Camarillo Council OKs Zone Change for Historic Site

Descendants of Adolfo Camarillo, the city’s founder, are a step closer to selling their patriarch’s historic ranch house following the City Council’s decision Wednesday to approve a zone change and industrial park for the area surrounding the Victorian mansion built in 1892.

As a condition for approving the proposed industrial park, city officials have required the developer to donate the eight-bedroom house, barn and the 4.4 acres they sit on to the city.

Vista Development Co. of Dallas has been negotiating with the Camarillo family to purchase the historic house at 3771 Mission Oaks Blvd. and surrounding 67 acres.

The industrial park will be divided into 16 parcels, and include offices, restaurants and light industrial or warehousing distribution facilities.

The deal is expected to close by the end of April, and construction is set to begin in May, said Scott Johnson, Vista’s vice president.

The first building should be ready for occupancy by the end of the year and has already been leased by Diamondback Bicycles.

Johnson said the industrial park should be complete within five years.

City leaders have required the developers to keep the general placement of the buildings and their design compatible with the Camarillo House.

Two of Camarillo’s granddaughters expressed sadness that the house will no longer be in the family and that an industrial park will soon encroach on the agricultural land. But they said they are certain that the city will adequately preserve the house.

“It is really the end of an era,” said Geraldine FitzGerald, 75. “It is not easy to part with.”

Her 76-year-old sister, Carmelita FitzGerald-Nicholson, said: “We just have to learn to accept change as we get older. I just hope our grandchildren will visit to see what life was like 100 years ago.”

Once turned over to the city, the ranch house and barn may be assigned to a nonprofit group that will assume responsibility for restoring and operating them as a place for tours, movie and television filming, weddings, banquets and other special events.

Although in favor of preserving the historic house, Councilman Bill Liebmann said he was uncertain whether the donation would be a liability or asset to the city in the event a nonprofit group did not take it over. But other council member vehemently disagreed.

“It is a cultural asset even if it is a liability in economic terms,” Councilman Stan Daily said. “It is Camarillo . . . it is something people identify with and it is part of the heritage of this community. We would be heavily remiss if we did not step forward and preserve it for our future.”