General Plan Update
The 2025 General Plan update must include robust public participation now that we know more about urban planning than we did in 2005. Pretty pictures sold us on plans that have had a major impact on some areas of the community, especially the Avenue. The Avenue also taught us a lesson on the importance of park space.
We also learned that the transect model can be manipulated in unexpected ways to allow urban density in rural areas. Soon we will see the impact of dense development along our rural edge on Wells Rd in Saticoy. We cannot ignore the impacts of these decisions.
We have existing parcels to develop without expansion, yet we still approved an annexation in Saticoy for a development for which we may not have sufficient water. This is not “infill.” This land should have provided needed park space in Saticoy.
I hope all community councils submit their ideas to Council and staff to outline the changes they would like to see in their area. Let’s substitute top down experimentation with bottom up experimentation. The College Area started this exercise by submitting ideas for Telegraph Road parcels based upon the needs in our district. I urge other councils to submit their vision for the open parcels in their area including traffic, schools & services issues.
Let’s review our 2005 General plan assumptions, definitions & land use designations to remove the erroneous ones and vet new ones for the 2025 update. The refinement took a stab at this issue, but now we have the opportunity to begin anew to correct past and recent errors. Let’s embrace this opportunity.
Let’s also immediately correct obvious discrepancies in our land use & zoning identified by the refinement effort.
I urge residents to get involved and take an active part in shaping your community.
Kathy Bremer Ventura
(Note: I am writing as an individual not representing the city or any organization).
The Breeze:
Realtor Dolly Bovee went above and beyond what is required of a Realtor and ensured that our business dealings went smoothly. She used much of her personal time and natural ease with people to cause timely response from all involved.
In our opinion Ms. Bovee is professional, honest, thorough and effective. We have learned, as seniors there appears to be a different attitude in how our business is both conceived and handled.
Sincerely,
Rafe and Yvonne Hernandez
Editor:
I have been intending to write, since I read the Letter to the editor, most recent edition, from Jared Verhoeven, critical of a small rate increase by E J Harrison and Sons and touting a huge trash company, not locally owned. EJ Harrison has a long record of excellent service over many many years to our community. They are constantly looking for better ways to operate and a leader in innovation.
Furthermore, they have been incredibly generous to so many not for profits ranging from Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Community Memorial Hospital to name just a few. I am a firm believer in local owners that live in our community and are fully invested in delivering great service at a very reasonable rate. It deeply hurts me to hear them being accused of gouging in their rates. You would not get this from a huge company like Waste Management. The Recycling market is commodity based and ever changing. We can each do our part to help keep rates down by following recycling guidelines.
Best regards,
Mike Merewether
Editor:
I want to acknowledge and thank both Ventura Police Department and California State Parks for their posting of Illegal Vagrant Camps on the Beach South of Surfers Knoll yesterday. This area was previously the site of two moderate-sized brush fires.
One of the illegal camps posted contained a non-ambulatory female who would not be able to flee on her own should another fire occur. This action taken by both agencies will lessen the chances of future fires and ensure Public Safety.
Respectfully,
John Higgins Harbormaster – Harbor Patrol Ventura Harbor
Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see.
~ Paul Klee
