SOAR’s Effect on the County

The Save Our Open Space and Agricultural Resources measure deserves the support of the people of Simi Valley. SOAR would give the people the chance to prevent Simi from becoming a western extension of the San Fernando Valley.

Many Simi residents have expressed the hope that our hillside performance standards are enough to protect our scenic valley. Unfortunately, many do not realize that the hillside standards can be set aside by a 4-5 majority vote of the City Council.

Developers are keenly aware of this--such as with the Parker Ranch development application that was allowed to proceed, despite gross exceptions to both the hillside performance standards and the city’s General Plan. It seems as if every development can be “made workable” as Simi Valley approaches build-out. Our General Plan and the hillside performance standards are good, workable policy outlines. The problem comes from our City Council’s willingness to set these carefully crafted plans aside at its convenience.

Simi Valley recently had a referendum on whether to allow Wal-Mart to come to town. The citizens of Simi Valley rejected Wal-Mart. We told our City Council members what to do, and they ignored us. The new Wal-Mart is being built on what used to be three lovely little hills. It is amazing what can be done with a dozen earthmovers over a period of several months. This poetic reminder of what our council will do is precisely why we need SOAR standards now.

TOM HALPIN, Simi Valley

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The most important issues to come before the voters of Ventura County in many years are the Save Our Open Space and Agricultural Resources initiatives.

The SOAR initiatives would require a vote by the people for approval of new projects when they are proposed in land zoned for agriculture or open space. This proposed process would usurp the authority of our elected city councils and the Board of Supervisors as well as the expertise of staff planners. This is like having brain surgery done by a banker, lawyer or an engineer--they are trained but not for the task at hand.

I have been a consulting engineer in Ventura County for more than 40 years for developers. In my opinion, the past and present elected officials have done a commendable job in preserving our open space and agricultural resources. They have established greenbelts and preserved open spaces by creating areas of interest and spheres of influence for all the cities, and they have established guidelines for orderly development that restrict it to within sphere-of-influence boundaries.

The cities today can only expand their sphere-of-influence boundaries with approval of the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO.

Further, since the 1970s, the environmental review process and growth-control ordinances in the cities have helped to maintain our open space and agricultural resources. We need only to enforce our existing ordinances and policies. We certainly do not need more red tape and expense by having the voters decide each project.

EDDIE P. RAMSEYER, Oak View

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The three city councils that resisted placing unmodified SOAR initiatives on the November ballot graphically illustrate the lure and addiction of development money. Camarillo, with its infamous Sales Tax Canyon, had previously demonstrated its expertise in promoting development to generate money.

Moorpark, with its acceptance of Messenger Co. development money, is behaving like a member of the world’s oldest profession (with the exception of Mayor Patrick Hunter). Santa Paula dreams of expanding its limits threefold to the obvious detriment of agriculture and open space.

Developers and the building industry outside the county (even nationwide) have seen the writing on the wall and will be pouring money into every available channel to defeat SOAR in November. They would, of course, rather be able to influence three to five politicians on a council or board than have to take their case for developments to the public.

I just hope Ventura County voters consider the source of any argument either for or against SOAR. They should ask, “What does this person or organization have to gain if I vote the way they want?” We all know what politicians and bureaucrats would gain (continued power); what large landowners would gain (lots of money); and what developers would turn Ventura County into if SOAR is defeated (an extension of Los Angeles).

In contrast, what do all the SOAR volunteers have to gain? The answer, as for most county residents, is to maintain our chosen way and quality of life and help ensure that agriculture survives as a viable industry.

JOHN F. KERKHOFF, Somis