Proposed University Picks Up Support From Neighboring Cities

Thousand Oaks and Camarillo are supporting a proposed four-year public university in Ventura County. But they aren’t so positive about the state’s plan to pay for it.

Those two cities became the latest to support the concept of a university, which would be called Cal State University Channel Islands. A number of other cities have either passed resolutions of support or scheduled votes in the coming weeks.

Thousand Oaks gave its blessing Tuesday night, and Camarillo matched that ante Wednesday. Port Hueneme and Santa Paula will vote in the next two weeks, and Oxnard and Ojai have already passed resolutions.

Simi Valley hasn’t taken an official position, but the mayor wrote a letter of support. Some other cities, including Ventura and Moorpark, have no plans to take a stance.

However, those earlier votes came before backers of the university unveiled an ambitious plan last week for the project, to be built on the grounds of Camarillo State Hospital, which will be closed in June. The plan includes a senior housing development, single-family homes, a K-8 magnet school, and leases to various high-tech firms and other businesses.

State university trustees and the staff of the developing university have stated that community support for the project is a vital ingredient. And they say the development plan is the way to go.

“We just can’t let that land sit fallow because we need that revenue stream,” Mary Stephens, Cal State Channel Islands’ executive project manager, said last week.

The Camarillo City Council voted unanimously in favor of a university Wednesday night, and will send its resolution to university trustees, Gov. Pete Wilson and state legislators.

“Ventura County is the largest county in the state that does not have a four-year public university and we are long overdue to have one,” Councilman Bill Liebmann said. “Some of the trustees have stated publicly that they question whether the citizens and government entities in Ventura County are really behind bringing a university here. We want to send a message . . . that our community is solidly behind the idea of a four-year university.”

Councilwoman Charlotte Craven said the county also has the lowest rate of high school graduates who go on to four-year colleges, largely because of cost.

“I’ve supported a university at every site they’ve chosen since going to the county in 1975, and I think that if this one doesn’t become a reality, then it won’t happen in my lifetime,” Craven said.

However, city officials are taking a more cautious stance on how to pay for the university.

“They are two separate issues and [the development plan] is one that will have to be watched as it develops,” said Camarillo City Manager Bill Little.

“This is a major issue and like all major issues, it comes down to money,” said Councilman Kevin Kildee. “We have to be careful how we proceed because we certainly don’t want a city within a city out there.”

Kildee, however, said some aspects of the plan, such as the senior community, could be positive.

Despite a 3-1 vote of support, Thousand Oaks officials also have concerns.

“Do I think this is the perfect location? Probably not,” Mayor Judy Lazar said. “Are we going to find a better location? Probably not. We’ve delayed a long time in trying to find a site in this county, and this is the best opportunity we’re probably going to get.”

Councilwoman Elois Zeanah voted against the resolution, saying the university’s traffic impacts on Newbury Park would be too severe. Winding Potrero Road, which borders Camarillo State Hospital to the south, leads to Lynn Road in Newbury Park, and critics say it would become heavily traveled by students.

Those traffic concerns could become more pressing in light of the development plan, Zeanah argued.

Lazar said the university’s traffic impact on Thousand Oaks will certainly be an issue for city leaders to examine in the near future.

Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton wrote a letter of support to Gov. Pete Wilson at the urging of Camarillo Mayor Stan Daily. Stratton said he has concerns about the development plan, and that voters should respond if Wilson doesn’t approve the project and come through with state funding.

Hobbs is a Times correspondent and Bustillo is a staff writer. Times staff writers Mack Reed, Lorenza Munoz and Hilary E. MacGregor and correspondent Nick Green contributed to this story.