Planners OK Industrial Park on Land Near Historic Ranch House

The Camarillo Planning Commission unanimously approved a zone change and industrial plan for the area surrounding the historic Camarillo Ranch House.

But as a condition of approval, city officials required the developer to donate the house, barn and the 4.4 acres they occupy to the city.

Dallas-based Vista Development Co. has been negotiating with descendants of Adolfo Camarillo, the city’s founder, to purchase the 1892 Queen Anne Victorian house at 3771 Mission Oaks Blvd. and the land surrounding it. The property also includes a large red barn, outbuildings and 67 acres that have been a popular filming spot for 30 years.

The industrial park proposal calls for offices, restaurants and light industrial or warehouse facilities. The City Council will decide whether to approve the project March 25.

As part of its recommendation to the council, the Planning Commission is requiring the developer to keep the general placement of the buildings and their design compatible with the Camarillo Ranch House.

At the urging of the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board, the commission is also requiring the developer to survey and photograph any dilapidated outbuildings before tearing them down. The documents would then be available through the Camarillo Library and the Pleasant Valley Historical Society.

“My first response [to the board’s request] was, ‘You’ve got to be kidding,’ ” Planning Director Tony Boden said. “I didn’t like this one bit. But we’re requiring the developer to do it so it will make the county happy and won’t create challenges to the environmental documents.”

Once in the hands of the city, the Camarillo Ranch House property would be assigned to a nonprofit group responsible for restoring and operating it as a site for tours, filming, weddings, banquets and other special events.

One group interested in taking it over is the Rancho Camarillo Historical Society, which already has about $50,000 lined up from corporate sponsors to begin the restoration.