Camarillo Panel OKs Rezoning for Housing Project

Camarillo planning commissioners have unanimously approved a proposal to turn a lemon grove into a 302-unit residential development and golf course.

The project, proposed by Camarillo-based Knightsbridge Holdings Inc., calls for the construction of 207 single-family homes, 95 condominiums and a 150-acre, 18-hole golf course near Wright and Beardsley roads.

“I think the commission saw this as an excellent use of the land,” said Planning Commission Chairman Les Meredith. “When you consider that less than a quarter of the land was considered prime in terms of its agricultural properties, I think we made a good call.”

The commission cast its vote Tuesday after a four-hour hearing at City Hall.

During their discussion before the vote, commissioners said they were in favor of changing the zoning of the parcel from agricultural to residential because the poor quality of much of the soil inhibits full development of any crops grown at the site.

Commissioners also approved of the overall design of the development, which they said was in keeping with the city’s architectural plan.

Because the commission’s decision involves a zoning change in the city’s General Plan, the City Council must give final approval to the development plan.

The General Plan is considered the master blueprint for all planning and development in the city.

The Knightsbridge proposal will come before the council later this month.

Part of the 236-acre site is vacant, while 168 acres are devoted to a lemon orchard that was planted in the early 1940s. The orchard has not been actively farmed since last August.

Knightsbridge officials did not return phone calls Wednesday.

Mayor Ken Gose said Wednesday that while he still wants to devote further study to the project, so far it meets with his approval.

Gose said that normally he would oppose the use of farmland for residential development but in this case he would probably endorse the project because of the parcel’s soil quality and because it will act as a buffer to prevent development of other, nearby agricultural parcels.

“This particular site is both hilly and its soil is less than prime quality,” Gose said. “I still want to study the details, but so far it looks pretty good. I can’t find any large faults yet.”

The City Council will vote on the development at its April 21 meeting at City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive. The meeting starts at 5 p.m.