Developers to Unveil Camarillo Project

More than 200 acres of agricultural land would be replaced by a housing tract, school, hotel, restaurants and a shopping center under a proposal that will be publicly presented for the first time tonight

The project’s developers will take their proposal--which includes a 780-unit subdivision--before the board of the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District, hoping to rally their support.

As part of that effort, officials from HiJi Brothers and EJM Development Co. are offering to donate 33 1/2 acres to be used for youth soccer fields and 3 1/2 acres for a gymnasium and other recreation facilities.

“There would be no park fees, because the donation of this amount of land is worth a lot more than could ever be accumulated in park fees,” said park district manager John Williamson, adding that similar size projects usually bring a 10-acre donation.

Board members are expected to decide at their 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday whether to endorse the project, which would be built on 243 acres sandwiched between the Ventura Freeway and Pleasant Valley Road. Williamson said he is confident the board will support the development.

“All we’ll be asking is for the City Council to look at it,” Williamson said.

The district would probably finance construction of the park projects by issuing bond-like certificates, which would not require voter approval because the debt would be repaid with park revenues, he said.

Park district officials are expected to accompany the developers when they make their presentation to the City Council on Jan. 28. At that time, the council will decide whether the request for a zoning change should be referred to the Planning Commission for consideration.

“The land is not permanently designated as agriculture, but the City Council will have to decide whether this is the appropriate time to change it,” said Tony Boden, the city’s planning director.

The investment firms that own the land now rent the property to farmers, who use it for seasonal row crops.

“They’re now looking at the long-term potential with a land-use change as the city is nearing the end of its housing inventory,” said Dennis Hardgrave, a consultant who represents the developers.

The development plan includes a 10-acre site to be donated to the Pleasant Valley School District for a school. The housing tract is expected to generate about 400 new students.

Voters recently approved a $49-million bond measure to help build two schools and renovate existing facilities but not to serve this area.

“I have heard some rumblings about this, but I don’t really have any specifics on it,” said Howard Hamilton, assistant superintendent of the school district. “I would gratefully accept any property . . . and certainly entertain anything that would save the district money.”

Hamilton said a new school also would benefit children from the Lamplighter Mobile Home Park and Woodside Greens neighborhoods, who now attend school several miles away in Old Town.