Developing Issues

The proposed sports complex at Kimball and Telephone roads is a community effort that requires voice petition support from citizens of Ventura. Ventura’s large variety of sports programs are administered by volunteers who have the dedication to see that our youth have the opportunity to participate in athletic activities. This community effort has at least 8,000 children participating and 5,000 adult players.

The city can swap 87 acres of poorer development land on the east end for the 97 acres. The developer has committed $2 million in development funds, which have been dwindling each year. Several organizations have been solicited to assist in the development and operation of the facility as a community project that stands to benefit a wide range of people. Daily operations may be self-financed by these organizations and not subsidized by the city.

This sports complex provides for manageable growth and should not wait the 10 to 15 years as proposed by the opposition. Ignorance and apathy to not consider development can result in lost opportunities and aging of the current facilities.

One east-end homeowner, who initiated the opposition, has been quoted in the newspaper as saying that he would accept payment of $500,000 for his $300,000 home in order to stop the opposition. There is an apparent price behind their voter initiative with no high ideals of planned community life. The community requires the complete facts and motive behind initiatives.

PATRICK J. KELLEY

Ventura

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Thirty years ago Ventura had the look of a community. Then growth without planning happened. More and more cookie-cutter houses on tiny lots were built on prime agriculture land, along with ugly tilt-up concrete office and light industry parks. This was hopscotched through a large area without any vision, allowing the richest soil in California to be paved over. I am sickened whenever I see it.

Apparently more of the same is on tap, with two or three subdividers pushing to take more of the agricultural greenbelt for development. Where are the lovely homes on large lots as can be found in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Ojai? Where are the ordinances to promote beauty? Where is the planning even now? For that matter, where is the cultural center in a town the size of Ventura?

Please, let’s not have more boring houses crowded onto small lots with all the attendant traffic. Save our precious agricultural land until there is some idea how the bad planning of the past can be repaired.

GWEN ERICKSON

Ojai