel’s land is in a better location for a park than the city’s parcel. They said the developer’s offer of $2 million for a park is an unusual offer that the city should seriously consider.
After city staff members finish negotiations with the developer, Hertel’s project will come up for final approval later this year.
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