SANTA PAULA : Council Plans Forum on City’s Greenbelts

Saying they need to know whether residents want to protect the city’s prime agricultural land from urban development, Santa Paula City Council members have postponed a decision on reaffirming the city’s commitment to maintain its two greenbelts.

In an unanimous vote, the City Council agreed on Monday to hold a public forum at the city’s Community Center in early January so residents can ask questions as well as voice their views on the future of the city’s greenbelts, which stretch along the edges of the city.

In 1967, the cities of Santa Paula and Ventura agreed on a greenbelt that runs from Adams Barranca on the east to Franklin Barranca on the west.

And in 1980, the cities of Santa Paula and Fillmore jointly adopted a greenbelt that ranges from Santa Paula Creek in the west to Sespe Creek in the east. On the north it stretches to the Los Padres National Forest and on the south to the ridgeline.

Both greenbelts were unanimously reaffirmed in 1989, said Councilman John Melton, who had asked the City Council to publicly show its support for the greenbelts during Monday’s meeting.

“I just think it’s time for us to reaffirm the greenbelt again,” Melton said. “I want to protect our agricultural land and keep urban development away.”

But after a brief discussion, the City Council agreed to seek the public’s input on the future of the agricultural zones.