SOAR Measures

It has long been the contention of the Ventura County Economic Development Assn. [VCEDA] that county Measure B, known as SOAR, is full of dangerous loopholes and unanticipated consequences. The self-serving proponents of Measure B are proposing rigid city urban restriction boundaries [CURBs] without any financial or physical impact study or public input.

Voters are asked to simply ratify schemes that will affect the county’s economic and social fabric for the next 20 to 30 years by approving arbitrary and rigid boundaries around our cities.

No studies have been done to determine the impact or wisdom of these new boundaries, and contrary to emotional appeals made by SOAR supporters, lemon groves and agriculture within these new CURBs will not be saved.

The law of supply and demand will sharply increase the cost of land within CURBs resulting in dramatic increases to the cost of housing and doing business, driving business and industry to look outside Ventura County where a work force can live and business is less expensive to operate.

VCEDA has advocated careful and deliberate growth for our county. Planning for the future economic and social welfare of our communities requires a process that is inclusive, where all sectors of the economy are considered. Affordable housing for our elderly, young families and military personnel needs to be considered. Job growth in high-tech sectors should be encouraged.

Unfortunately, the hostile, no-growth NIMBY message of Measure B jeopardizes serious consideration of these issues.

As Ventura County prepares for the 21st century, let us proceed with open public dialogue that considers all elements of our dynamic economy and not allow ourselves to be railroaded into something because of deceptive emotional appeal.

I urge all to vote “no” on Measure B.

WILLIAM R. SIMMONS, Board Chair, Ventura County Economic Development Assn.

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We have read from landholders that SOAR is anti-growth and will force changes on them. This is not correct. Adhering to the General Plan and using land consistent with its zoning designation does not constitute force.

Zoning laws and land-use designations are constitutional, and all of us who own property of any type are subject to these laws. I cannot dairy farm on non-ag land because zoning restricts me. I may not be able to convert my single-family home into an apartment complex, even if my business has failed and I need the money or even if I just want the cash for something as noble as leaving it to my children.

Yet some Ventura County landowners angrily demand to be granted political exceptions from the General Plan and go so far as to say that this is their right!

This amounts to saying the General Plan and zoning designations are for everyone else to adhere to but shouldn’t create barriers for land speculators. I believe I hear an overdeveloped sense of entitlement in this rhetoric. The history of development in Southern California teaches us that ignoring land-use designations and continuously converting prime agricultural land into housing or strip malls creates urban sprawl.

Landlords of agricultural properties have come to believe that they can always “cash out” to developers if they don’t make it farming. Why isn’t it considered fair enough to be able to sell your land for the use it was intended? That’s my only option if I can’t afford my mortgage and choose to sell my property. How did ignoring zoning get to be the right of large landholders--but no one else?

I absolutely agree we all need to pay for the “real cost” of farming--but that’s an issue we won’t get to if there is no land to farm. The SOAR measures are fair and reasonable and do not subject farmers to any changes in the use of their land. I urge the voters of Ventura County to remain calm and vote “yes” on Measure B and “yes” on the city SOAR measures.

DARLA D’AGAY, Simi Valley

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The SOAR measure was sold to the public as a means of helping farmers remain in business. If this is true, why were farmers not allowed input? Why do most farmers oppose SOAR? Why do the Ventura County Farm Bureau and the Ventura County Agricultural Assn. oppose it?

Like many farming families in this county, my family has been involved in agriculture here since the 1880s. If we are all about to pave over our land for big bucks from developers, why have we stayed with it for so long?

Unfortunately, passage of SOAR could cause us to leave a lifetime of farming. SOAR would negatively impact farmland prices. Consequently, the collateral may not be there when we need to borrow to plant a crop, pay taxes or after a disaster year. As small farmers, we know we will not have the money to fund a countywide election.

Ventura County farmland is already protected from rampant development. Most farmers have put their land in the Williamson Act, which keeps it as ag land for a 10-year period. We have strict zoning, 40-acre minimums and elected supervisors who are not pro development.

We do not need SOAR.

ELIZABETH AGGEN GRUTTADAURIO, Somis

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Opponents seem to think SOAR is a radical approach to saving open space and to promoting slow growth. This type of movement would not be necessary if our City Council members would stop making exceptions to our ordinances, many of which are in place to preserve the beauty of the area and to promote slow growth.

Our hillside ordinance is vital to preserve this valley. And who wanted Wal-Mart? The ground on which it is being built has been raped by this development.

Our City Council needs to serve the majority of Simi Valley (which wants slow growth) and not listen to greedy developers!

ELAINE BOYD, Wood Ranch