Candidates' Answers to Question #5

5. What actions will you take as a city councilmember to ensure that the greenbelts and farmland surrounding the City of Ventura are protected in perpetuity, and that any future growth is accommodated within the city's existing footprint utilizing the principles of smart growth and sustainability?

Bill Fulton: As a councilmember, I’ve already taken these steps. In 2005, I voted in favor of the new General Plan, which calls for no expansion beyond the existing footprint; and requires that all additional development take place in designated infill areas using principles of smart growth and sustainability. I will work over the next four years to implement this General Plan.

Doug Halter: I absolutely believe that farmable land should be our growth option of last resort. I believe in urban boundaries in conjunction with strong support for agriculture. Tax incentives should be continued, land trusts should be considered, and density in our downtown and corridors should be a focus to eventually allow for the economy of scale to support mass transit and a truly walk able community.

Christy Weir: I support SOAR. The farmlands surrounding the city are a vital part of Ventura’s economy and environmental health. Any proposals for development of agricultural properties will need to be approved by the voters, and I will work to ensure that they are fully informed of the impacts of any proposals.

Carroll Dean Williams: I would buy the land.

Mike Gibson: I believe that the existing measures designed to protect the greenbelts and farmland surrounding the City of Ventura, such as SOAR and the hillside preservation ordinance, are working quite well. In addition, the City's current General Plan limits growth and new development within the City's existing footprint already by mandating in-fill development and redevelopment of existing land. The principles of smart growth and sustainability are embedded in the General Plan as policy guidelines that are followed as new development projects are approved. As a City Council member, I would certainly commit to continuing to support these voter-approved measures (SOAR and the hillside protection ordinance), as well as the policies contained in the General Plan (which were developed through much input and involvement by the community), all of which are essential to maintaining the quality of life Venturans value so highly.

Carl Morehouse: I have been preaching this mantra a long time. The County of Ventura was fortunate enough to have some exceptional thinkers in the mid-1960’s, led in particular by the League of Women Voters (of which I am a current dues paying member), that realized what the development pressures of the day and the loss of prime farmland would mean to this County both in terms of aesthetics and the economy. From these discussions, arose the development of the Greenbelt concept in Ventura County. This concept is alive today between cities and the County is implemented through Greenbelt agreements and the Guidelines for Orderly Development (affectionately known as G.O.D.). Having worked for the County for 20 plus years in the Planning Division, I know full well the power and value of those two things, and I have fought hard to see that they are strengthened, particularly as the Greenbelts are only held together by “gentlemen’s handshakes”. I would like to see those changed and become actual Joint Power agreements that have more of the force of law behind them. But that takes a lot of political diplomacy. I am still committed to achieving that someday.

In regard to Ventura, I fought strongly for the change in our Sphere of Influence line to better match our true expansion plans over the next five years and will fight strongly when our SOAR ends to undertake the effort of creating a true CURB line as established by eight of the other cities in this County. We are the only city to date without such a configuration and I believe it to be extremely important to define our final boundaries once and for all.

As for the principles of smart growth, I’ve been discussing and practicing them for over ten years. I have had the privilege of participating as a speaker on panels at state planning and environmental conferences where I have promoted these principles, and have also conducted local and regional smart growth workshops. I firmly believe that utilizing the concepts of pedestrian and transit oriented development coupled with more mixed use and a greater variety of housing types (than just the suburban model of a single family detached house on a 6,000 square foot lot) is critical to saving our precious and valuable prime farmland.

Jerry D. Martin: We must manage the growth of Ventura with intelligent design while maintaining a vibrant economy with the use of existing building and compatible infill. Smart growth, “green building “principles and continued support and funding of SOAR initiatives will help protect our farmland and greenbelts.

Lou Cunningham: I have been a LAFCO commissioner for the last seven years and while such have committed to keeping our greenbelts and farm lands intact. I will continue to do all that I can within the laws of our state to do this.

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