Study of Use of Land Urged

Ventura County government chief Johnny Johnston says supervisors should put off any decisions about what to build on county-owned property near Camarillo until an analysis of the site is complete.

County staff members need more time to determine how much it would cost to bring water and sewer lines to the site, and whether the county should set aside a portion of the property for future office space. An initial estimate shows the county could save as much as 60% on rental costs if it builds its own office buildings.

“First things first,” said Johnston, the county’s executive officer. “You have to assess what you’ve got in terms of development potential before you start making real commitments.”

Rival proposals on how the property should be used have been debated since 1998, when the state deeded the 58 acres to the county.

The property on Lewis Road south of Camarillo is already home to 54 mentally ill residents in two apartment buildings. The county’s RAIN homeless shelter and Casa Pacifica, a shelter for abused and neglected children, is also there.

Debate is centered on what to do with 11 acres of land still up for grabs.Advocates for the mentally ill contend the property was intended to compensate for the closure of Camarillo State Hospital and should be used to build additional housing for the mentally ill.

“When the hospital closed, we were promised that services and housing would be provided in the community,” said Carol Luppino, whose son is schizophrenic.

Several other proposals have been offered. One suggested building apartments for foster care youths transitioning out of the system. Another called for a center to provide shelter and services for homeless veterans.

County Behavioral Health Department officials last year pitched building a complex of apartments and townhomes for more than 200 mentally ill people. So far, however, supervisors have given tentative approval only to 51 beds for the mentally ill and expansion of the nearby homeless shelter.

Johnston recommends that his staff conduct detailed studies on water and sewer issues before any decisions are made about future development. There is no potable water on the undeveloped property and there are restrictions on how much will be available in the future, Johnston said in the report.

Drainage problems and zoning changes also need to be addressed, he said. County officials have estimated the cost of installing infrastructure at $8.4 million.

Johnston said a complete analysis will take at least a year.

Supervisor Kathy Long said Johnston’s report is “right on target.”

“Right after we got the property from the state, we started making proposals on what should go on it,” Long said. “We jumped ahead of the process.”This gives us the chance to do the due diligence that is needed. We need to move very cautiously in deciding what will go there.”

Supervisor Frank Schillo, who pushed a plan that would allow a developer to operate a social services hub for veterans and others, said he is willing to give staff members more time.

“Nothing in government moves very fast,” Schillo said. “And this is a big project, so we should make sure we cross all the ts and dot all the i’s.”