Officials of East County cities discuss preservation of open space
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

When officials representing Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi Valley met at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library earlier this month to discuss Tierra Rejada Valley land use issues, they also pioneered a historic forum that could give local cities more clout in dealing with regional concerns.

"This was the first ever meeting involving all council members from all three cities," said Simi Valley City Council member Glen Becerra. The meeting included 15 council members and six city staff leaders.

The meeting will enable local representatives to work together on all issues of mutual concern, said Becerra, who said he hopes more such joint meetings will take place in the future.

Common interests include management of open spaces, transportation, graffiti and county services provided to local residents, who make up about half of the county's population of 800,000.

"We need to work together, cooperate and pull collective strength to move our area forward," said Becerra.

Greenbelt concerns

The meeting was centered on the Tierra Rejada Valley greenbelt agreement that exists between the county and the three cities bordering the 2,490-acre valley.

The land under county jurisdiction is mostly dotted with small ranches, farms and equestrian centers.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors recently voted to incorporate the existing greenbelt agreement into an ordinance to protect the rural valley from urban encroachment.

The regulations would change what essentially was a handshake accord into an enforceable law to preserve agricultural and open space, said Supervisor Linda Parks, who attended the meeting.

The ordinance would prevent future annexations but it wouldn't affect an existing plan to incorporate the Ronald Reagan Library and surrounding properties into the city of Simi Valley.

City officials didn't make any decision at the joint meeting but they took the opportunity to share their concerns about existing land use in the greenbelt area.

"I'm a little disappointed with the county's handling of this area," said Moorpark City Council member Keith Millhouse, indicating many homes have been allowed on hilltops where cities wouldn't permit development.

Thousand Oaks City Council member Dennis Gillette was uneasy about the high-intensity lighting permitted at the golf driving range next to the 23 Freeway. "The illumination that exits from that place is offensive to the concept of open space," he said.

"Night lighting is about the worst thing you can have in a wildlife corridor, which is what that area is," said Moorpark Councilmember Roseann Mikos, indicating the valley is a corridor for animals that travel to and from the Los Padres National Forest into the Santa Monica Mountains.

The driving range has a conditional use permit that was granted in 1997 for a 20year period, with a possible 20year extension.

Simi Valley Mayor Pro Tem Steven Sojka inquired about Paintball USA and several nearby storage yards that are allowed to operate despite zoning violations.

Chris Stephens, director of the resource management agency for the county of Ventura, fielded the questions and said the paintball business remains open because the planning division doesn't have the authority "to simply step in and close a business."

Stephens also said the county is now implementing a process to handle nonconforming properties based on the severity of the violation. About 900 properties now violate county zoning rules, he said.

Several city leaders also expressed disappointment with the hilltop development that's taken place in the Tierra Rejada Valley.

It has about 40 homes and there is room for about 110 more homes on the 10acre parcels and about 30 units on the 40acre lots, said Stephens, indicating few homes are located on ridge tops.

According to Parks, the smaller 10 acre parcels aren't conducive to agriculture or wildlife movement. "It's clear that the current agreement isn't effective in protecting the greenbelt and more needs to be done," she said.

But both Parks and Becerra also said that the land in the rural valley is all privately owned, so the county and cities must consider the right of property owners before imposing more restrictive zoning requirements.

Supervisor Peter Foy, who owns a ranch in the Tierra Rejada Valley, also attended the meeting. He opposes the greenbelt ordinance proposal and in previous interviews has said guidelines were already developed to protect open spaces through the Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources law.

The existing agreement allows parties to negotiate and discuss matters rather than impose absolutes, said Mark Lunn, chief of staff for Foy.

Cornerstone Church

proposal also debated

A pending Cornerstone Church proposal slated for the greenbelt area near Simi Valley also drew questions from municipal leaders.

The church wants to build a large facility just below the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on the east end of the valley on land located within the greenbelt area. Site plans call for a 300-seat chapel with an outdoor garden-style amphitheater and a multipurpose hall that can accommodate 1,000 people.

The church also seeks to build a classroom building for Eternity Bible College, a school affiliated with Cornerstone and it wants to relocate the Children's Hunger Fund, an outreach program now based in Pacoima.

A large portion of the land would remain open space or be donated for community use, church officials said in an earlier interview with the Acorn newspapers.

According to Daniel Klemann, senior planner for Ventura County, Cornerstone's initial application was deemed incomplete by the county and the church has since requested an exception based on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

If approved, the exemption would supersede SOAR (Save Open space and Agricultural Resources) and land use laws; the county counsel is now reviewing the request to determine what should happen next, said Klemann.

At issue is what would be allowed in the greenbelt. The county needs evidence that the proposed facility would qualify as a true university; colleges and universities are permitted in the greenbelt if the applicant obtains a conditional use permit from the county planning commission, said Klemann.

Local Agency Formation Commission also has very specific requirements about extending urban services outside of city limits, which the project may require, Klemann said.

If the church's request is not approved by the county, Stephens said Cornerstone could seek to put the project on the ballot for a countywide vote.