Farm Group Backs Off Threat on Land-Use Suit

The Ventura County Agricultural Assn. has backed down from its threat to sue cities that implement voter-approved Save Open Space and Agricultural Resource measures. The trade group says it now wants to work with elected officials to enact the new growth-control policies as smoothly and fairly as possible.

In letters hand-delivered last month to Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo and Oxnard, Rob Roy, the association’s general counsel, said the measures violate state laws governing annexation and boundary issues.

Roy said Tuesday that his board of directors has decided not to pursue legal action, opting instead to work with officials assigned to put the tough new land-use restrictions into action.

Voters last fall overwhelmingly approved a countywide initiative that prevents farmland and open space outside cities from being rezoned for development without voter approval. At the same time, voters in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Oxnard adopted complementary measures blocking development adjacent to their borders. Finally, Moorpark residents last month adopted a similar measure.